Phacet, a French startup that provides tailored artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies, has raised €4 million in a seed funding round. The funding, supported by 148 business angels and several venture capital firms, will help Phacet expand its platform aimed at making AI adoption easier for businesses across various sectors.
Broad support from diverse investors
The funding round attracted a wide range of investors from sectors including industry, technology, finance, insurance, and retail. Notable participants include business angels such as Thibaud Elzière (Hexa), Des Traynor (Intercom), Florian Douetteau (Dataiku), and Philippe Corrot (Mirakl). The round also included backing from venture capital firms such as Motier Ventures, Aglaé Ventures, Emblem, Origins, Kima Ventures, Financière Saint James, Robin Capital, and BetterAngle.
This diversity of investors highlights strong support for Phacet’s vision of making AI more accessible and actionable for SMEs and mid-sized companies. According to the company, Phacet aims to bridge the gap between AI’s potential and its practical implementation in everyday business operations.
A structured approach to AI integration
Phacet’s platform offers a structured approach to AI integration, starting with a diagnostic phase that identifies areas with the highest potential return on investment (ROI). The company’s focus is on integrating AI into key business processes to ensure a measurable impact.
Phacet’s clients go through an AI Bootcamp on the platform, where they can develop custom AI applications using existing modules. The centralized platform consolidates AI functions like data connectivity and cost management, helping businesses streamline their AI adoption.
Beyond the technology, Phacet also emphasizes change management, ensuring that AI solutions are integrated smoothly into existing workflows. The company’s approach focuses on augmenting human capabilities through automation, rather than replacing human workers, enabling employees to focus on higher-value tasks.
Proven results and plans for expansion
Phacet has already demonstrated the effectiveness of its platform with European companies like Smartbox, where its custom AI applications have been used to improve operations in areas such as finance, catalog management, and customer service.
With the new funding, Phacet plans to expand its range of ready-to-use AI applications for industries such as e-commerce, finance, and manufacturing. The company aims to help businesses move from exploring AI’s potential to implementing AI-driven solutions in daily operations.
Experienced leadership team
Phacet was founded by a team with significant experience in AI and business technology platforms. The leadership includes Christophe Lanternier, CTO and former head of data science at Ubble, William Pambrun, CPO and co-founder of Inato, and Nicolas Marchais, CEO and former executive at Spendesk.
Lanternier has led AI development projects verifying millions of identities, while Pambrun has scaled product teams in tech startups. Marchais, who helped grow Spendesk to significant revenues, also co-founded millefeuille.ai, a media platform focused on analyzing AI’s societal impact.
This experienced leadership team has been a key factor in attracting support from high-profile investors and business leaders in the tech and AI sectors.
Future outlook
Phacet aims to expand its AI offerings further by 2025, focusing on sectors such as e-commerce, industry, finance, and services. The company’s goal is to help businesses implement AI solutions that deliver tangible results and improve operational efficiency.
Investor confidence, reflected by the participation of 148 business angels and leading venture capital firms, underscores the potential for Phacet to become a significant player in the AI market for SMEs and mid-sized companies.
One of the key investors, Thibaud Elzière, founder of Hexa, noted that Phacet’s combination of AI expertise and business understanding sets it apart. “Phacet is not just about AI models; it is about partnering with companies from diagnosis to implementation, ensuring they get real value from AI,” Elzière said.
With its strong backing and clear vision, Phacet is well-positioned to continue its growth and expand its reach across European markets, providing businesses with practical tools to leverage AI for growth and efficiency.
