Guillaume Lestrade

Guillaume Lestrade is a prominent figure in the French tech ecosystem, best known as the co-founder of Meero, a leading AI-powered photography platform that achieved unicorn status, and Leeto, a fintech startup acquired by Pennylane. Leveraging his extensive entrepreneurial success and operational expertise, Lestrade has emerged as an active and influential angel investor, primarily focusing on early-stage technology companies. His investment philosophy is deeply rooted in his firsthand experience building and scaling high-growth ventures, offering not just capital but also strategic guidance and mentorship to founders navigating similar challenges.

As an angel investor, Lestrade typically targets promising startups within the B2B SaaS, AI, and gaming sectors, often with a strong emphasis on the French market. He is known for backing teams with strong technical foundations and ambitious visions, providing critical support during their formative stages. His involvement often extends beyond mere financial contribution; founders frequently benefit from his insights into product development, market strategy, and fundraising, drawing on his experience from Meero's journey to raise over $300 million in funding. This hands-on approach makes him a highly sought-after investor for nascent companies.

Lestrade's investment portfolio, which includes at least 11 publicly disclosed investments according to Crunchbase, demonstrates a clear preference for seed-stage rounds. While specific check sizes for individual angel investors are rarely disclosed, based on his profile and the typical investment landscape for successful founders in the French tech scene, his first checks generally range from approximately $50,000 to $300,000. This range allows him to provide meaningful capital to early-stage ventures, often participating in larger seed rounds alongside institutional investors. His strategic backing helps these startups gain initial traction and prepare for subsequent funding stages, solidifying his role as a key enabler of innovation in the European tech landscape.