Alain Azan, General Partner, joined Sofinnova in Paris in 1983 and launched Sofinnova's U.S. operations in 1987. During his 23 years' experience as a venture capitalist, Alain has made over 50 investments in the information technology sector, resulting in over 25 IPOs and trade sales.

Prior to beginning his career in venture capital, Alain was an executive in the oil and gas exploration and machine tool industries, where he fulfilled a variety of operational roles based out of several countries.

Alain is appreciated for his warmth and his strong loyalty, which he shows to the entrepreneurs as well as their companies. That said, he is not shy about sharing his opinions. He's a great listener who can be counted on to provide candid feedback and, when necessary, to make a quick decision.

Alain studied Mechanical Engineering and Economics at the Marseilles-Luminy University in France, then completed his academics with an M.B.A. from the INSEAD (Fontainebleau, France).

He has also received the national honor of "Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur", as published in France's "Journal Officiel de la Republique Francaise".

Alain can be reached at (415) 228-3388 or azan@sofinnova.com.

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