Serena has appointed Margaux Gregoir as Partner, a move it frames as pivotal to its next phase of working with European corporates on innovation and venture strategies. The firm says the hire strengthens its ability to combine investor judgment with operating know-how, addressing a rising demand for targeted corporate venture approaches. The announcement follows several years in which Serena has expanded a model that blends institutional investing with strategic collaboration alongside large enterprises.
Background on Serena
Founded as an operator-driven investor, Serena positions itself as a partner that supports founders with hands-on expertise across scaling, execution, and strategic focus. Since 2020, the firm has built a distinctive venture model with major groups, notably FDJ UNITED, MGEN, and Allianz, aligning investment theses with long-term priorities. That approach emphasizes earlier recognition of market inflection points and coordinated action to create durable value.
Profile of Margaux Gregoir
Gregoir brings a hybrid profile shaped by finance leadership and venture investing across European technology sectors. She served as CFO at Luko during its hypergrowth period and expansion across Europe, developing the operational and financial rigor required for complex scaling. Before that, she invested at Alven in fintech, insurtech, and climate scale-ups, experience Serena says complements its ambition to read turning points early and invest with conviction.
Responsible Tech Orientation
Alongside her operating and investment background, Gregoir is associated with initiatives such as unlock VC and Climate Mosaic. Serena highlights this involvement as part of a broader commitment to a more responsible and inclusive technology ecosystem. The firm believes this perspective will inform both founder support and corporate partnerships, particularly in climate and impact-oriented segments.
Strategic Focus on Corporates
Serena reports accelerating interest from corporates seeking deeper, more strategic involvement in venture that goes beyond passive financial exposure. The firm’s model is built to translate corporate priorities into focused investment roadmaps, with governance and execution designed to deliver measurable transformation. Gregoir’s appointment is intended to reinforce that capability, pairing sector insight with an operator’s discipline around timing, resourcing, and outcomes.
Value Proposition for Founders
For founders, Serena positions “operator-driven” investing as practical guidance on execution paired with capital placed where it materially advances milestones. The firm says Gregoir’s background will strengthen support across hiring, internationalization, and capital efficiency, areas that become decisive during scale. The goal is to offer sharper, faster decision-making and more targeted help during critical growth windows.
Portfolio and Early Outcomes
Serena indicates the corporate-aligned strategy now counts roughly thirty active investments, spanning several themes where corporates and startups can co-create value. The firm also notes early results, including exits such as Leonardo.Ai, which it associates with Canva, and helios.do, which it associates with Younited. These outcomes are presented as validation that strategic venture programs can deliver both financial results and strategic learning.
Market Context and Timing
The appointment arrives amid a European market where corporates seek innovation pathways that combine speed with risk management. Venture activity increasingly rewards investors who can identify inflection points early and align resources to capture them. Serena argues that its model, supported by leadership with operating depth, is designed to meet this environment with greater precision.
Outlook
With Gregoir on board, Serena plans to expand partnerships that link corporate priorities to investable theses, pilot collaborations, and scalable commercial outcomes. The firm expects continued demand from enterprises that want conviction-driven strategies rather than broad, experimental programs. Execution will focus on deal selection, portfolio support, and translating strategic intent into measurable progress.
Serena’s addition of Margaux Gregoir signals a deliberate push to strengthen its operator-led venture model for both founders and corporates. By combining hands-on experience, investment judgment, and a responsible tech orientation, the firm aims to shape Europe’s next wave of market leaders. The strategy rests on aligning capital with execution and on turning corporate innovation goals into tangible venture results.