François Delmas
Principal
Overview
François is a Principal at One Peak, where he invests in world-class scale-ups.
Prior to One Peak, François worked in strategy and finance consulting at Fabernovel (now EY-Fabernovel) in Paris. At Fabernovel, he partnered with large French enterprises to define and implement innovation strategies. Previously, François was an Analyst in mergers and acquisitions at Société Générale, Paris where he advised French and Belgian companies on buy-side and sell-side transactions across various sectors.
François holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from Ecole Centrale de Lyon, France, and a Master’s degree in International Finance from HEC Paris, France. He speaks English and French.
Originally from the French Alps, François is an outdoor enthusiast and a fully trained ski instructor as well as a certified kitesurfing instructor. In his free time, he also enjoys cooking and discovering new food and wine spots.
Q&A
What themes shaping the future of software are you most excited about?
AI is probably the single most obvious response to this question, but the ability for any company out there to do more with AI is highly dependent on its ability to generate reliable and consistent data, and ultimately its ability to digitize processes.
Take for example how despite Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) being the first software category ever created, it remains the most critical piece of technology any company would use. When thinking about how many businesses still rely solely on Excel or completely outdated systems for finance, HR, and other critical operational processes, enterprise application software is still very much an incredibly exciting market, ripe for transformation.
What motivates you?
What motivates me most is the opportunity to connect with others, share insights, and learn from their experiences. I find great value in exchanging ideas with people from diverse backgrounds, as it broadens my perspective and inspires continuous growth. This is especially true with founders of tech businesses who are driven to disrupt and innovate, making every interaction both highly inspiring and rewarding.
What’s the best life hack you’ve learned from a founder or colleague?
The best life hack I’ve learned throughout the last few years isn’t actually a hack as such; it’s that consistency is key. On our investment team, we always say to each other that we have a great job. Whether in the office or on the road, we’re spending our days speaking to incredibly smart and passionate people who make you believe that everything can be disrupted and that there is always a smarter way to do things. Yet somewhat counterintuitively, often the biggest improvements come from incremental gains, driven by sticking to basic principles or practices with consistency.
Connect
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