A round-up of recent highlights from the world of ESSEC entrepreneurship

Rankings

The annual ESSEC Founders Day Competition awards the ESSEC start-ups of the year in both Student and Graduate categories. The 6 finalists of the 2023 edition have just been announced. 

Founded by Nicolas Goursot (EXEC M22), uMotion manufactures soft-mode, low-carbon utility vehicles. Its flagship Vike model is an innovative and economical solution combining muscle power and electricity for affordable, eco-friendly professional mobility.

Co-founded by Alexandre Pinon-Jacques (E19) and Quentin Amaudry (E24), Mendo offers a key software training add-in, integrated in Excel and more recently ChatGPT. The solution allows for gamified, customised and ongoing training based on practical exercises and real-life cases.

Founded by Elodie Quach (M22), Youdy is the first platform based on a win-win model for connecting apprentices/learners (people following training and in need of practical experience) and individuals (customers).

Founded by Alexandre Guenoun (E16), Kiro is developing a digital platform to interpret medical biology results and improve diagnostic understanding, with the help of artificial intelligence and a vast database. 

Co-founded by Arnaud Delacour (E10), The Very Food Co helps the food industry and catering companies to replace egg and dairy ingredients with affordable, ready-to-use, non-animal ingredients, without compromising on practicality or taste.

Co-founded by Léa Philippot (E19), Mindology aims to reduce the need for sleeping pills and anxiolytics by helping women through the menopause. The latter are the population most at risk to the harmful effects of these molecules. The solution combines innovative plant-based treatment and digital support.

Follow the final online on 9 October: Sign up!

Capital raising

Co-founded by Sixte de Vauplane (E17), Animaj is raising €100m in debt and equity to develop media content for families and children, designed for YouTube posting prior to TV and streaming platform broadcast, and thus taking an opposite approach to prevailing trends. The aim is to adapt to new uses, enhance the online offer and reduce production costs. 

Co-founded by Lionel Chouraqui (E07), Pitchy is raising €40m to consolidate its position as European leader in video creation for major companies. The aim is to boost its international growth, consolidate its major accounts offer and integrate artificial intelligence bricks in its solution. This is among France’s 5 biggest SaaS financial operations in 2023.

Co-founded by Benjamin Hadida (E12), the bio-pharmaceutical company Exeliom Biosciences is raising the final €8m of a global €24m funding drive, thus enabling the firm to launch 4 clinical trials for its disruptive medication made from an intestinal bacterium which could boost cancer treatment.

Co-founded by Nicolas Merlaud (E12) and Julia Néel Biz (E12), winner of the 2021 ESSEC Founders Day Competition, Teale is raising €10m to become the European leader in mental health and put an end to burnout in companies.

Founded by Arnaud Sliwa-Biset (E05), Wegrow is raising €5m for its solution to share and upscale good practices in organisations. The company is already a leader in its sector, with accounts such as Unilever, Kraft Heinz, Mondelez, Henkel, Suntory, Barilla, Louis Delhaize or Puig.

Co-founded by Théo Rouer (E16) and Grégoire Ostian (E15), Elba is raising €2.5m to enable companies to enhance their digital infrastructure security by placing employees at the heart of their defence system.  

Mergers & acquisitions

Co-founded by Bastien Moreau (E12) and Antoine Chabassol (E12), Quilibri, the start-up which offers diet re-balancing methods for seniors, has been bought by Laboratoire NaturAvignon, a group specialised in dietary supplements. The operation is valued at three to four times the start-up’s turnover, for a total of around €15 to €20 million. The aim is to develop new sales channels and products in other verticals. 

Crowdfunding 

Founded by Anaïs Bambili (M18), Vibre Paris has multiplied its Ulule crowdfunding target fourfold. Following 3 years of molecular research, the brand can now officially launch its 4-product care routine, approved by dermatologists. 

Co-founded by Nicolas Paradis (E04), La Distillerie de l’Arbre Sec is running a crowdfunding campaign on Ulule to launch its gin brand and tour-and-tasting offer at its Parisian distillery, located in the heart of the historical Louvre district. You have until 20 October to contribute online (in French).

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