Mon Petit Placement, a start-up launched in 2017, closed its third round of funding this November for €6 million. The Lyon-based fintech, which aims to democratize financial investment, had secured €650,000 in October 2018 during a first round of funding, then €1.5 million during the second round in May 2020 in the midst of a pandemic. The startup plans to continue industrializing its R&D developments, particularly based on AI technology (automated video generation, decision support tools for advisors, etc.).
All of the startup’s historical investors were present: the French Tech Seed fund managed on behalf of the French government by Bpifrance as part of the Future Investment Program (PIA), Insurtech Capital, Weaving Invest, Aonia Ventures and French Founders.
Created by Thomas Perret, Margaux Belhade and Thibault Jaillon in 2017, Mon Petit Placement makes financial investment more accessible to individuals. They started from the observation that small savers were only offered classic products like the Livret A and wanted to give them access to high-end products.
Personalized support
In order to “help French people move from the status of savers to that of investors”, the company offers portfolios of securities housed in the life insurance envelope, in partnership with Apicil and Generali. For the sum of 300 euros, the 8,000 clients of the start-up benefit from personalised support in their investment strategy, have the choice between four portfolios adapted to their risk profile (Voluntary, Energetic, Ambitious, Intrepid) and the freedom to transfer their savings if they wish.
These four portfolios are audited every quarter by six financial experts (who are also shareholders), and can be supplemented by a range of thematic and responsible investments designed to give meaning to their savings. Divided into seven portfolios – Equality, Employment, Climate, Solidarity, Tech, Health and Recovery – this offer makes it possible to reconcile financial performance and positive impact.
Mon Petit Placement manages €30 million and 90% of its clients have set up a monthly direct debit.
This offer has been completed by a Relance portfolio giving everyone the possibility to support the economy impacted by the health crisis. For the past few weeks, an application has been available to keep clients informed of the evolution of their portfolio.
The first contact with the future client is made by videoconference, followed by fifteen-minute meetings every six months, and the client also receives an educational newsletter every quarter. Thomas Perret, founder of Mon Petit Placement, is pleased:
“ This fundraising is another step for Mon Petit Placement in its desire to democratize financial investment among individuals. Our ambition is to help French people move from being savers to investors by offering them personalized support, high-end products and the possibility of making their money grow while supporting causes that are important to them. We reconcile the best of both worlds in a single, extremely easy-to-use service: the proximity usually offered by traditional banks and the agility of pure player players, all supported by highly innovative technological tools.”
The fundraising
The French Tech Seed fund participated in this €6 million fundraising. The fund is endowed with €500 million and aims to support the fundraising of innovative start-ups and VSEs under 3 years of age with technology-intensive innovations. It is part of the Programme d’investissements d’avenir (PIA) and is operated by Bpifrance, which itself finances companies at every stage of their development with credit, guarantees and equity.
Emmanuel Audouard, Director of the Transversal Venture Capital Investments Division at Bpifrance, emphasizes:
“After supporting Mon Petit Placement with convertible bonds as part of the French Tech Seed scheme, with the support of the Pouss@lys consortium, Bpifrance is proud to support its commercial acceleration and the continuation of its technological innovations. We were particularly attracted by the unique user experience offered by the investment platform and the personalized support offer combining proximity and education.”
Minh Q. TRAN, Managing Partner of Insutech Capital managed by Mandalore Partners shares the general enthusiasm:
“We are delighted to participate in this round of financing. Our objective with Mon Petit Placement is twofold: firstly, to support the company’s growth, in particular through its partnership with APICIL Group; secondly, to develop its direct investment offer and also the impact investing measure.”
Benjamin Chavanat, Director of Investments at Weaving Invest:
“We are very pleased to have participated in this round of financing and to support a young company that is reinvigorating this sector.”
This financing, including 4 million in capital, will allow the company to boost its growth through :
- The structuring of its teams, the fintech employs 40 people and plans to double its workforce by the end of 2022, particularly through the recruitment of senior profiles.
- The diversification of its financial product offering, in particular with the development of its own Mon Petit Placement portfolio.
- Strengthening its community vector.
- Continuing to industrialise its R&D developments, particularly those based on AI technology (automated video generation, decision-making tools for advisors, etc.).
Translated from Levée de fonds de 6 millions d’euros de la fintech lyonnaise Mon Petit Placement
