Mathieu Viallard is a co-founder and general partner at Axeleo Capital who has spent over 15 years focused exclusively on early-stage B2B enterprise software and infrastructure investments, making him a pure-play B2B specialist rather than a generalist investor. He combines his venture capital work with ultra-trail running, which he has publicly discussed as connecting endurance sports and resilience to his investment approach.

• Prioritizes B2B startups with a deep focus on cybersecurity, fintech, and enterprise software. He frequently celebrates portfolio wins in these sectors, such as fraud prevention platforms like Trustpair or digital security firms like Alsid, showing a clear preference for defensive technologies and infrastructure.
• Values realistic growth metrics and operational execution over hype. He has pushed back against the pressure for startups to follow rigid high-growth frameworks like the T2D3 rule, preferring founders who focus on solid SaaS benchmarks and sustainable scaling.
• Appreciates professional courtesy and active listening during pitch meetings. He highlighted a moment where a founder thanked him for being the only investor not checking a phone during their presentation, suggesting he values undivided attention and expects mutual respect.
• Encourages founders to build scalable platforms rather than custom solutions. He has advised entrepreneurs to think globally from the start to avoid the trap of becoming a service shop, emphasizing the importance of productizing technology for a wider market.
• Champions the European technical ecosystem and its engineering talent. He has argued that the region possesses a significant advantage in disruptive technologies like AI and blockchain, noting that the key challenge is retaining this high-level talent within the continent.