This French VC went from posting on YouTube to raising a $12M fund for Y Combinator startups

investment capital is filled with investors who claim to have been able to reach the next big thing. Meanwhile, Gabriel Garrusson, a French engineer who turned into an investment, built VC about one candidate: If Y Combinator was not, he will not invest in it.

This discipline has pushed Jarrosson from the filming of Scrappy Venture Explorers in Paris to the management of more than $ 12 million of assets in Lobster Capital, with a second larger box in business, according to the last SEC files. Simple area: It is believed that the YC record in the production of billion dollars is that it excels in chasing startups elsewhere.

In 2017, in frustration due to the lack of access to promising French startups, Jarrosson launched YouTube to exchange his investment journey in French.

The channel has grown loyal followers, developed into one of the largest angel unions in Europe, and since 2020 it has been published 36 million dollars in startups, most of which are YC graduates. This record paved the way for Lobster Capital, which closed its first fund with $ 12 million, exceeding its goal of $ 8 million.

Jarrosson’s thinking about the support of emerging companies only depends on the possibility. According to this report, about 4.5 % of YC companies become unit (unlike 2.5 % results for other startups supported by the seed),,. About 45 % of companies continue to raise the chain A. (Higher than an average of 33 %).

Likewise, YC funded more than 90 alone, with nearly a quarter of those who grow in Decacorn.

For this reason, the YC offers, where the assessments often work on complications higher than their non -YC peers in the seed phase, do not deter Jarrosson.

“If you are thinking about VC mathematics and returns, it is clear that these results are great for your wallet. While you should investors, you have to ask yourself, can this company become the next rhinoceros?” The founder and administrative partner said in an interview with Techcrunch.

“If the answer is yes, then it is often okay to invest even with a slightly higher evaluation. It may be a seed of $ 20 million, $ 30 million, or even 40 million dollars.

Ride the wave of artificial intelligence and content as a trench

Lobster Capital, like most of the early investors, has alleviated the increase in the first startups that dominate the last YC batches. Jarrosson notes that three consecutive groups have destroyed the revenue growth records within the accelerator, as companies reach millions within months.

There are reports that some traction appears on a global level, which appears fragile by pilots or heavy annual contracts. While Jarrosson admits the risks, he insists that early revenues remain the most difficult obstacle, and for most of these startups, retaining can be fixed.

But more widely, the biggest question about the Jarrosson thesis is access, as the YC experimental days attract hundreds of money that chases the companies themselves.

Jarrosson is attributed to the edge of the reputation within the YC network, the vision of its content, and the background of its founder. YC founders evaluate investors on Bookface, the teacher’s interior platform, and Jarrosson, strong reviews help in allocations.

Likewise, the podcast that includes the founders of YC and 40,000+ followers, as he shares his investment journey and Nuggets on anything YC, is a continuous marketing.

“I am trying to do well by the founders. People also hear about the company from social media, and as a former founder, they know that I can help them because many money built by people who have not been operating before,” said Garrusson, who has launched many startups in the past.

Jarrosson is part of an increasing list of investors who build money against the background of personal brands. Harry Stengles, Bodkster 20VC, who raised a fund worth $ 400 million this year, and Gary Tan, who participated in establishing the capital and set it up to $ 3 billion in AUM before becoming the CEO of YC, is like them.

Like both investors, Jarrosson is treated social media, YouTube, and podcast as societal tools and deals engines. He adds that the content strategy also helps to withdraw the limited partners who often discover it through videos or podcasts before seeing the roof of the box.

The administrative partner has made more than 100 investments through his first funds in the Lobster Capital union and launch, which was launched in 2023, which supported nearly 30 startups in B2B Saas, technology infrastructure, and artificial intelligence tools.

It is calculated by two singors and several “Sonicors” through the union and the box, including Jeeves, Baubap, Fluteflow, Metriport, ALINEA and Jiga.

“I have a busy record. It has been present for more than 20 years. We know that he supports the best founders and creates the best founders,” Garroson said. “It can be said, that the results of YC in the future may be better. But even if they remain what they are, we know it is a very good bet.”

Investing only in YC companies is not a completely new concept. Other VC companies, including preparation, began, Pioneer, Phosphor Capital and Rebel Fund, with the same strategy.