Jolt puts a toe in the (Olympic) water
Jolt Capital announces its commitment alongside Manon Pennanéac’h and Pierre Williot, members of the French Olympic sailing team since 2022, as part of their preparation to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Through this new partnership, Jolt Capital reaffirms its ambition to support projects aligned with its values of excellence, technological innovation, and sustainable performance. The project is carried out in collaboration with PréparAction Académie, a company specializing in water sports and in supporting elite athletes, whose mission is to provide them with the means to achieve their ambitions.
At the crossing of engineering and elite sport
Manon Pennanéac’h, a mechanical engineering student at INSA Lyon, sails as part of a crew with Pierre Williot on the Olympic 470 dinghy, a discipline where performance relies as much on sporting mastery as on a deep understanding of materials and physical dynamics.
Formed in 2022 following a training camp in Marseille, the crew quickly established itself as a promising duo in French sailing. Manon serves as helmswoman, while Pierre is the crew member.
Their progress on the international stage is already reflected in several notable results:
· Silver medal at the U23 European Championships
· Bronze medal at the U23 World Championships
· Silver medal at the French Elite Championships
· Top 10 finish at the French Olympic Week
A structured project toward the Olympic Games
Competing on the international circuit, the two sailors are pursuing a clear objective: to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Their program includes the main competitions on the Olympic calendar: European and World Championships, the French Olympic Week, as well as major international regattas.
Their sustained entry into the senior category marks a new milestone, with the ambition of moving closer to the highest global level.
An engagement aligned with Jolt Capital’s values
Olympic sailing is a highly demanding sport, where sporting performance, engineering, and continuous equipment optimization play a decisive role.
This discipline therefore naturally aligns with the technological universe of Jolt Capital, which has been supporting Europe’s leading deeptech companies for over fifteen years.
By supporting Manon Pennanéac’h and Pierre Williot, Jolt Capital aims to back a demanding sporting project that embodies the values of its ecosystem: rigor, perseverance, technical mastery, and long-term vision.
Jolt Capital has also been involved for several years in initiatives promoting excellence in scientific fields, particularly regarding the place of women in industry and technology: Manon’s trajectory in this regard was a key factor in the selection of their project.
“Whether for our portfolio companies or through our philanthropic initiatives, we are committed to supporting true entrepreneurs—passionate, visionary, and deeply engaged individuals. These are also projects rooted in tradition and heritage, while celebrating the thoughtful contribution of advanced technologies. Sponsoring Manon and Pierre in their pursuit of Olympic sailing is, in this respect, exemplary, and we will mobilize the broad Jolt network to give them every chance of success,” says Jean Schmitt, President and Managing Partner of Jolt Capital.
A collaboration designed for the long term
This partnership aims to support the crew’s sporting development over time and contribute to the stability of their international preparation, particularly in terms of equipment renewal and participation in major circuit competitions.
“We are very pleased to partner with Jolt Capital, a partner with whom we share an approach to performance based on analysis, innovation, and continuous improvement. This support is an important step in our project toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, and it enables us to refine our preparation by focusing on every detail of performance,” comments Manon Pennanéac’h.
“Jolt Capital’s commitment alongside us brings a new dimension to our 470 project, offering a vision driven by innovation and performance. I am excited to proudly carry our shared colors on the water and to build an ambitious adventure together,” adds Pierre Williot.
Paris, 20 April 2026