Our Team

Entrepreneur and blockchain enthusiast, Philippe Rodriguez has been passionate about emerging technologies for the last 25 years. He co-founded Avolta in 2013 with Patrick and Arthur.

Prior to Avolta, Philippe created Mixcommerce, a leader in e-commerce delegation solutions for brands, sold to LaPoste Group in 2012. He also co-founded the Electronic Business Group (EBG) in 1998.

Philippe is very active in European networks dedicated to blockchain and cryptocurrency. Since 2014, he is the president of the organization Bitcoin France. He is the author of a reference work on blockchain and crypto-money : “La Révolution Blockchain” published in 2017 by Dunod.

Philippe started his carrier as an engineer in Microsoft where he worked as Startup & VC Community Lead and then as Director of the Server & Tools Business unit. Philippe graduated from EISTI and holds an MBA from ESCP Europe.

Internet pioneer and public figure in the digital eco-system in France, Patrick has also been a serial-entrepreneur for 30 years. He has founded more than 20 startups and backed 30 others as business angel in the digital eco-system.

Prior to Avolta, Patrick founded 24h00, a leading agency specialised in digital communication and social marketing, sold to Webedia in 2012. He was also Vice-President of France Digital during the last 4 years, and was one of the leaders of the “Pigeons” protest.

Self-taught man, he had many others lives as publisher of art books (Love Me Tender), press publisher (Photo-Revue, CD-Media, Internet-Reporter) and internet pioneer in France (ImagiNet, ROL Régie-On-line, Le WebMarchand).

Entrepreneur, process and data addict, Arthur co-founded Avolta in 2013 with Philippe and Patrick.

Alongside to his activities in Avolta, Arthur has had several entrepreneurship experiences (L’Oriento restaurants in Brussels, la Gazelle d’Or pastries in Paris and La Plantation pepper farm in Cambodia).

Prior to Avolta, Arthur worked at BNPP CIB as an M&A Analyst in the SmallCap team. Arthur holds a Master in Finance from ESCP Europe.

Investment banker, active business Angel, Blockchain, Fintech, Defense, Deeptech and crypto-currencies specialist, Philippe joined Avolta in 2017 as Senior Partner.

Born and raised in America, Phil graduated from Carleton University, then attended the ESCP (Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Paris) Europe, he is also a Graduate of the IHEDN (French War College) and ESDC (the European Defense College). He led businesses  in Investment Banking for over 25 years in London, Singapore, and Paris. He ran Global Equity and Derivatives Institutional and Hedge Fund Flow sales for BNP Paribas, and he was Managing Director of Equity markets at Merrill Lynch, where he ran the French Stockbroker and EMEA Liquidity Derivative sales and sat on the Board of Merrill Lynch Capital Markets (S.A.). 

More recently, he was CEO of Alternativa a Fintech SME Exchange (MTF), and he was a Board member and founding member of the European Crowdfunding Network. He was also one of the Co-Founders of Fintech France He engages in Blockchain and more specifically crypto currencies. He has been an active investor with various Tech companies such as Vistaprint (US), Attenda (UK), DigitalKeys (FR), Ficofi (FR), Landex (EE) or Pepins (SW).

IT expert and VC specialist with a great trackrecord in helping companies to scale, David joined Avolta as a Senior Partner for Southern Europe in  2015 and is based in Portugal.

After a Master’s in Social and Economic Administration and a Masters in Political Science, David Laurent began his business career at a communications/incentive agency. In 1997, he entered the IT market, where he got his first experience selling IT services and projects at Sitinfo. Later in 1998, he joined the ITS Group to organise and take responsibility for the Group’s sales and marketing management.

In 2007, David Laurent joined Grant & Partners as managing director. His experience in communications and IT provided a new impetus (both operational and financial) to the fund.

Frédéric began his career at Société Générale’s General Inspection, being involved in various missions related to investment banking and stock market activities in France and abroad. He then worked for BGP Indosuez, Lazard Frères and Meeschaert, both in private banking and M&A.

These experiences led him to create Fintesis in 2006, a strategic, financial and operational consulting boutique dedicated to SME and midcaps managers. With Fintesis, Frédéric advised several companies and family offices in their M&A operations (AutoContact, Planasa, Darbonne Group, etc.).

He then created Yooji in 2012, a turbulent new entrant in the baby food sector. Repeatedly awarded at regional, national and European level, Yooji became a leading French FoodTech company and now employs 35 people, while being distributed both online and in 1,000+ retail outlets. To finance this growth, Yooji completed several funding rounds, notably with Danone Manifesto Ventures.

After 8 years as CEO & founder of Yooji, Frédéric decided to leave his position in 2020 and now joins Avolta as Senior Partner.

Tarik graduated from EDHEC Business School. He has built an extensive career in fundraising and M&A advisory by working for the Parisian VC Alven, the investment banks Clipperton, Bryan, Garnier & Co., and more recently for Capival where he was officiating as a Partner since October 2017.

Tarik has, amongst others, recently advised the €4.5m fundraising of Energiency, an energy reducer software editor for industry players alongside Encevo (formerly Enovos), the sale of the beer brand Gallia to Heineken Group, and the sale of Edgar People to Menway Group.

Amongst other business verticals at Avolta, Tarik Saadallah addresses the retail and consumer Tech market, including i) in-store retail Tech, ii) e-commerce websites and marketplace, iii) supply chain and logistic Tech, iv) D2C/DNVB/ONVB etc.

Engineer, interested in data mining & statistical thinking, Pascal joined Avolta in 2013 at Analyst position and became Partner in 2022. He worked on more than 40 A/B Series and M&A transactions in the Tech industry.

Prior to Avolta, Pascal worked at SG as a financial auditor. He also co-founded a life science startup backed in A Series by Seventure in 2015.

Pascal graduated from EISTI in Computer Sciences and GEM Business School in Corporate Finance.

Entrepreneur in the fashion industry, Eve joined Avolta in 2013 as Business Developer. Eve is leading start-ups sourcing in France & Europe. Since 2017, she is also in charge of all Avolta operational processes in France and abroad.

Eve started her carreer in TV and radio production. She also worked for 10 years as an entrepreneur in the fashion industry as head of collection.

Eve graduated from the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Art.

Data driven and tech-savvy, Alexandre joined Avolta in July 2019 as a M&A analyst.

Prior to joining Avolta, Alexandre worked on fund of funds operations at BNP Paribas and as a VC analyst at Omnes Capital, with a special focus on deep tech startups. Alexandre graduated from ESCP Europe specializing in corporate finance and entrepreneurship.

Engineer and Data driven, Victor joined Avolta in June 2020 as a M&A Analyst. Victor started his financial career at the General Inspection of Société Générale.

He then joined Access Capital Partners as a Data Analyst and the investment team of Groupe Artémis where he worked on Tech deals and on Series A & B on behalf of Red River West. Victor graduated from Arts et Métiers and holds a Master in Finance from ESSEC Business School, specialized in Corporate Finance.

Tech enthusiast and passionate about entrepreneurship, Deborah joined Avolta in January 2021 as an Analyst, working on both fundraising and M&A transactions.

Prior to joining Avolta, Deborah worked hand in hand with founders of a Tech For Good startup in Paris for more than a year and of a Fintech in London, focusing on financial and data analysis. Deborah graduated from IESEG School of Management with a specialization in Corporate Finance.

Tech enthusiast and curiosity driven, Mehdy joined Avolta in January 2022 as a M&A and fundraising analyst.

Prior to joining Avolta, Mehdy worked as a M&A Analyst at Natixis Partners and Private Equity Analyst at Motion Equity Partners. Mehdy graduated from Master 224 Banking & Finance at Dauphine, where he specialized in Corporate Finance and Tech.

Data-driven & tech believer, Olivier joined Avolta in January 2022 as M&A and fundraising analyst.

Prior to joining Avolta, Olivier worked as M&A Analyst at Cardinal Partners and GEFCO’s financial department. Olivier graduated from Arts & Métiers and ESSEC Business School.