Xavier Niel

Xavier Niel is one of Europe's most influential tech billionaires and prolific angel investors. As the founder of Free (Iliad Group), France's disruptive telecom operator, Niel built a fortune that he has systematically reinvested into the startup ecosystem. Through Kima Ventures (listed separately as VC), he backs roughly 100 startups per year, but Niel also makes substantial personal angel investments in strategic companies. He founded Station F, the world's largest startup campus in Paris, and created 42, a tuition-free coding school with campuses worldwide. His personal angel portfolio spans hundreds of companies across fintech, AI, deep tech, and consumer internet, making him arguably the single most important individual supporter of the French tech ecosystem.