La Poste, the French postal service, has launched XAnge Capital, a €50m ($53.4m) venture capital fund dedicated to developing opportunities in the postal industry.

Through its holding company Sofiposte, La Poste will be the lead investor in the new venture with a 34% stake. The fund's other investors include a consortium of eight industrial partners, including AGF, the French insurance group, CDC, the state-owned financial and industrial group, and CNP Assurances, France's largest life assurer.