Médéric Morel

As a pre-seed, seed, or even at series A, companies should ask themselves: "Will it become a 100 mio ARR company?" I had an inspiring (for me) conversation with Tycho Klessens from Peak on the topic. In most cases, the answer surprisingly is 🚫. We see this in the current wave, being AI now too... Why is this? And why do VCs say no - or when you should say no to VCs... ❌ A 20th FOMO exact copy of a copy of a copy (you see that a lot - A LOT). ❌ Not unique or disruptive enough, despite not being an exact copy ❌ The cap table is more often than not a real nightmare ❌ The product itself and the product-market fit ❌ Not being able to retain a continuous go-to-market fit ❌ The founders are key (will they take it to 100 mio, really?) Now this only means, Venture Capital may not be the way forward, in any of those cases, let alone a combination of multiple, up to sometimes all (perfect storms). But there are tons of great businesses, which are then destined for another path. From private equity to angel investors to going bootstrapped. Someone I consider as a friend throughout the years, the iconic duo Stefan Smulders with his co-founder Glenn Miseroy is an amazing example of such great things, with Expandi.io. Few can accomplish that. Top sport. It's nothing less than absolutely masterly how they managed to scale to 9 mio ARR throughout the years, now going to 10. I feel obliged to cheer, every time I hear more great news of another milestone reached - they're doing it, every day throughout the years. Consistently consistent. But without going for the VC model. Imagine they would have raised (and raised again). They would have given up a lot - and according to that is required in terms of growth performance, who knows where the company or they would be right now? This is a GOLDEN example of how VC isn't always the best way forward. So ask yourself, is your company going to scale to 100 mio ARR? In the required timeframe? Otherwise, you're playing with absolute fire - and another path might be more feasible. Yet end of the runway - a lot of people don't think straight, they're in survival mode. It's not because a VC would give you money, it's the smartest move to take it... Something to think about. Not to mention those 20 FOMO businesses out there that are merely not unique enough. Not everyone is Expandi.io, unfortunately. And taking the money is one thing - but earning it back, at the expected rates, is another... And most start-ups and scale-ups will never do 100 mio ARR, let alone become a "unicorn". It's all fun and games, start-ups, raising funding - until you have to deliver ROI. And you have to be able to deliver on that ROI. Otherwise, what's the point?

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The 2 challenges for GenAI : - Deploy to production at scale - Find the right problem to address In this keynote introduction, my colleagues Thibaud Vienne and Laurène Thénoz (Vol-Monnot), Lead Data Scientist and Data Product Manager at Hymaïa deep dive into those two challenges. Key takeaways: - LLMs are not the challenge, it's all that comes around that is hard to handle - Software and Product Management best practices are more than ever needed to face those challenges Find the replay of the keynote here: https://lnkd.in/e-SayBqx

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💡 7,5€ Billion (with a B). That’s the annual amount the French state provides to innovative companies through just one program: the CIR (Crédit d'Impôt Recherche). As an entrepreneur, my companies have been fortunate beneficiaries! But did you know that beyond the CIR, there are also: CII, JEI, JEA, BPI, CIMA, CICE, ACCRE, ACRE, FSE, ANR, FUI, PGE, FSN, PIA, FISAC, PTZ, FCTVA, AIF, and 1,753 other official grants and subsidies available? Combined, they represent well over €20 billion annually in funding for businesses. 😢 The catch (number 1)? Accessing these funds is often a bureaucratic nightmare. This is where agencies step in—offering to handle the process but taking a significant cut in return. 🚀 Enter REKI. We’ve developed the first software platform designed to simplify access to these subsidies. With Reki, companies can: 🔍 Discover all eligible opportunities   📑 Automatically generate applications and required documents   💾 Manage and update key data for compliance REKI is led by a seasoned duo of non-dilutive funding experts: Cyril Fougères (ex-BPI and iii-financements) and Aurélien Sibiril (repeat CTO). If you are looking for non-dilutive fundings, simply complete for form on our website (link in comment) Go Meghan Regior Victor Gross Nic Touron Calliste Duru Quentin Le Gall Thibaud Elziere Amaury Sepulchre Quentin Nickmans 🥰 catch (number 2) France is not alone, most countries are doing the same and we are going after it too :)

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WHO WANTS A McDonald's Big Mac Menu for 1 USD ? When you launch a #retail app such as KooulMaroc, and especially in the #food #delivery space, with the objective of promoting it, and getting #downloads and #orders, and you don’t have a deep pocket to lose #money for years .. you are facing this critical question : Where should I put my #marketing budget ? 4 options come to me : 1 - full budget on offline ads 2 - full budget on online ads 3 - mixed budget on both with nice promotions 4 - 0 budget on both and full budget on #promotions to propose the lowest products #prices possible and EVER to users Then I started to ask myself whether my marketing budget should go to Meta / TikTok / YouTube or benefit to my #customers 🤔🧐 USE CASE : Let’s say the first target for our startup would be to have 1% market share on food delivery in the 5 big Moroccan cities, that might actually do around 1,000,000 orders a month i.e very first target would be 10,000 orders a month for KooulMaroc. With only 50,000 usd monthly marketing budget, I can offer 10,000 McDonald's #bigmac menus or TACOS DE LYON #steakhouse menus at 1 usd each.. do you think I would need any #ads with this offer to get the needed virality ? It doesn’t change my 10% comission on the public price .. doesn’t change the restaurant agreed profitability on KooulMaroc orders, doesn’t change delivery cost for Kooul deliverers .. the only thing that changes is that my customer benefits from 100% of my #marketing budget .. I am not saying this is a sustainable solution but when you’re small, facing the big, how should you tackle your launch, from downloads to conversion, activation and retention without following the general & costly path of digital marketing …? PS : With only 35,000 usd monthly marketing budget, I can offer #for #free 10,000 menus of any Moroccan restaurant that has a Menu public price of 3.5 usd or less ….#Aladdin KFC #snackorange #burgerlesdaltons #latelierduboucher Burger King® Maroc - General First Food Services and many others … BELOW THE POTENTIAL MENU PRICES IF 100% OF MY MARKETING BUDGET GOES TO CUSTOMERS …FOOD FOR THOUGHT E-Morocco for everyone 🇲🇦🇲🇦 Support Moroccan Tech, Be & Download Kooul https://lnkd.in/eb9vu24g ORA TECHNOLOGIES

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A recent report by Institut Montaigne highlights an important reality: despite France's strong technological position, we currently represent only 3% of the global quantum market... With just 5 startups in a world of 85, we are lagging in commercializing “end-to-end” quantum solutions. As we move into the next phase of our national quantum strategy, we must transform our technological advances into commercial successes. 🤝 At Pasqal, we believe in the potential of quantum computing to disrupt industries, from pharma and chemistry to manufacturing, energy, and finance. We are already building the quantum reality alongside key industry players EDF Thales CMA CGM Airbus BMW Group aramco This is a strategic turning point that could redefine the global competitive landscape. ⚛️ The report outlines key recommendations to bridge the gap, including strategic investments in quantum computing, sensors, and communications, which are critical for positioning France at the forefront of this emerging market. I encourage everyone in the quantum community and beyond to read this insightful analysis by Institut Montaigne. #QuantumComputing #Innovation #Technology #Deeptech #Business

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Big day for Fleet ! 🚀 In 2019, Alexandre and I launched the company with a simple and transparent MacBook leasing solution for startups. We solved a real problem: how to easily equip teams with MacBooks without tying up too much cash. Five years later, Fleet is much more than that. Today, we help companies deploy and secure their IT in complex environments (hybrid work, international expansion). We are excited to unveil our new website and brand identity! 🎉 These new colors represent who we are today: a complete, premium, and global IT solution for national and international companies. Our service is built on 5 pillars: 1️⃣ Global IT Procurement Simplified: Rent and manage IT equipment from a single platform to streamline operations and increase visibility across your global IT fleet. 2️⃣ Integrated Security: Standardize security practices with our MDM solution, implementing uniform policies and automating updates and compliance. 3️⃣ Seamless Onboarding: Our HRIS integration ensures a smooth onboarding experience for HR and new hires, from hire to fully equipped. 4️⃣ Comprehensive IT Support: As your external IT department, we handle global logistics, provide premium support, and offer damage insurance. 5️⃣ Sustainability at Renewal: Promote digital equity and reduce e-waste with our recycling and donation options at renewal. Thank you to all the team for making this happen. Ready for the next stage 🚀

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📢 BREAKING, FRANCE! Au revoir Y-model. Bienvenue 5-corner model! 👋 After years of asking "Why Y-model" it seems that DGFIP asked themselves the same question and decided "not". Jokes aside, this is a true bombshell. The latest communication from DGFIP clarifies that PPF (the central platform) will only serve for data collection, meaning that invoices will not be possible to exchange via the central system. All invoices and invoice statuses will have to be exchanged over the network of PDPs (no OD method or direct connection into PPF). This practically paves the way for 5-corner / DCTCE model in France. More to be clarified in months ahead of us. #france #pdp #ppf #od #dgfip #einvoicing #ereporting #digital #controls #compliance #transformation #automation #accountsreceivables #accountspayables #payments #5corner #peppol https://lnkd.in/dqdh79-2

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The "mature" & "global winner" awards of IE-Club's Global Innovation & Enterprise competition (10th edition) mark another concrete achievement for dataLobster. 🥇 Kudos to the dataLobster team that deliver #datascience to the highest standards🏋‍♀️, 🔭 Thanks to our investors & to our client base, 🏃‍➡️ Our #AI solutions have helped improving #performance in #automotive, #aerospace, #defence, #energy, #micromobility, #steelmaking, #waterdistribution industries and there is more to follow, 🧠 Upgrade your business with #AI, today!

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Have you ever heard of Station F? It’s the vibrant epicenter of Europe’s startup ecosystem and the largest incubator on the continent. Every year, Station F reveals its top 40 startups—a coveted list representing just 4% of the startups it supports. And this year, the trend couldn’t be clearer: Artificial Intelligence is dominating. A remarkable 34 out of 40 startups are leveraging AI in their solutions. For perspective, last year, only 4 startups on the list were using AI. The shift is undeniable; AI isn’t just emerging—it’s reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape. At Capgemini Invent, we’re at the forefront of this technological wave, creating and implementing AI solutions for our clients. Yet, while startups are surging ahead, embedding AI in their very DNA, many large corporations are finding it challenging to keep pace. The gap is real, and the need for a solution is pressing. Increasingly, it’s becoming clear that collaboration between agile startups and established corporates is the key to accelerating AI integration in larger organizations. This partnership model allows corporates to harness startup innovation, while startups gain the resources and market reach of established players. It’s a win-win situation. Link to the article in first comment 📷credits Maddyness

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"We envision a future where every company will not have use one generic AI model, but a series of models tailored to specific use cases and trained on personalized data." This is the vision that drives the Nfinite teams, and I had the pleasure of sharing it with Lionel Lemoine, Head of Solution Consulting Western EMEA at Adobe, in a   interview organized by Maddyness with Lila Meghraoua. As you might expect, we talked about AI, augmented data, meeting business needs, and virtuous practices. The conclusions are clear: the combination of enterprise data and synthetic data is the key to making models more economical and ecological. Link in comments ⬇️

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🌟 Empowering Swiss Banking & Beyond: Driving Resilience and Innovation with Wavestone 🌟! As we work with our clients in Switzerland’s banking sector and beyond, Cybersecurity, Cloud Transformation, SAP integration, and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) have emerged as pivotal to staying resilient in a rapidly evolving landscape. In banking, especially, cybersecurity and cloud solutions are key to meeting regulatory standards and client expectations for seamless, secure experiences. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence and sustainability are gaining momentum, reflecting a shift towards forward-thinking, responsible innovation. While projects in these areas are developing steadily, it’s clear they’ll play a crucial role in shaping the future of banking and other industries in Switzerland. Excited to help our clients navigate these transformative changes with the strength of Wavestone’s expertise! #Cybersecurity #Cloud #SAP #PLM #ArtificialIntelligence #Sustainability #SwissBanking #Wavestone #DigitalTransformation #BusinessResilience #Innovation

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French Tech Ecosystem 2024: Signs Of Hope And Concern. The annual startup barometer by France Digitale and EY suggests that the startup economy has stabilized. But plenty of challenges still lurk under the surface. via https://lnkd.in/eYMCy2pE https://lnkd.in/e_WTc2jz #technology #startups #startupecosystems #Innovation #innovationecosystems #growth #venturecapital #venturefunding #scaleups #France

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More than $10 billion € — that’s the combined valuation of companies like Qonto, BlaBlaCar, and Exotec, and they all did something many didn’t ... They joined incubators perfectly aligned with their needs. But what if the right incubator could be the difference between struggling and achieving ? Here’s how you can find yours 🧑🏻‍💻 - Industry-Specific Incubators: 🏭 These incubators, like Meta Incubator and Le Village by CA, are linked to major industry players, offering connections that boost credibility and open doors to key collaborations. - Academic Incubators: 🎓 Tied to institutions like INSEAD LaunchPad or Incubateur Paris-Dauphine, these incubators provide access to a powerful alumni network, mentorship, and academic resources that can guide your growth. - Investor Relations: 💸 Many incubators are closely connected with investors, making it easier to secure funding by getting your startup on their radar. - Targeted Mentorship: 👨‍🏫 Incubators often pair you with mentors who have industry-specific expertise, ensuring the guidance you receive is directly relevant to your success. To sum up, the best incubator for you is one that aligns with your business goals and interests. By carefully selecting an incubator based on its industry focus, academic ties, financial connections, or mentorship offerings, you can significantly boost your startup's chances of success. Remember, this is a commercial relationship that should serve your best interests. However, it's important to note that not all unicorns (+1 Billion € valuation 🦄) have used incubators. Companies like Doctolib and OVHcloud reached unicorn status without going through an incubator program. Your startup’s path depends on your maturity level, expertise, and skill set. An incubator can be a powerful tool, but it’s not the only route to success ... 🌱 Need help finding the right incubator ? Drop a comment 👇 with 'Start Up,' and I’ll send you my exclusive list of 200+ incubators and accelerators in Ile de France. Let's find the support you need to elevate your startup to the next level ! 🚀 ------------------------------------- I’m Hugo, an entrepreneur on a mission to digitalize the shipping industry with my startup, KAYP. 🌊 On my LinkedIn, I share the highs, lows, and lessons from my journey, along with actionable tips and resources for aspiring entrepreneurs. If you’re ready to take your startup journey to the next level, follow me for real-world advice and join me on this exciting adventure! 🚀

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‘Le Chat’ ‘la platform’ Mistral AI artificial intelligence, France’s Startup Darling, Takes Aim at the US Market : Mistral's edge could come from customers that want to avoid being locked into particular cloud companies “Customers are even saying ‘Le Chat’ and ‘la platform’ It seems that the French touch is having an effect.” opportunity is huge — Bloomberg Intelligence estimated that the software and cloud market in generative AI market could reach $350 billion by 2032 : Mistral is going after OpenAI’s home turf “They do not want to be forced into an AI stack” “They want choices” Mistral released a series of AI models, which power generative AI services, and a ChatGPT-like feature called Le Chat : US manager says businesses are looking for alternatives to Big Tech : will find customers through these partners as well as via direct deals with companies using its open-source models. Open source is one of Mistral’s main selling points : the approach — where the underlying computer code is openly shared and tweakable — as a safer, more versatile method than closed systems offered by OpenAI and others : Mistral’s open-source models on-premises, with data stored in local servers instead of with public cloud providers ---- generative artificial intelligence ---

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True accross Europe, not only for France

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