# Denis Barrier

> Denis Barrier is the French co-founder and CEO of Cathay Innovation, launched with Mingpo Cai in Paris in 2015. A solid-state physicist who began researching semiconductor quantum dots at Orange, he moved through the French Treasury and venture investing before building a firm that connects startups with established industrial partners across international markets. He led Chime’s 2017 Series B and was named to Forbes’ Midas List Europe in 2025.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO at Cathay Innovation
- **Organizations:** Cathay Innovation, Iris Capital, Orange, Innovacom, French Treasury
- **From:** Meudon-la-Forêt, France
- **Nationality:** French
- **Education:** Graduate; PhD in solid-state physics, École Normale Supérieure, Engineering degree, École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications
- **Known for:** Co-founded Cathay Innovation in 2015., Led the Series B round in Chime in 2017; Chime completed its IPO in June 2025., Named to Forbes’ Midas List Europe 2025.

## Career timeline

- **—** — Began as a researcher at Orange, working on semiconductor quantum dots.
- **—** — Served at the French Treasury, with responsibilities for sovereign holdings in aerospace, defence and media.
- **—** — Held leadership roles at Innovacom and Orange corporate venture; managed international activities for the Orange/Publicis fund at Iris Capital.
- **2015** — Co-founded Cathay Innovation in Paris with Mingpo Cai.
- **2017** — Led Chime’s Series B financing.
- **2024** — Cathay launched C.Lab, a corporate advisory operation.
- **2025** — Cathay announced Fund III’s $1 billion final close; Chime went public; Barrier joined Forbes’ Midas List Europe.
- **2026** — Published arguments for coordinated European AI industrial development and co-authored Cathay’s Moonshot AI investment account.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Cathay Innovation in 2015.
- Led the Series B round in Chime in 2017; Chime completed its IPO in June 2025.
- Named to Forbes’ Midas List Europe 2025.
- Co-led the firm when its $1 billion Fund III reached final close in May 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Co-authored Cathay’s Behind the Term Sheet: Moonshot AI, describing the firm’s investment rationale and introductions to European partners.
- **2026-06** — Published an essay in The European Business Review advocating coordinated AI infrastructure, energy, procurement and strategic venture investment in Europe.
- **2025-12** — Named to Forbes’ Midas List Europe 2025.
- **2025-05** — Cathay announced the final close of its $1 billion Fund III focused on vertical AI.

## Links

- Website: https://cathayinnovation.com/people/denis-barrier/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/denisbarrier

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/denis-barrier
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-27