Sébastien Lacaze, président de la French Tech Méditerranée. DR – DR
A region conducive to innovation, which allows the development of hundreds of start-ups. This is the portrait of Occitanie painted by Sébastien Lacaze, founder of the company Lookup Geosciencce, and president of French Tech Méditerranée, which represents start-ups in Hérault, Gard and southern Aveyron.
How to define a start-up ?
This type of business is first born from an innovative idea that must be transformed into a viable economic model. The entrepreneurial adventure always begins with an ideation phase where possibilities are explored. The project must then be quickly confronted with the market to verify that the idea meets a real need and identify potential customers.
This validation is essential before moving on to the next steps. The journey continues with the design of the product or service, then the structuring of the company and the search for financing. The start-up must also be able to pivot and adapt its model based on market feedback.
What does this sector represent in Occitanie ?
We are the second region after Île-de-France in terms of the creation of innovative companies. For French Tech Méditerranée alone, we have around 250 start-ups, which represents several tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of euros in turnover.
In its latest study, the InExtenso firm reveals that the region is third in France, excluding Ile-de-France, in fundraising in 2024. It raises funds with a total value of €423 million, up 35% compared to 2023.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000What are the region's strengths?
Occitanie stands out for its investment in research and development, with 3.5% of its GDP devoted to research and development. Our region has a particularly rich technological environment. We excel in several areas: decarbonization, health with the Eurobiomed cluster, digital technology and of course cybersecurity.
There is, of course, artificial intelligence with an AI cluster under development in Montpellier, and which is a sector in which the Occitanie region wants to become one of the French leaders. In particular, it plans an envelope of €60 million over five years, in order to structure the “AI Occitanie” sector, with trusted and responsible technologies.
What are the regional success stories?
Swile, which markets a magnetic card grouping together all employee benefits, has become a unicorn with a valuation of more than a billion euros. We also have Vogo in sports tech, which went public, or Pradeo, a leader in mobile cybersecurity.
In the medical field, Cilcare closed its €40 million fundraising last December. There is also the company Qair, a specialist in renewable energies, which now employs nearly 800 people for a turnover exceeding €100 million.
What are the main steps to follow for someone who wants to create their start-up?
The first step is to meet other entrepreneurs, then the French Tech team, to confront your idea with reality. Then, you need to approach incubators like the BIC for support. The most important thing is to avoid a “tunnel effect”, which consists of remaining focused for too long on the development of your solution without confronting the market. It is crucial to quickly test your product with potential customers, accept criticism and know how to adapt it accordingly.
The main start-up support organizations by department
HÉRAULT
BIC Montpellier
Innovation Hall, 10 place Françoise Héritier, Montpellier
Innovosud (Béziers)
132 Rue Pierre Simon Marquis de Laplace, 34500 Béziers
Via Innova (Lunel)
Espace Lunel Littoral, 270 Rue Thomas Edison, 34400 Lunel
GARD
BIC Innov’up (Nîmes)
442 Rue Georges Besse, 30000 Nîmes
IMT Mines (Alès)
6 Avenue de Clavières, 30100 Alès
AVEYRON
The Rodez-Agglo Incubator
House of the Economy – 17 rue Aristide Briand, 12000 Rodez
SisMiC, Digital Agitator
2 place sainte catherine, Rodez
LOZERE
POLeN
12, Avenue Albzerr Einstein, 48000 Mende
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