Shapers, a Portuguese fintech-focused investment firm founded by brothers Philippe and Thomas Teixeira da Mota, has launched its $75 million Fund I. The fund targets early-stage fintech companies, with cheque sizes ranging from $500,000 to $5 million.
The fund has already made eight investments across Europe, backing companies such as Deblock, Diligent, Chift, Ferovinum, and Klearly. One notable early win came when Ember, another portfolio startup, was acquired by Starling Bank. Shapers are drawn to opportunities in wealth management, payments, regtech, and increasingly, crypto and stablecoins, categories they see as defining forces in the next decade of finance.
Betting on visionary founders
Founded by brothers Philippe and Thomas Teixeira da Mota, Shapers is shaping up as a fund built on relationships and conviction. Philippe, who previously spent nearly a decade at Hedosophia as its first employee, has backed several category-defining companies. Thomas brings his strategic experience from Bain, and together, the duo saw the perfect moment to launch a more focused, founder-first venture platform.
The story of Finary exemplifies Shapers’ approach. Philippe first invested in Finary’s CEO, Mounir Laggoune, back in 2020, when the startup was little more than an MVP. Drawn by Laggoune’s energy and ambition to democratise private-banking-like services, Philippe doubled down as the company expanded, reaffirming his philosophy of long-term partnership with founders.
A network-driven ecosystem
One of Shapers’ standout advantages lies in its limited partner base. More than 60 fintech founders and operators have invested in the fund, including leaders from Qonto, Wise, N26, Bitpanda, and Affirm. They are joined by major banks, seasoned GPs from respected VC firms like Creandum, LocalGlobe, and Valar Ventures, as well as traditional institutional backers. This network not only provides capital but also opens doors for portfolio companies to scale faster, access new markets, and recruit top talent.
Shapers has been most active in France and the UK but has also backed companies in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. By partnering with both local and US-based funds, the firm leverages its specialist edge while staying plugged into global investment flows.
