Biography
Francisco is the founder of Axon Partners Group, where he serves as Chairman. Axon is a global firm focused on technology and innovation with a two-dimensional approach: investment and consulting. As of today, the company employs circa one hundred seasoned professionals dedicated to different tech-related investment strategies including: growth, crossover, sustainability and fund of funds. The company is listed in the Spanish Stock Exchange [BME: APG], has offices in Madrid, Milan, Riyadh and Bogotá, and venture partners covering Israel, India and the US.
Francisco holds an MSc in Aeronautics and an MBA, both from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and did his thesis at the Polytechnic of Milan. In his early days, he worked in the aerospace industry—first at EADS/CASA Espacio (now part of Airbus) in the design of components for the Ariane V program at Arianespace, and later joined satellite operator Hispasat as mission manager, participating in both the Hispasat H1C and H1D satellites, where he was responsible for the antennae and orbit control systems. At Hispasat, he also led several joint development projects funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission, including an optical-based interferometer for satellite control and a satellite network showcase for remote working.
In the early 2000s, he joined tech strategy consulting firm Analysys in the UK, where he served until he founded Axon in late 2006. At Analysys, Francisco directed many large telecom consulting assignments across Europe as an advisor to corporates, private equity groups, and regulators, including the launch of new ventures, product strategy, business and regulatory economic modelling, and M&A transactions.
Within Axon, Francisco has not only created and developed the foundations of a diversified investment and consulting firm with global presence, but also participated in over seventy tech companies across Europe, the Americas, Israel and India—often as a board member. He also supervises Axon’s commitments in circa fifty venture capital GPs worldwide, covering all technologies from software to biotech. Furthermore, many of the deals executed at Axon have been joint efforts with other top VCs, large corporations, or even universities and innovation centers globally. In addition, Francisco developed much of Axon’s investor and client network, which includes a large number of technology corporations, financial institutions and insurance companies. The combination of global exposure and broad experience has provided Francisco with a unique vision of the innovation landscape and investment instruments worldwide, from university spin-offs and tech transfer to large IPO deals.
Francisco is also a Board Member of SpainCap, the Spanish association of Venture Capital and Private Equity firms, actively contributing to the development and visibility of the industry.
Francisco was born in Madrid, where he lives with his wife and five children. He speaks fluent Spanish, English and Italian.