How many applications for this 5th edition?
This year, we have received over a hundred applications. 80 went in front of the local pre-selection committees (06, 83, 13, 84, note) for a shortlist of 12 nominees, four per category, all in the running for the Coup de Coeur award.
Why the theme of trust?
Because it fuels entrepreneurs who dare to build, investors who support demanding trajectories, and a global environment that promotes innovation and growth. In a more selective context, where performance must align with sustainability and execution, trust becomes a strategic lever.
Have you noticed dominant trends?
Two major trends emerge this year, with a significant evolution in innovation over the past year: much fewer startups are being funded today than a year ago. The second evolution is that there are slightly fewer innovative startups being created in the region compared to previous years, with a strong push towards extremely high levels of innovation.
A kind of preference for deeptechs?
Yes, in part. But also many companies in the healthcare sector, with high levels of innovation. They have replaced the sustainable development segment, which is losing momentum (I am still talking about innovation).
It’s quite paradoxical, deeptechs and healthcare involve long financing times…
Yes, they are mostly long-term projects, a bit less visible so far than their counterparts in rapid hypergrowth, which have already found their market but are less innovative, more focused on use or technique: those that are currently struggling, which is why the deeptech sector is gaining more attention, strengthening itself with researchers capable of developing incredible technologies.
Does the strategy of sovereignty play a role in this?
We have indeed seen many projects related to healthcare emerging, probably better explained, allowing investors to understand, identify, and support them. We are still at the beginning of this evangelization effort, it is essential to continue to ensure that they find their market, including financially.
What were these investors looking for at your Trophies?
We managed to gather a large number of funds, mostly French ones. Olivier Raybaud, who co-founded Blue Ocean in 2018 (300M€) and joined SWEN Capital Partners in 2021, one of the largest venture capital managers in the world focusing on ocean protection, was present, which is a good sign for a region strategically positioning itself in bluetech. Some funds are regular attendees, but many others are new. The increasing number of them coming to our event to explore our ecosystem is encouraging. To attract them, two constants are needed: they must meet investors and encounter innovations that fit their DNA. With our Trophies, we bring together both. In the morning, there was a meeting at the CCI Aix-Marseille-Provence, a privileged moment entirely dedicated to investors, business angels, institutional investors, funds… It is in times when the consequences of observed macroeconomic instability are felt, that we need to highlight our startups and investors. Our trophies are mainly an opportunity to celebrate all economic actors of the territory, around companies that exemplify strong values.
Rise Partners focuses on strong partnerships to address other sites. Rise is physically present in the US, near Washington, targeting companies in the Southern region wishing to enter the North American market, with the support of CMA-CGM and Bpifrance.
The team has strengthened with the arrival of several “seniors” to lead the international or investment banking, now coupled with strategy consulting (and investment if needed) for startups, to address mergers/acquisitions, led by a new associate, Olivier de La Meslière, himself an investor.
The headquarters are still in Sophia Antipolis, with a branch in Aix recently transferred to Marseille, and an office in Paris. The next objective after the US: Europe and Singapore.
