The People Behind LEC
Lazard Elaia Capital is led by a team that combines deep investment experience with hands-on operating backgrounds across European technology markets. We are deliberate about culture: we look for people who are intellectually rigorous, genuinely curious about technology, and capable of building trusted relationships with entrepreneurs over long periods of time. Our team reflects the geographic and sector diversity of the market we serve, and we continue to grow our capabilities in line with the opportunities we see.
Matthieu Vernet
Managing Partner
Matthieu has over two decades of experience in growth equity and technology investment across France, Germany, and the UK. Prior to co-founding LEC, he led European technology coverage at a global investment bank and served as an operating partner at a pan-European growth fund. He serves on the boards of four portfolio companies and is a frequent speaker at technology conferences across the continent.
Isabelle Thorvaldsen
Partner, Investment
Isabelle specialises in enterprise software and industrial technology, with particular expertise in SaaS business model assessment and international commercialisation strategy. She began her career as a software engineer before transitioning to venture investing, giving her an unusually grounded perspective on the technical and business dimensions of company building. Isabelle leads LEC's origination efforts across the Nordic and DACH regions.
Rafael Sorrenti
Partner, Capital Markets
Rafael oversees LEC's relationships with institutional investors, co-investment partners, and sovereign wealth funds across Europe, North America, and the Middle East. He brings fifteen years of experience structuring alternative investment vehicles and has successfully raised over €2 billion in commitments across previous roles. Rafael is based between Paris and London and leads LEC's investor relations function globally.
Céline Marchetti
Principal, Portfolio Operations
Céline works directly with LEC's portfolio companies on operational priorities including go-to-market strategy, senior talent acquisition, and cross-border expansion planning. She previously served as Chief of Staff at a European B2B software company that grew from Series A to successful exit during her tenure. Her operating background allows her to engage portfolio management teams as a credible and practical partner rather than a purely advisory voice.
Jonas Weidemann
Principal, Research and Sector Coverage
Jonas leads LEC's proprietary research function, mapping competitive dynamics across European technology verticals and maintaining the firm's forward-looking view on sector inflection points. He holds advanced degrees in economics and computer science and previously worked as a technology analyst at a leading European asset manager. Jonas's research is a critical input into LEC's investment thesis development and new opportunity evaluation.