Combret Ventures is the family office founded by rain-maker investment banker François Polge de Combret.

François is a former Secrétaire générale de l'Elysée turned a Lazard managing partner from 1981 to the 2005's IPO.

François Polge de Combret has helped many French entrepreneurs building recognized companies.

Among others, François is known for helping Bernard Arnault taking over Boussac and Dior in the 1980s and the acquisition of YSL by Kering. François also initiated the merger of Renault with Nissan and the creation of Safran.

François generated from 1990 to 2000, more than half of Lazard's income with a slew of medium-sized operations such as

ST Dupont bought by Dickson Poon,

Nina Ricci to PUIG,

CELINE to LVMH,

UNGARO to FERRAGAMO,

EADS to AIRBUS,

FRANCE TELECOM to ORANGE,

ZODIAC AEROSPACE to SAFRAN,

DACIA to RENAULT.

François was then proposed to associate his name to ROTHSCHILD & Co to become a significant shareholder and to quit LAZARD, but declined the offer.

In 2005, François left LAZARD and was to become Chairman of LEHMAN BROTHERS in Europe.

Ultimately joining UBS as a managing partner while creating his own company, FC FINANCE.

From 2011 to 2020, François was an international consultant for RIO TINTO and MUDABALA in Guinea on the Simandou iron ore project.

Francois brought in billion of dollars of investments to Guinea. Press coverage on potential corruption was dismissed in 2023 without any charges.

Alongside Henry KISSINGER, François was the only one having such a contract with RIO TINTO.

CV acts today as private investment holding company and family office and is managed by Augustin Polge de Combret.

Augustin, a graduate from Emory's Goizueta Business School, is a former real estate agent at Philippe Menager and FÉAU, turned stock picker after investing in TESLA as early as 2014.

While continuing working in real estate internationally, Augustin is now head of Combret Ventures' investment strategy in the stock markets, private equity or early stage companies.

CV operates as a minority or majority shareholder, supporting the long-term development of its portfolio companies.

CV's goal is to help entrepreneurs to unlock their potential for value creation.

CV is privately owned based in Paris, France and in London, UK.