50-Partners
- Founded
- 2012-01-01 in Paris, France
- Headquarters
- Paris, Île-de-France, France
50 Partners is a Paris-based startup accelerator and venture capital firm founded in 2012 by Jérome Masurel. Unlike traditional accelerators, it operates a unique “capital for expertise” model: a curated group of 50 successful entrepreneurs serve as lifetime mentors, holding shares in the startups they support rather than the accelerator taking equity. Over 12+ years, 50 Partners has expanded from digital into three additional verticals—Impact, Healthcare, and Web3—each with its own set of 50 Partners. The program accepts only 6-8 startups per vertical annually, providing intensive, long-term support that often extends beyond the official three-year program. With a full-time team of around 256 employees and a network of over 200 entrepreneur Partners, the firm has built a powerful ecosystem that includes corporates, investors, and C-level experts. It has completed 26+ tracked investments and 12 portfolio exits, and continues to back early-stage tech companies with tailored mentorship, workspace, and access to a premier network.
Detailed Review
Business Model
50 Partners distinguishes itself through a "capital for expertise" model. Instead of charging fees or taking equity for itself, it recruits top-tier entrepreneurs from companies like BlaBlaCar, Showroomprivée, Leboncoin, Dataiku, and Talentsoft to serve as lifetime mentors. These Partners help select startups—typically 25 per year from 1,500–2,000 applicants—and then work intensively with founders on strategy, product, sales, marketing, and fundraising. The accelerator’s full-time team of analysts and experts conducts outreach and due diligence, but the final selection and mentoring are driven by the Partners. This structure aligns incentives directly between mentors and startups, ensuring high-quality, committed guidance.
Verticals and Program Structure
The program is structured into four verticals: 50 Partners Tech (the original digital/tech vertical), 50 Partners Impact (focused on environmental and social solutions, launched around 2018), 50 Partners Healthcare (health-tech innovations, launched around 2021), and 50 Partners Web3 (blockchain, crypto, and decentralised projects, launched in 2023). Each vertical has its own group of 50 Partners and accepts 6-8 startups per year. Startups receive a customised "for life" support package that includes pairing with relevant Partners, access to a centrally located workspace in Paris, introductions to investors and corporate partners, and ongoing guidance that can last for years—even after graduation.
Venture Capital Arm
50 Partners also operates a venture capital arm, 50 Partners Capital, which makes co-investments alongside its Partners. The fund typically participates in seed and Series A rounds, with average check sizes around $2 million. As of 2026, the firm has a total of $53.5M to $81.2M in funding under management and has seen 12 portfolio exits.
Leadership and Team
Founder Jérome Masurel, who previously worked with incubators in London during the dot-com bubble, designed 50 Partners to avoid the equity-heavy models that failed during downturns. The current leadership includes Joanne Courbon as Managing Director, Lucile Brachet as Managing Director of Impact, Maxime Précourt as Chief Financial Officer, and co-founder Charles Fourault. No CEO, CTO, CCO, or COO roles are explicitly listed on the official site; Masurel may serve as CEO in practice but that title is not confirmed.
Key Products
Tech Vertical
Accelerator program for digital, SaaS, fintech, cybersecurity, and B2B startups.
Impact Vertical
Supports startups in environmental sustainability, circular economy, social innovation, and mobility.
Health Vertical
Focuses on healthtech, medtech, e-health, and biotech startups.
Web3 Vertical
Accelerates blockchain, DeFi, RWA (real-world assets), and decentralized application startups.
50 Partners Capital
Venture capital fund that provides follow-on equity investments to portfolio companies.
50 Partners Tech
The original accelerator vertical for digital and technology startups.
50 Partners Impact
A dedicated accelerator for startups developing environmental or social solutions.
50 Partners Healthcare
A vertical focused on healthtech innovations.
50 Partners Web3
Web3 and blockchain startup accelerator.
Offices & Headcount
256 employees (approx.)
Key Persons
- Jérôme Masurel
Founder