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External newsletter September 2024 - N° 161
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EDITO
Europe's competitiveness
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Dear Business Angels friends, dear readers,
On September 9, Mario Draghi presented Ursula von der Leyen with his report on European competitiveness. He notes that the EU is falling behind its Chinese and American competitors, and calls on Europe to change its model to avoid an existential crisis. The 393-page report is the subject of much comment and analysis in newspapers, magazines, radio and television.
The three proposed transformations
"Europe has the foundations to become a highly competitive economy. However, the external conditions that underpinned European growth after the end of the Cold War have faded. The productivity gap between the European economy and its two main competitors presents Europe with a triple imperative if it is to return to growth:
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accelerate innovation and find new growth drivers ;
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reduce high energy prices while continuing to decarbonize and switch to a circular economy;
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learn to react in a geopolitically unstable world, where dependencies become vulnerabilities and security can no longer be outsourced.
What role can Business Angels play?
Accelerating innovation
That's what Business Angels are all about: supporting the founders of innovative start-ups on the difficult road to entrepreneurship, and opening the doors to success.
The 2024 Finance Act, which incorporates the Paul Midy package of measures, significantly strengthens the Madelin tax scheme, and provides effective, broad-based support for innovation and deeptech, as we have already emphasized. But it's not enough.
National and European public funding is essential to complement the contribution of private investors. At our last AGM, Grégoire Postel-Vinay presented France's innovation support policies. It was impressive, but at the same time very dense and confusing.
Witnessing the scale of the human resources needed to support companies through the maze of regional, national and European aid, and the time and effort required to obtain them, I note this waste of time and energy and endorse the recommendations made in the report:
"EU support for public and private investment is limited by [...] an overly conservative attitude to risk".
The report proposes a "reduction in the stock of regulation", which leads to control and feeds bureaucracy.
Continue to decarbonize
Five companies in our portfolio are active in this sector, such as Geosophy, which offers geothermal solutions using oil research techniques to reduce oil consumption. We will continue to give priority to these projects.
Safety and reducing our dependence
The recently funded MagReesource project aims to reduce Europe's dependence on rare earths, imported mainly from China. It ticks many of the boxes highlighted in the report: reindustrialization of Europe and financing by capital from several member states.
20 years at the service of innovation
BADGE was created in 2004 to support innovation, something our members do with their hearts. The way in which the association operates has never ceased to evolve, improving the effectiveness of our actions towards the initiatives we support. The ideas contained in this report provide food for thought as we pursue our mission.
BADGE celebrates its 20th anniversary on November 21 at the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers museum. Come one, come all!
Best regards,
Paul Leondaridis,
Chairman of Business Angels des Grandes Écoles.
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Sourcing is essential for BADGE, as it is for all BA associations, so that we can regularly propose the very best projects to our members. These are the rare "nuggets" that make business angel activity economically viable, given the inherent risk of early-stage projects.
A BADGE source meeting was held on September 11 (some twenty active members), with Paul Bruma handing over to Michael Schack. Paul has run this activity brilliantly for 9 years and was warmly thanked. He will, of course, continue to take part in the activity.
Discussions focused largely on how we can further improve our methods for finding and convincing more nuggets. We felt it was important to further strengthen our relationships with incubators, and to identify priority areas where we could concentrate our efforts. We also discussed regional coverage, and whether it would make sense to look at European projects. Finally, thanks to the new Dealflux platform, we'll be able to further optimize internal processes between sourcing and the project validation team.
BADGE has major advantages for start-ups, making the team's work easier:
- We are the leading BA's network in France in terms of financing capacity.
- We offer a high level of support thanks to our many members (over 300) who have a wealth of experience in major groups in a wide variety of fields, and who also come from the world of entrepreneurship. As a result, our members are in a position to offer pertinent advice, and to share the benefits of their networks.
- Our image is very good, which makes it easier for us to approach and talk to project owners. They are generally keen to learn more about BADGE and its processes, and to get our advice and guidance on their projects.
The sourcing team, BADGE's "sales team", meets around 1,000 start-ups a year. Of course, it's not the only channel of contact with project leaders, as some come forward directly, and all BADGE members come across project leaders, but sourcing makes a significant contribution to the qualification of the 250 applications forwarded to and processed by the validation committee each year.
Being a BA at BADGE is a very stimulating and rewarding activity, which serves the general interest of developing innovation and entrepreneurship in France.
Paul Bruma, Michael Schack.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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>>> PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
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Monthly meetings with presentations of innovative fund-raising projects led by Philippe Pernot, Vice-Chairman in charge of project appraisal.
Members only.
Non-members, ask for your invitation.
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Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
Monthly meeting, Maison des Polytechniciens, 12 rue de Poitiers 75007 Paris and by Zoom.
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| I request my invitation |
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Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 5:30 pm
Monthly meeting, Maison des Agros, 5 quai Voltaire 75007 Paris and by Zoom.
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| I request my invitation |
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News from our funded startups
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Geosophy start-up selected for first edition
of the "Climate 10 Fellowship" (C10), STATION F's top 10 most impactful climate tech startups!
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Station F is launching the first edition of the "Climate 10 Fellowship" (C10), a scholarship for the 10 most impactful Climate Tech startups on campus, selected from 100 applications. The program aims to give these companies greater visibility and resources, in order to strengthen the Climate Tech ecosystem in France and Europe. The Geosophy start-up, which helps building owners define the best strategy for creating value from their geo-energy resources, is part of this first promotion.
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Seabelife obtains orphan drug designation (ODD) from the EMA for its treatment of acute liver failure
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Start-up biotech Seabelife announces that it has been granted orphan drug designation (ODD) by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for its treatment of acute liver failure. This recognition underlines the therapeutic potential of its SBL01 drug candidate, currently in the development phase.
The granting of this status by the EMA represents a major milestone for Seabelife and its innovative approach to the treatment of serious, life-threatening diseases.
BADGE is proud to be part of the Seabelife adventure and to help protect life at the heart of cells.
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| Read the press release |
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Our startups are recruiting
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The Cyclair start-up uses precision robotics, information technology and artificial intelligence to ensure the economic and ecological transition of agriculture in France. The company is looking for an Automatician (M/F) to join its team.
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| I am applying |
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Enalees is a biotechnology company specializing in the development and marketing of lyophilized molecular diagnostic tests for animal health in France and Europe. The company is looking for a Technical Sales Representative (M/F) to join its team.
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| I'm applying |
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Great projects to invest in within our network
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VitiVisio designs and develops innovative solutions for precision viticulture, combining sensors and AI to enable winegrowers to accelerate the transition to more efficient and environmentally-friendly viticulture. VitiVisio develops Decision Support Tools (DST) based on the analysis of data collected in the vineyard down to the very last foot, using cutting-edge optical sensors and a SaaS interface. In this way, the company meets the needs of winegrowers to optimize harvesting, improve productivity and reduce pesticide use. Today, VitiVisio places its technological expertise at the service of vineyards the world over to accelerate the ecological transition and combat the effects of climate change.
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We are a startup eyeGauge and we propose a digitalization solution for ship owners and ship operators that helps to save fuel, reduce emissions, prevent breakdowns in the middle of the ocean and maintenance costs. Unlike existing offers on the market, we have a cost efficient and non-invasive solution that can make any ship smart.
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Hello RSE is the world's first marketplace to offer a catalog of 50,000 products, mainly digital, at competitive prices compared with its competitors. It highlights the environmental impact of each product thanks to a proprietary index, based on data recognized by ADEME. The company targets 75% of public-sector buyers for their over-the-counter spending (excluding calls for tender), as well as 20% of businesses and 5% of individuals. Hello RSE is an SSE company with the "Numérique Responsable 2" (Lucie) label. It is committed to combating greenhouse gas emissions, both in terms of eco-design and usage, and complies with new regulations such as CSRD, Agec/Pacte laws.
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SPECTRONITE has developed a revolutionary technology that enables mobile operators to extend the coverage of their 5G network. This innovation is particularly relevant in areas where optical fiber is not available, and where the return on investment of conventional deployment is not guaranteed, outside urban areas. By offering speeds 10 times higher than traditional solutions on the market, without increasing energy consumption, SPECTRONITE reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO) of these radio networks. What's more, by developing an entirely French solution and locating its production in France, SPECTRONITE also aims to contribute to the rebirth of an industry of excellence in the French telecoms sector, while participating in France's reindustrialization strategy.
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EDEN is the 1st AI solution to detect fraudulent sites, calculate the CSR impact of e-commerce brands and track prices to give consumers back their purchasing power (33.70% average savings achieved by users).
The company has carried out over 4 years of R&D with leading researchers from Polytechnique, Pierre et Marie Curie and the Corps des Mines. Traction is strong, with over 120,000 users of the solution and more than 1,500 premium subscriptions taken out. Sales are growing rapidly: + €3 million forecast for 2023 and + €33 million by 2028.
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Carrés Futés specializes in value-added culinary aids for supermarkets: The first 100% French Bouillon : a bouillon cube made in France from 100% French ingredients: Camargue salt, French carrots, etc... It's the only 100% French bouillon cube! A vegetable tablet for cooking: made from vegetable concentrate and cocoa butter, Carrés Futés offers a vegetable tablet that can be used grated or melted in all kinds of dishes: broths, soups, stews, savory cakes, etc? You name it! And with no added salt! Fruit bars for cooking: Fruit concentrate combined with cocoa butter for delicious fruit desserts! Melted, grated or in nuggets, let your creativity run wild!
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Namma is a Bordeaux-based start-up specializing in the manufacture of hybrid machines for industry. The start-up's innovation is a machine combining three processes: 3D printing, machining and laser engraving to produce prototypes, tooling and final parts. With its first range of prototyping machines, called EVA, due to go on sale in 2022, the company has made a name for itself with customers such as THALES and ARIANE GROUP. It is now tackling the market for small series parts with a new range of LUCY machines, using a new process: hybrid 3D printing.
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80% of plant-based alternatives to meat are made up of 20 to 30 ingredients, whereas meat is just 1 ingredient! Vegetable alternatives are accused of ultra-processing: they are produced from flours that require the addition of additives known to be the cause of serious chronic diseases. AuraLIP has developed an innovative IMPACT directed fermentation technology using hemp seeds! France is Europe's leading and the world's third largest producer of hemp. Its cultivation is respectful of the environment (little water, no pesticides, plants absorb 15T CO2/ha). AuraLIP's technology, patented and awarded the deeptech label by BPI France, is also sustainable. It requires little water, little energy and produces no waste. The substrate is recycled from start to finish.
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Kimialys develops and markets an innovative chemical treatment for surfaces used in diagnostics (nanoparticles, chips, electrodes), enabling tests to be made more sensitive and specific, and opening the way to new clinical applications. Kimialys' core technology is based on a proprietary method of pre-functionalizing biochips and nanoparticles, and represents a major breakthrough in biosensor coating.
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Ventures by delaware is a program supported by all delaware entities worldwide. Our aim is to support the development of startups through our technical and business expertise, and to create value for our customers by expanding our offering.
A rigorous selection process carried out by our experts and a jury of professionals enables us to identify and choose startups with high potential in our customers' sectors: retail, food, industry, automotive, healthcare & medtech, aerospace & defense and sustainability. These startups will then take to the stage at the program's flagship event, the Pitch Arena, to convince the jury and audience and win their place in the program.
You've set up your own business and are looking to take it to the next level?
Ventures by delaware is a unique acceleration, mentoring and funding program that goes far beyond traditional investment models. For 6 months, we'll work with your team to develop your idea into a scalable, marketable product. We'll put our teams of experts at your disposal, as well as our network of customers.
The next Pitch Arena in France will take place on November 19, 2024 in Paris!
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Call for entries Deeptech Awards
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In mid-July, we announced France Angels' partnership with Tech&Fest, the world's largest regional Tech & Innovation festival, to be held in Grenoble in early February 2025. One of the benefits of this partnership is to enable your start-ups to take part in the Deeptech Awards, held under the banner of Business Angels Week.
The aim of the competition is to bring together deeptech ecosystems from across France to celebrate and highlight the game changers who are transforming our lives, and to reward the ambition, innovation and audacity of the best projects at a gala evening in Paris on December 09, 2024.
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Key stages in the call for applications
- Closing date for applications: October 31, 2024 before 12 noon
- Pre-selection of applications, November 01 to 18, 2024
- Jury matinees, November 19 to 27, 2024, 5 start-ups per category will pitch to the juries with 10min presentation and 20min questions/answers. The jury will be made up of 5 to 8 members.
- Awards ceremony on December 09 at the Ritz in Paris, with the winners in each category defending their projects.
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Prizes won by the winner in each category
- Pitches to potential investors at jury mornings,
- Print and digital visibility in Numérama, Dauphiné Libéré, Direct Entreprise,
- A free, fully-equipped booth in your corporate colors at Tech&Fest, February 05 and 06, 2025,
- A dedicated print and digital article in the Dauphiné Libéré.
- TV presence on BFM Business at Les Pionniers with Frédéric Mazzela. Please note that this prize is awarded either to each winner in his or her category, or to the overall winner in all categories combined. We'll be back to confirm this information shortly!
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As a reminder, this partnership is a triple opportunity for you, a member of France Angels:
- Invite your start-ups to take part in the competition in one of the 5 categories, and be preselected to pitch their project to the members of the jury.
- Participate as a member of the jury during the morning sessions in Paris from November 19 to 27 and attend the Awards Ceremony on December 09 at the Ritz in Paris. Information coming soon
- Increase your visibility by taking part in the jury mornings and ceremony under the "Business Angels Week" banner.
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>>> EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Paul Leondaridis, President / Yannis Sahraoui, Managing Director
Dimitri Lionel A.Omgba, Communications Manager [Send your subject to the editor]
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