Turn ambitious ideas into lasting companies

We spot hidden gems — under-the-radar founders and ideas ready to set the standard. We invest early, fast, and simply, putting capital and time into bold entrepreneurs and innovative models in France and beyond.

Backed by Mathieu Tarnus,
Founder & CEO of Positive Group
(Sarbacane, User.com, noCRM, Signitic…),
a fast-growing European tech
company with 400 employees and 30,000 customers across the globe.

We ground this vision
around three pillars

We believe entrepreneurship is at the heart of every nation’s progress. taking risks, solving problems, driving innovation, and shaping society. For us, entrepreneurial initiative must remain at the center of everything we do.

  • 01.

    Shared strategic vision

    We see investing as a collaboration, not a transaction. We believe in mutual commitment, grounded in trust and high standards. This translates into open dialogue, regular strategic discussions, and a co-creative mindset that aligns founders and investors on the same path forward.

  • 02.

    Respect for sound fundamentals

    We value sustainable growth over shortcuts. That means reasonable financial structures, respect for cycles, and practices that put people at the core of the journey. We know companies evolve through ups and downs, and we stand by entrepreneurs with a steady, long-term approach.

  • 03.

    Long-term project sustainability

    We invest with patience. Our ability to reinvest and adapt our exit timelines ensures that each company can grow at its natural pace. For us, sustainability isn’t just about ESG — it’s about building resilient businesses that last and have a lasting impact.

Not a classic VC team

A mix of builders and backers who understand your journey.

  • Mathieu Tarnus

    Founder & CEO of Positive Group, one of Europe’s leading tech companies in marketing solutions.

    At 404 Ventures, he brings the experience of hypergrowth and a founder’s mindset to help entrepreneurs navigate their earliest and toughest challenges.

  • Julien Trucy

    A former trader and multi-asset investor turned entrepreneur

    Julien built startup programs within one of Europe’s leading innovation hubs, supporting dozens of founders, before co-founding a VC-backed legaltech. At 404 Ventures, he combines financial acumen with hands-on entrepreneurial experience to back founders from day one.

We’re not just investors
we’re entrepreneurs who have lived the startup journey ourselves.

Through successes and failures, we’ve built operating expertise in business, strategy, marketing, and finance, plus a strong network of trusted experts ready to step in when needed.

  • Build products from scratch

  • Hire and scale teams

  • Raise capital under pressure

  • Win first customers

  • Keep communities engaged with limited resources

We invest at founder speed

Backing ambitious ideas early with simple terms and real support.

  • Stage

    Very early, pre-seed & seed

  • Checks

    €50k–€200k (with follow-on flexibility)

  • Geography

    Accross Europe

  • Markets

    Tech, consumer, healthcare, fintech…

Why 404?

Because we’ve been in your shoes.

We know the highs, the lows, and what it takes to push through.

01.

Entrepreneur-led

We’ve built and scaled companies ourselves, so we get it.

02.

Fast decisions

Clear answers in days, not months.

03.

Simple terms

Clean, founder-friendly, no hidden traps

04.

Active support

intros, hiring, fundraising prep.

05.

Trusted experts

ready to help you scale faster.

Portfolio

We invest at the crossroads of innovation and boldness, in companies embracing breakthrough ideas and technologies, committed to making a difference. Together we innovate the way the world moves.

News & Insights from 404

Updates from 404 and our community of founders pushing boundaries every day.

Got a bold idea? We’d love to hear from you.

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Not. Funded. Yet.