Alexandre

Led XTX Markets’ corporate venture arm as the sole full-time investor. Deployed ~£40M in 30+ machine learning startups (Late Seed to Series A) across Europe, US, and Israel, and sat on 12 boards as a Board Observer. Lead investor in ~50% of deals.

Led initial investments in top AI/deep tech companies including Anthropic (~15× MOIC to date, backed by Google & Amazon), Wayve (autonomous driving, backed by Richard Branson & Balderton), BIOS (biotech, NIH-supported), BlueSkeye AI (computer vision for health), SWAPP (AI for architecture, backed by Eurazeo & Entrée), Terray Therapeutics (AI drug discovery, partnered with Alphabet’s Calico), IOMED (health data platform, co-led with Philips), and Voiceitt (speech AI, partnered with Cisco).

Oversaw follow-on rounds to fuel growth in portfolio companies such as TraceAir (construction drone analytics, PeakSpan-led, ~4× ROI in 1 year), Logically (AI for misinformation, Vitruvian-led), Turbine (simulated cell drug discovery, Merck VC-led), and the exit of DiA Imaging (AI ultrasound analysis) to Philips.

Established XTX Ventures as a recognized deep tech ecosystem player by initiating strategic partnerships and community programs such as Conception X, Creative Destruction Lab (Paris/Oxford/HEC), and PostUrban Ventures accelerators, investing in top PhD and pre-seed founders (Sat on the Investment Committees). Leveraged the Young VCs network (founded 2017, 1,000+ members) to generate proprietary deal flow.

Launched an Investment Club enabling family offices and high-net-worth individuals to co-invest €500K-€1M tickets in late Seed and Series A startups on a deal-by-deal basis, e.g. Assurly (mortgage insurance)

Sourced deals, coordinated investment process, led due diligence, financial projections, term sheet negotiations.

Sourced and evaluated venture investment opportunities (Series A to Series C) for Sir Richard Branson and LBO acquisition opportunities (late-stage) for the Virgin Group.

Co-drafted investment committee papers and supported deal execution for high-profile investments and follow-ons, including Upside Foods (lab-grown meat pioneer, backed by Bill Gates), Slack, Blockchain.com, Capsule Pharmacy, Doctor On Demand, LoanSnap, as well as the $1B exit of Ring to Amazon.

Monitored a portfolio of 40+ Virgin investments (including TransferWise, Slack, Pinterest)

Managed Richard Branson’s crypto asset portfolio and identified strategic opportunities in the blockchain space for the Virgin Group; spoke on blockchain panels and conferences, including SVK Crypto and family office conference DC Finance.

Co-developed the LBO model to determine Virgin Trains USA valuation (Miami-Orlando railway), a brand-licensing deal.

Explored possibilities for Richard Branson to dive into the Marianna Trench (world’s deepest point at ~11km)), with a submarine.

Originated investment opportunities for rebranding into Virgin companies, which were presented to the investment committee in sectors including hospitality (Virgin Hotels), out-of-home entertainment, transport and financial services.

Formulated the investment thesis that led to the acquisition of the largest European franchise of McDonald’s with 435 restaurants across the Nordic region by Guy Hands (fund CIO and Chairman) in a team of four, incl. a detailed analysis of leases and consumer behaviours and a turnaround strategy recommendation. The investment proved highly successful and remains one of Guy & Richard Hands’ main focuses today.

Won the bid for Welcome Hotels, a chain of 12 German hotels in a team of three; drafted due diligence and investment thesis, market consolidation strategy, management compensation package mechanism and LBO model.

Lead analyst on Cleor, a jewellery retail sector deal: structured €15m support capital transaction including hybrid debt/equity instruments and warrants; negotiated with 21 Centrale Partners; drafted investment thesis & presented to CIO of Terra Firma.