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2018: Supporting 517 startups innovating in sustainable economic development

#Incubation #Startup

Exactly one year ago, we gave you a preview of coming attractions: in 2018 Paris&Co hit a major landmark, incubating its 1000th startup! Today we’ve gone well beyond that milestone, accompanying more than 1,100 startups in the past 20 years. Paris&Co is proud to present an overview of 2018, highlighting the impact of our 85-person team that supports and mentors these startups on a daily basis.

517 startups mentored by Paris&Co: continued expansion in 2018! (+25% vs 2017)

The 425 French companies incubated by Paris&Co innovation platforms have broken new records: €145 million in revenues and nearly 3,500 new jobs created or maintained in France (+17% vs 2017)! As for capital raised through funding rounds, it’s reached a total of €170 million (+22% vs 2017), including 35 transactions of over €1 million. Here are a few examples :

> Phenix: €15 million raised

> Vogo Sport: €13.5 million raised and an IPO

> Gymlib: €10 million raised

> Privateaser: €10 million raised

And many others: Tonsser, Student Pop, Blue Valet, Zelros…

 

" Investors come to Paris&Co seeking innovation, talent and high-quality projects "

Xavier Milin, company administrator and business angel, mentor to 40 startups at Paris&Co

 

Paris&Co alumni continue to make waves, and we proudly draw your attention to outstanding recent transactions: VOODOO, the top-ranking fundraiser in France, raised €200 million in venture capital! Evaneos, specialized in bespoke travel, garnered €70 million and ranked 4th nationwide! Worthy of note, the purchase of PeopleDoc for €300 million, the acquisition of the reservation platform Mondoctuer by Doctolib and the €50 million acquisition of Synthesio by Ipsos.

To honor the entrepreneurial success stories of startups accompanied by Paris&Co in recent years, and to shine the spotlight on our up-and-coming stars, Paris&Co published a booklet in 2018 entitled “Successful Startups and Rising Stars. Great entrepreneurial success stories by Paris&Co”..

>>  Download “Successful Startups and Rising Stars”

 

Level 256 et French Event Booster, two new innovation platforms

Two new innovation platforms were launched in 2018:

> Level 256, welcoming innovative esports projects to its premises in the 20th district. It’s the first platform of its kind in France and worldwide! (Flashback to the launch event)

> French Event Booster, operated by Viparis, welcoming startups in the tradeshow and event-planning sector to its premises at Porte de Versailles.

 

For 2019, Paris&Co plans to pursue and expand its offer with the creation of D3, an innovation platform for the omnichannel customer experience (retail & services), inaugurated on April 2nd, 2019. This completes the Paris&Co current offer of 14 thematic innovation platforms throughout the Paris metropolitan area.

Partnerships and collaborative projects have confirmed their growth trajectory; in 2018 more than 91 private and institutional partners (110 private-sector partners across the Paris&Co network) worked hand in hand in an Open Innovation approach with incubated startups.

 

"Paris&Co gave Icade the keys to this ecosystem, and a roadmap for how to work with an incubator and build relationships with startups", Nicolas Bellego, Icade Open Innovation Director

            

Startups conquering markets abroad 

Winning new markets abroad remains a major step in the development of growth-phase startups. Paris&Co continues to develop partnerships worldwide (Europe, Asia, USA, Canada, Latin America, Africa…), letting incubated startups benefit from support within their target zones. And to encourage foreign startups to tackle the French market, our Comet initiative welcomed 53 startups to their one-month acceleration program in the heart of Paris in 2018.

 

"Paris&Co was the final touch in our decision to set up business in Paris" Philippe Delplancke, Managing Director of Canadian startup Nanoleaf. 

 

Work together for diversity and sustainable economic development 

In 2018, Paris&Co continued to roll out initiatives promoting gender equality and a diversity of corporate profiles. The program “Les Sprinteuses”, launched in 2016 in collaboration with Le Tremplin platform and WILLA, is emblematic of these initiatives. Result: 19% women managers, compared to 0 % in 2016. Great progress has been made in 2 years!

For 2019, Paris&Co will continue to pursue its commitment to diversity, more than ever before. Le Swave, the innovation platform specialized in Fintech and Assurtech – sectors where there are very few women – will partner with WILLA to identify and support projects (co-)founded by women in Fintech.

As for the other ongoing projects this year, Paris&Co and its teams are working closely with mentored startups to optimize internal processes. Some of the latest solutions tested: Jenji to simply expense accounting, and Bloomin to bring employee engagement surveys to life!

“For Paris&Co, whose mission is to act with entrepreneurs for the sustainable transformation of cities, meeting the challenge of gender equality and diversity within our innovation programs is key”. Anne Gousset, Paris&Co Incubation Director. 

 

 

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