Interview With Odile Roujol

Ex-CEO Lancôme turned serial angel investor and Fab community founder, focusing on purpose-driven startups in well-being, sustainable fashion, and community building, making a positive impact by guiding and supporting founders.

How and why did you get started in private investing?

As an ex CEO Lancôme, I’ve been a serial business angel in Europe then in the US/ Silicon Valley, then launching a global Fab community (FaB fashion and beautytech) enabling founders and VCs/investors to share learnings:https://www.beautytechcommunity.com/

What is the single most important thing you value in an investment opportunity?

Founders, purpose and data-driven, building communities, customer-centric. Working in a collaborative way.

What are the best innovation themes that you see in the market today?

Well-being and a more holistic approach to beauty (one of the deals under way), platforms enabling people to access content, being educated, having a feeling of belonging, not only services/products. In the sustainable fashion category, new material science companies, natural dyeing, new supply chain and closed loop.

Beyond economic return, what kind of impact do you hope to make with your portfolio?

Taking care of people’s health/self-care, and taking care of the planet, and social impact.

What’s the most pressing challenge or pain point in managing your day-to-day private investment activity?

I take time with founders, guiding them, helping them to grow. High touch, low number of startups. Happy to work with a financial back office to save my time (VMS, for reference).

What is the hardest investment lesson you’ve learned and/or the biggest investment mistake you’ve made?

Too early to say, but I would say that I always try to add skills to the investment, and add value as not taking the lead.

What are your favorite industry information sources and/or services?

Crunchbase, Cb insights, Forbes, Fast company… but best references are from founders and other VCs in my network understanding Fab’s positioning and unique promise, leveraging a powerful global network.

Please leave us a book recommendation.

Proust (as being French, a famous French writer in the 20th century) to remember the value of time (new luxury), discovering new people and culture, and sharing great moments, thus building great memories and connecting us to yourself.

What’s your favorite non-business interest or hobby?

Hiking in California, Reading and writing short novels. And for sure traveling pre and past covid!

What’s your take on the private market overall?

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