Next annual rendez-vous
in September 2025
Observatoire will host its annual rendez-vous at Château Les Crostes under the Patronage of HRH Prince Felix of Luxembourg.
Where
2086 Chem. de Saint-Louis
83510 Lorgues, France
When
Sunday to Tuesday,
28-31 September 2025
Observatoire showcases all the research and analytical capabilities the Calista team can do to support each and every family we partner with - not only in their investment processes - but also in any of their entrepreneurial aspirations.
Rajaa Mekouar
The potential of PEVC presents gigantic opportunities but also potential risks, today no less than yesterday. This asset class is dynamic, innovative, and sometimes even disruptive. On the other hand, FOs and private investors, by definition, have a long-term performance objective and a strong natural appetite for PEVC. However, they are confronted with access, valuation, monitoring, and sustainability issues, and more globally, with what will happen next. This is Observatoire’s raison d’être.
However, they are confronted with access, valuation, monitoring, and sustainability issues, and more globally, with what will happen next. This is Observatoire’s raison d’être.
However, they are confronted with access, valuation, monitoring, and sustainability issues, and more globally, with what will happen next. This is Observatoire’s raison d’être.
Observatoire is the « lens » through which we experience Private Equity and Venture Capital as a key and growing asset class for private investors (Family Offices and entrepreneurs alike). It is a platform nurtured by investors and entrepreneur talent providing data, insights and advanced analytical views on how to better optimise the allocation. It is also an annual rendez-vous of families who gather to exchange their knowledge and experience. Observatoire came to existence given our unique viewpoint of how PEVC is tackled by Family Offices. Powered by a deep network of over 300 families, and a long-time investment experience, Calista is gathering insights and convictions that are continuously feeding our ecosystem of investment opportunities and investors.
The observation helps us go beyond mere financial performance to understand the ultimate purpose and motivation of our families to dig deeper into PEVC. It also enables us to identify future stars in emerging investment areas.
The “observation” helps us go beyond mere financial performance to understand the ultimate purpose and motivation of our families to dig deeper into PEVC. It also enables us to identify future “stars” in emerging investment areas. Through meticulous analytical work, we underpin our investment effort beyond empirical evidence, thus highlighting the risks associated with the opportunity.
Our raison d’être is to bring together a professional approach and a family mindset for an optimised risk-adjusted investment equation in PEVC.
Working with dozens of entrepreneurs for over two decades as a GP and LP, has provided me with the opportunity to tackle the private equity world in a manner that is hard to replicate and allows our families to become even more professional investors.
This also provides unique insight into how such investors think, view value creation and risk. We are therefore committed to translating this extensive knowledge into actionable lessons and opportunities, for a win-win cooperation when it comes to dealmaking.
Welcome to Calista Direct Investors’ Observatoire!
Coming soon
For the launch of Calista Observatoire which is a very important milestone in Calista’s history, we are privileged to host you at Château de Courances, the Ganay family’s private estate and a private home still lived in today but also open to the wider public.
Coming soon.
Calista Investor Network
- Trust-based network of 300+ Single Family Offices
- Direct relationships with over 100+ investment offices
- Active partnerships with 15 families and entrepreneurs
- Wide mix of profiles, geographies, sizes and expertise
Calista Investment Universe
- 1000+ opportunities sourced annually
- Stringent selection methodology of the top 5%
- 50+ Due Diligence reports
- 10 investments closed annually (Funds & Directs)
HRH Prince Felix of Luxembourg is an entrepreneur investor. He has been managing the Château Les Crostes wine estate together with his wife, Princess Claire, since October 2013.
“The Observatoire is the coming together of extensive research efforts and first hand insights from the families the Calista team has been partnering with over the years.”
I am pleased to become the Patron of this unique initiative in Private Equity and Venture Capital, and to be entrusted with the task of hosting the next chapter at Château Les Crostes.
The inherited passion for “entrepreneurship” drives families to invest in future creative businesses via private equity and venture capital, linking their past entrepreneurial success to future entrepreneurial excellence, whether inside or outside the original realm of the family. As the family owner transfers entrepreneurship to the next generations, this is often embodied by the creation of new family businesses or by supporting external ventures. Yet, a great entrepreneur does not automatically become a good investor.
Many family business owners’ ambition is to go beyond their legacy industry and thus climb up a steep learning curve to become professional investors. Oftentimes, their initial footsteps in PEVC see them rely on own network and instinct before making an investment decision.
Every Single Family Office will have different convictions that require in-depth analysis to back them quantitatively through risk identification and mitigation. All opportunities we have been exploring with our families keep us on top of the PEVC market with formed convictions.
