Team
Pierre-Edouard is Founder and President of Otium Capital.After graduating from Paris-Sorbonne University and EM Lyon Business School, Pierre-Edouard began his career in finance in 1998 at Société Générale and Exane. After working there as a sales manager and analyst, he followed his entrepreneurial passion to launch his first company: BlackOrange. The company selling software and online video games recorded a turnover of 3 million euros in its first fiscal year before being sold in 2001.
He then focused on a gift box concept that he discovered in Belgium. The adventure began in 2003 in the form of a franchise called Smartbox. After experiencing very strong growth during the first years of activity, Smartbox bought out its franchisor with the support of financial partners. Today, Smartbox is the leader in its sector, present in 11 countries and with a turnover of 500 million euros. Turning to other projects, Pierre-Edouard handed over the management to a new operational team in 2013.
Pierre-Edouard has invested in several startups, including LaFourchette, a restaurant reservation platform. He backed the company from 2009 to 2014, when it was growing strongly to reach ¬15 million in revenues in France, Spain and Switzerland. LaFourchette was sold to TripAdvisor in 2014 for $150 million and the deal was hailed as one of the most successful exits in France at the time.
An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Pierre-Edouard put his ambition and optimism into every project to better support charitable causes.
François joined Otium Capital as CEO in 2022. He manages the investment teams and drives the strategy of Otium Capital.
François brings 15 years of experience in the energy industry and in strategy consulting. He first worked with the oilfield services major Schlumberger where he served in line management roles and as group Chief Economist. He then joined the BCG in Paris as Principal working for the energy and in the private investors and private equity practice. Lastly, he worked for Hager as Group Director of Strategy and M&A.
François graduated from Ecole Polytechnique and is an Engineer of the Corps des Mines
Cyril joined Otium Capital as CFO in 2022.
Cyril has held for 15 years Administrative and Financial Management positions for SMEs in various sectors, including services (industrial maintenance, design office, events) or industry (machining, surface treatment), also supervising human resources and information systems.
Cyril has used his expertise to structure and develop Finance Departments in growth or restructuring contexts. By integrating human resources and information systems into his scope, he has also acquired a broader vision of support functions.
Cyril graduated from the Sorbonne University.
Michael Levy is co-founder of Outspire Foundry, Otium Capital’s consumer startup studio.
He is also founder and former CEO of Deliver.ee, sold to Top Chrono in 2021.
Michael brings in-depth expertise in the launch and management of startups and e-commerce businesses and strategic innovation. Michael also has extensive experience in management, business strategy and new market development.
Michael is a graduate of Paris-Dauphine University and HEC Paris.
Eric joined Otium Capital as VP Finance in 2023.
He began his career in financial auditing for 10 years, first with Mazars and then with EY. Eric then spent 20 years as CFO and then CEO of Finance in various companies owned by investment funds. He worked in various sectors (packaging, food industry…) with a focus on managing and optimizing liquidity in all its forms (debt raising, VC fundraising, IPO…).
Eric has also managed several M&A transactions, the last of which was the sale of FRIAL to the LE DUFF group, finalized in December 2021. As VP Finance, Eric will be responsible for maximizing the liquidity available for investment, including financing transactions, supporting divestitures and portfolio rotation.
Aurélie joined Otium as Venture Partner in 2021. She is based in New York, USA. She manages the startup studio as well as the investments in the consumer, retail and entertainment fields in the US.
Previously, she co-founded and scaled a beverage brand in the US (DTC, hospitality and retail), and made the brand one of the top 5 nationwide. She had previously worked at Total for 5 years, in business development first, then in Investor Relations. She started her career learning sales at Xerox, audit at PwC and marketing at LOreal.
She holds a Master’s Degree from ESCP Europe (France) and Aston Business School (UK).
Stanislas joined Otium Capital as Partner & Chief of Staff in 2023.
He began his career at BCG, where he worked as a project manager on assignments for leading industrial players and investment funds. Stanislas brings experience both in Otium Capital’s pursuit of opportunistic investments and in the development of new investment themes to support growth.
Stanislas is a graduate of Ecole des Ponts ParisTech.
