François Badoual took the reins of TotalEnergies Ventures (TEV), the corporate venturing unit of French global multi-energy company TotalEnergies, at the start of 2022 – following the departure of Girish Nadkarni – in a new role that also encompasses a new acceleration initiative at Station F in Paris.
This is in fact Badoual’s second stint at the helm of the unit, which was formerly known as Total Energy Ventures, Total Ventures and Total Carbon Neutrality Ventures. He was chief executive of Total Energy Ventures from 2012 until Nadkarni succeeded him in 2017, at which point Badoual moved to work in TotalEnergies’ operations in the United States.
TEV is focused on finding, funding and fostering high-potential startups which will contribute to creating a low-carbon future. Its current areas of interest include the electricity sector, renewable production, storage, decentralised energy management, trading, sales or electric mobility.
TEV reaps the rewards of its past investments with at least five of its portfolio companies acquired by special purpose acquisition companies (Spacs) last year, and another six were under negotiation for Spac acquisitions or flotations.
Badoual has held various operational managing positions in exploration and production for TotalEnergies – known then as Total – in Algeria between 2009 and 2012, and in Angola from 2006 to 2009. He graduated as a civil engineer.
