About Bergaud & Partners
What is my background? I have been fundraising for deep tech start-ups for 10+ years, starting from the EU's Horizon 2020 programme and expanding from there. I have worked for 20+ years at the interface of government (EU and national level) and business and I understand how they interplay, especially in terms of innovation. I have naturally become a business angel over the years and today, I only take on clients in which I would also invest - and I most often do. I am French by birth but have lived and worked across France, Belgium, the UK, Germany, Finland and Switzerland and therefore consider myself a true European.
Who are the partners in Bergaud & Partners? I am the sole owner of the business and the sole person working in the company but I partner on an ad hoc basis with a number of specialists e.g. legal, IP, regulatory, clinical, industrial etc. and of course investors.
What unique expertise do I bring to the table? I am especially good at blending public and private funding to the maximum benefit of my clients. I also have a rare breadth and depth of expertise across all areas pertaining to start-up fundraising i.e. product-market fit, IP, route to market, regulatory, finance, etc. My hybrid business / government / technology background enables me to see patterns and make connections which others don't see or make. In addition, being a business angel in all of my clients today adds to my credibility as a fundraiser.
Why should you go for Bergaud & Partners rather than a large consulting firm? An 90% success rate in a public funding programme such as the EIC Accelerator with a 5% statistical success rate is exceptional. Besides, as a start-up, you are well-placed to know that bigger is not always better. Fundraising is tough and extremely competitive. You need to go at it with the extreme precision and dedication of a crafts(wo)man, not with the industrial approach of a chain worker. My business model evidences my genuine commitment to the projects I take on: I only win if you win, which is the way it should be.
At what stage do I come in? Being also a business angel, I typically step in at pre-seed or seed stage and accompany companies throughout their fundraising journey as they grow, if they want me to. However, I occasionally take on more mature projects too.
Do I have a sectorial focus? Yes : I work exclusively with deep tech start-ups with a focus on life sciences and climate tech. Quickly getting my teeth into a new topic and managing to challenge the teams on their own turf is a big part of the intellectual challenge and thrill of my job.
Do I have a geographical focus? Definitely: I work exclusively with EU-based and Israeli start-ups and prioritise European funding sources to maximise the macroeconomic return for the European economy.
Do I only work with female founders? Not at all, but over the last 10 years, I have always prioritised them over male-only teams as I am well placed to know how extremely hard it is to raise funding as a female entrepreneur. My track record shows I can help them jump over the bar.
Our Process
01/
Free online consultation
We seem a good fit for each other based on a personal introduction and/or cold email. Let's find out more about each other over one or several e-coffees and see whether there could be room for a successful collaboration. If not, I will advise you to the best of my knowledge about alternative funding opportunities.
03/
Building the business case & screening investors
This is the lion's share of the engagement, especially in public fundraising - we are talking hundreds of hours of work on both sides. Together, we co-create the strongest possible business case for public and/or private investors, scrutinise every word and every figure of your business plan and prepare for all possible due diligence questions from tentative investors. I screen hundreds of private investors for the best possible fit and start reaching out to them.
02/
My own due diligence
We both believe there could be a fit and we have signed a contract based on your specific funding needs. We start a tailor-made due diligence to evaluate our chances of success. This is a key part of the process to ascertain that neither of us is going to waste their time.
04/
Pitching, convincing
& closing the deal
Having an excellent business case and convincing public / private investors that you have an excellent business case are two different things. This is where excellent communication and tactical skills come in. I prepare you, join you in investors meetings and assist you throughout the due diligence and negotiations up until the funds reach your bank account.