BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNPP AM) is strengthening the Venture and Impact platform, led by Yann Lagalaye within the Private Assets division. This new entity dedicated to innovation and venture capital now combines the activities of Ecological Transition and Impact, Fintech and the Solar Impulse Venture Fund, with €800m assets under management.
In addition to this reorganisation, Marinus Oosterbeek and Vincent Baillin have been promoted to Managing Directors at Opera Tech Ventures[1] (OTV). They will oversee the day-to-day management of OTV as well as its development and will report to Yann Lagalaye.
Launched in 2018, OTV is a Venture Capital fund operating exclusively for the BNP Paribas Group and managed by BNPP AM’s Private Assets teams. Dedicated to the transformation of the financial industry, the fund supports start-ups by investing minority stakes from €3 million to €15 million from Series A to Series C, mainly in Europe and North America.
Since its launch, OTV has invested in 17 startups and made three successful exits. Its current portfolio includes companies[2] in France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the EU on transformative theses in the financial industry such as parametric climate risk insurance (Arbol), cyber insurance (Stoik), ESG[3] controversy detection (SESAMm) and investment and rental management (PropHero).
The team invests in 3 to 5 new companies every year, building on possible synergies within the BNP Paribas Group. Since its creation, many of the startups in the portfolio have established a commercial relationship with at least one of the bank’s businesses.
For Yann Lagalaye, Head of Venture & Impact at BNP Paribas Asset Management:
“I would like to congratulate Marinus and Vincent on their appointment as Managing Directors. This promotion demonstrates the trust of BNP Paribas Group in their expertise and their ability to accelerate the development of the fund, which plays a key role in the Group’s digital transformation strategy. By positioning OTV within Private Assets’ Venture & Impact platform, we are committed to the growth of a dedicated innovation and venture capital team. Our ambition is to strengthen Opera Tech Ventures’ position as a leading investor in fintech, insurtech and adjacent sectors, while continuing to support entrepreneurs and innovation.”
Biographies
Marinus Oosterbeek, 35, joined Opera Tech Ventures in 2024 after more than 10 years of investment experience, including 6 years in corporate venture capital. Prior to joining Opera Tech Ventures as Principal, Marinus was a Fintech investor at ABN AMRO Ventures in Amsterdam and previously a mobility technology investor at Alliance Ventures (Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance) in Paris. Marinus began his career at Eiffel Investment Group and Bpifrance. Based in Amsterdam, Marinus completed the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris and completed a Master’s degree in Public Affairs at Sciences Po Paris.
Vincent Baillin, 34, joined Opera Tech Ventures as Principal in early 2019. Prior to joining Opera Tech Ventures, Vincent spent 4 years as an Associate in Technology Investment Banking at eCAP Partner, leading M&A and fundraising transactions for European tech startups and companies. Based in Paris, Vincent holds a Master’s degree in Management from Neoma Business School.
Footnotes
- ^ Opera Tech Ventures: Overview | LinkedIn
- ^ The above mentioned securities are for illustrative purpose only
- ^ Environmental, social and governance