EDF Pulse Ventures named CVC of the Year

Each year, the Maddy Invest Awards shine a spotlight on the projects that have made a lasting impact — those that dared to innovate, pushed boundaries and inspired others. Celebrating the most outstanding initiatives while looking firmly to the future, the Awards are organised by Maddyness, the leading media platform for the French tech ecosystem, to honour the individuals and organisations driving change in the investment landscape throughout the year. 

This year’s jury brought together leading figures from the innovation ecosystem: Carol Barkatz (Chief Executive Officer, Maddyness), Guillaume Vitrich (Partner, White & Case), Géraldine Le Meur (Partner, Frenchfounders), Marc Menasé (Founding Partner, Founders Future), Thibaud Elzière (Founder, Hexa), Thierry Vandewalle (Founder, Wind), Roxanne Varza (Director, Station F), Marco Oiknin (Managing Partner, Alpha Capital Partners), Julien David Nitlech (Managing Partner, Iris) and Maya Noël (Chief Executive Officer, France Digitale). 

Together, they named EDF Pulse Ventures as CVC of the Year.

This recognition is no coincidence. In 2025, EDF Pulse Ventures further cemented its role as a catalyst for innovation in support of the electric revolution. Under the leadership of Yann Coïc, Head of Investments, the team demonstrated that corporate venture capital is far more than a financial tool — it is a strategic lever for transforming a major industrial group and accelerating its ability to meet the challenges of tomorrow. 

In 2025, EDF Pulse Ventures invested in four high impact start-ups: 

• La Solive, which trains the next generation of professionals in energy efficient building renovation; 
• MX3D, a pioneer in metal additive manufacturing, helping to redefine industrial performance; 
• Siteflow, which digitises field operations through a SaaS solution; 
• Inicio, which identifies the most suitable sites for the successful development of photovoltaic and agrivoltaic projects. 

These investment choices were deliberate. They form part of a roadmap closely aligned with the EDF Group’s operational priorities, while bringing unique diversity and complementarity to the portfolio. Two French start-ups, two international ones — a well balanced mix of hardware, software and skills. 

Beyond investment, EDF Pulse Ventures has delivered tangible synergies. Each of these start-ups has signed at least one MoU or PoC with the Group, and most have gone on to secure commercial contracts — giving real meaning to the mission of a corporate venture arm: building genuine win–win partnerships. MX3D is a perfect illustration, already working with four Group entities, including Framatome, to reduce costs and improve industrial performance through additive manufacturing. 

EDF Pulse Ventures also completed two successful exits — Zenpark and Ekoscan — generating significant value in the case of Ekoscan and demonstrating the CVC’s ability to renew and rebalance its portfolio. Yet the commitment does not end there: collaboration continues even after exit, notably between Ekoscan and EDF’s nuclear businesses, proving that EDF Pulse Ventures fosters long term, strategic relationships.