We are an
entrepreneurial platform
Our sole mission is to support entrepreneurs and accompany them on their journey.
For over two decades, we have been driving impact by investing in startups and SMEs, renovating unique properties, and supporting charity projects.
We were founded by Pascal Cagni
Pascal is a French tech leader best known for his years as Vice-President & General Manager of Apple EMEIA, from 2000 when he was hired by Steve Jobs to 2012 working alongside Tim Cook. Under his leadership, Apple EMEIA was the fastest growing region within Apple for several years, with revenue growing from 1 to nearly US$40 billion.
Pascal grew up in Alsace. He is passionate about tech & entrepreneurship. He began working with Booz Allen in California, and further embraced the world of tech, joining Compaq in 1988, then Packard Bell in 1995. He contributed to the firm’s success as Europe General Manager; notably developing operations and industrial facilities in Angers.
He started supporting entrepreneurial projects long before Apple, and created C4 Industries in 2004 to foster growth in the dynamic world of tech through strategic minority investments. In 2014, he founded C4 Ventures, the leading European VC firm that has invested through two funds in some 50 startups, 9 of which became unicorns. In parallel, he founded C4 Collection that gathers unique renovated properties in the most exclusive locations.
Since 2017, he is also Chairman of Business France and French Ambassador for International Investments, appointed by French President Emmanuel Macron.
C4 today is a team of talented individuals who have been working together for years for the development of all entities.
We strive to adopt a comprehensive and consistent approach and to bring added value to each and every entreprise that we work on, whether it’s a building, a business, a philanthropic project.
Why “C4”?
The genesis of our name is a tale of passion, family, and a commitment to ignite powerful ideas. « C4 » derives from our founder’s surname, Cagni, and symbolizes his profound connection to family, represented by his four children.
C4 is also a metaphor for the explosive potential we see in companies we invest in. Like the explosive C4, we aim to ignite groundbreaking ideas and propel industry transformation. At C4, we catalyze innovation and embrace explosive growth. Our approach focuses on delivering added value to every enterprise we engage with.
Our logo
The hexagonal logo, the signature of the C4 brand, symbolizes strength, connectivity, and protection. It represents the resilience of our entities and our commitment to fostering growth. The hexagon encloses a flower, a natural geometric shape used by honeybees to construct their hive cells. This imagery reflects construction, mirroring the philosophy that each C4 entity acts as a cell, strengthening the companies we invest in. The core hexagonal structure signifies resilience and connectivity.
Furthermore, it embodies protection, underscoring our dedication to safeguarding what we value and nurture.
This echoes the ethos behind the Cagni Foundation C4 which has been working to improve access to education, culture, and the arts for children and disadvantaged populations worldwide, supporting over 15 projects since 2011.
The fact that it is surrounded by a second, larger hexagon symbolizes what we offer: ever-widening possibilities and growth.
Last, but not least, the hexagon represents the shape of France, reflecting Pascal Cagni’s ties to the country and his pro bono role as Chairman of Business France and French Ambassador for international investments.
A symbol of rejuvenation, calm, and nature – three elements central to the experience of staying at the unique properties of C4 Collection.
The design is based on “Sacred geometry”, which studies geometric forms in the natural world. One such shape is the flower of life, a figure composed of evenly spaced, overlapping circles.
It symbolizes the pursuit of singularity and beauty through precision and method, core values for both C4 Industries and C4 Ventures.
The six petals are also a reference to the six members of the Cagni family: Pascal, his wife Catherine, and their four children Inès, Diane, Paul and Charles.
Manifesto
You are an entrepreneur. Just like us.
You innovate, you create.
Your project is unique, daring, and unprecedented.
What may seem like a detail to some is essential in your eyes.
You are committed and involved.
You take risks to succeed and to have an impact on the world.
We may choose to work together, to support you with our time, our experience, our network. Not just with money.
That’s why we want to understand everything, explore everything and share everything with you before deciding to invest.
We are C4.
What about you?