The 50 BEST startup studios in FRANCE and EUROPE in 2024

A startup studio—also called a startup factory, venture builder or venture studio—is a company that designs and launches multiple startups.
From France to global ecosystems, these structures are multiplying: there are now 1,107 active venture studios.

Some are specialized—fintech, edtech, blockchain, cloud, mobility, gaming, social, marketing, production—while others stay generalist to cover the whole range of innovative sectors.

How does it work?

Startup studios aim to industrialize the creation of new ventures through shared resources, a dedicated multidisciplinary team, and the provision of capital or services so founders can focus on execution.

The best studios are often founded by experienced entrepreneurs. Many communications agencies or consulting firms have launched entities labelled startup studio, but without true startup-building experience.

Unlike accelerators, investment funds, agencies or consultancies, startup studios are long-term partners. They step in very early—during ideation—then stay for years, from the initial spark through launch and on to the scale-up phase.

Studios position themselves as co-founders, while letting the team spread its wings.
Depending on the studio’s own funding, some also inject cash into new startups in addition to their in-kind or service contributions (HR, office space, etc.).

Startup studios industrialize high-impact business creation via:

• Shared resources (design, product, growth, web/comms, HR)
  
  
• Multidisciplinary teams able to prototype a mobile or web MVP in a few weeks
  
  
• Capital or “services for equity” so founder-entrepreneurs can focus on execution
  
  

What is a startup studio’s business model?

To handle the variety of projects and ambitions, studios adopt different models.

1. Equity stake in the startup

Taking equity is the classic model: the studio supplies money and know-how, sharing entrepreneurial risk like a VC. If a venture succeeds, the studio sells its shares and profits offset losses from failed bets.

Because equity investing ties up capital for years, studios need significant upfront funds. Like a holding company, a studio often raises money; its valuation depends on the quality of its portfolio.

Founders, however, can feel a large studio stake is heavy—especially early on—while future investors may worry about prior dilution. To address this, some studios offer alternative compensation.

2. Fees or royalties to the studio

Instead of equity, a studio can charge royalties—a negotiated percentage of revenue for a set period—acting as a service provider. Variants include indexing royalties to other metrics or simply invoicing services (premises, advice, equipment, etc.).

A hybrid model (equity + royalties) or convertible notes is also possible, tying the studio’s reward to success while easing its cash needs and giving founders more flexibility.

3. The corporate venture studio

A corporate startup studio serves a large company’s innovation strategy, driving external growth without disrupting internal processes. It enjoys dedicated people and budgets plus the parent’s brand, expertise and ecosystem—ideal for attracting top-tier entrepreneurs.

The studio may function as an internal business unit or an external subsidiary/service provider.

The rise of startup studios and corporate studios

The concept is fairly recent: it emerged around 2007 to meet entrepreneurs’ need for support and resources. Studios are often launched by proven founders—e.g. Archimède Labs (co-founded in 2015 by Keith Teare, who created EasyNet) or Rocket Internet (founded in 2007 by Alando’s co-founders).

Corporate studios took off after 2017 as large firms such as AXA, Thales, Schneider Electric, Crédit Agricole and La Banque Postale launched their own.

Back in 2015 you could already count 70+ startup studios worldwide—a number that keeps climbing, with independent, corporate and multi-corporate models, both specialized and generalist.

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List of French startup studios
Here is a list of the best French startup studios. Feel free to contact us if a player is missing or if the information is incomplete.

321 was created in 2019 by Patrick Amiel, co-founder of MyBestPro (a marketplace acquired by Vivendi), and Romain Ledru-Mathé. 321 helps large companies launch new growth drivers.
Its services:

• Strategy: Build a successful innovation strategy by laying the groundwork for launching and scaling your technological growth engines, alongside 321, a strategic-innovation firm that combines technological expertise and entrepreneurial experience.
  
  
• Studio: We turn validated technological-innovation opportunities into scalable products or standalone companies by combining startup agility with corporate strengths, thus ensuring your long-term competitive edge.
  
  
• Scale: Structure yourself like an entrepreneur, operate like a leader—in the service of your corporate strategy.
  
  
• Partner: We build bridges between large corporations and startups, establishing strategic partnerships to boost both partners’ sales and profitability.
  
  

adVentures — Created in 2010 by Antoine Duboscq, adVentures builds startups in niche markets. The head office is in Paris, with startups in Paris, New York, and San Francisco.

Agrilife Studio — A startup-creation studio specialising in Agritech, created in 2022. Its mission is to co-create impact startups with passionate entrepreneurs, developing innovative solutions to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s agriculture.

Anova — Created in 2016 by Jérémy Harroch, founder of Quantmetry, Anova specialises in innovations related to artificial intelligence (AI). Its goal is to connect all AI stakeholders in France: entrepreneurs, data experts, corporates, and investors.

Bricks — Created in 2009 by Thomas Pruvot and Denis Marchant, Bricks builds startups in the media sector. It has launched Viously, Bababam, and Actirise. In 2023 Bricks became Sparteo, an ad-tech for publishers.

CosaVostra — Founded by Laurent Kretz, François Defossez, and Matthieu Stefani, CosaVostra is a digital agency that notably publishes podcasts (Le Panier and Génération Do It Yourself). It also runs a startup-studio activity for project owners, co-creating nearly ten startups within its Pareto studio, ranging from e-commerce to fintech.

eFounders (now Hexa) — Created in 2011 by Thibaut Elzière and Quentin Nickmans to launch SaaS startups around the Future of Work. Startups include Mailjet, Textmaster, Front, Aircall, Mention, Spendesk, StationHQ, SliteHQ, GiveBriq, and UpflowHQ. The studio now has verticals such as LogicFounders (fintech) and 3founders (Web3).

Founders Future — Founded in Paris in 2018 by Marc Menasé, Founders Future is a venture studio combining seed investment and company creation.

Factory 319 — A Marseille-based studio dedicated to health and biotech, founded by Tech, Science, and Innovation enthusiasts.

Fast-Up Partners — A “strategy-consulting boutique with the courage of an entrepreneur,” working with B2C firms on consulting, excubation, go-to-market, and innovative M&A. Offices in Paris, New York, and London.

Icade Urban Odyssey — Created by Nicolas Bellego, this studio builds solutions for better cities—improving housing, workplaces, and wellbeing. Partnered with the HEC incubator at Station F. Startups: Virtuo City, Skult…

Jumanji Studio — Specialised in startups with positive environmental and social impact. Initial investments of €50 k to €200 k, with further funding possible. Launched six startups since 2019.

Innovation Machine — A Nantes-based studio launched in 2017 by Rob Spiro. Eight impact startups so far, including Beem Energy, Les Mini Mondes, Smala (ex-Il Était Plusieurs Fois), Jho, river home, UpTogether, Vite mon marché, and Good Steps.

Logic Founders — Launched in 2021 by Camille Tyan (PayPlug co-founder) with eFounders, dedicated to fintech.

Lumena — A cross-border studio (Luxembourg, Metz, Nancy) for high-value-added B2B deep-tech startups. Founded in 2021, already supporting 10+ deep-tech ventures.

Mobility Founders — Founded in 2016 with initial backing from Rent a Car. Focused on mobility, digitalising traditional players and creating new services.

Matters — Founded in 2007, a French product-and-startup studio helping entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and institutions from ideation to growth.

Pathfinder — A studio created by Miguel de Fontenay (ex-The Family) in 2016, working with large firms to invent new business models and support digital projects.

Possible Future — Part of the Capgemini group, created in 2016 around sustainable innovation and B Corp-certified. Designs strategies and projects with positive societal and environmental impact.

RedStart — Created in 2015 by Arnaud and Fathi, offering support and networks to launch startups such as MyBizDev, La Chaise Française, and Phonizy. Expanded to Tunisia.

Schoolab — Created in 2007 by Jean-Claude Charlet. An ecosystem that accelerates early-stage startups for six months, claiming 350+ corporate projects accelerated.

Sparkling Partners — Launched in 2014 by Martin Toulemonde (Chronodrive co-founder) and Charles Perrard. Based in Lille and Paris, with around twenty companies launched (Delitoon, Newcard, Javelot…).

SPLIT — Founded in 2014 by Freddy Cimper, bridging a digital agency and business accelerator to create products/startups for early-stage ventures or corporates.

TechnoFounders — Created in 2014 by Yves Matton and Pierre & Olivier Le Blainvaux, specialising in startups spun out of French research labs (CNRS, INRIA, INRA, CNES…).

Waoup — A venture studio founded in 2014 by Emmanuel Gonon and Hervé Kleczewzki, with offices in Lyon and Paris. Focus on impact projects for responsible growth.

Stim — Created in 2014 by Frédéric Arnoux and Benjamin Duban, helping companies integrate sustainable projects while respecting planetary boundaries.

Unitee — A startup studio creating digital startups alongside industrial partners. Aim: help startups find product-market fit fast through MVPs and agile methods.

Conquistadors — A fast-growing studio and incubator whose mission is to revolutionise the entrepreneurial ecosystem of south-west France.

List of corporate startup studios

Dassault 3DEXPERIENCE Lab — A new open-innovation framework combining collective intelligence and collaboration to foster entrepreneurship and create new innovative ventures.

Car Studio by Mobivia — An accelerator of innovative solutions for Norauto, Midas, and Carter-Cash, focusing on mobility/autotech.

Inria Startup Studio — One-year support and funding programme to launch digital deep-tech startups, helping scientific and tech project leaders turn innovations into successful companies.

Kamet Ventures by AXA — Created by Stéphane Guinet with Nicolas Bosc and Michael Niddam, dedicated to creating or accelerating startups in insurance, protection, and assistance.

LaFabrique by Crédit Agricole — Founded in 2018 with CA Group support. Led by Laurent Darmon, Anaïs Bonnement Desmoulins, and Sabine Fillias, focusing on Fintech to invent tomorrow’s banking. Five startups launched in two years (Blank, Yapla, CA Lending Services, Trajectoire Patrimoine, Je suis entrepreneur…).

Léonard by VINCI — Created in July 2017 as VINCI’s accelerator, supporting internal and external innovators on future-of-cities, digital revolution, faster innovation cycles, and ecological transition.

List of European startup studios

Builders (Netherlands) — Created in 2015 by Michael van Lier, a Rotterdam-based studio that builds tech companies from scratch. Startups: Influentials, IPS, Obey.

Creative Dock (Czech Republic) — Founded in 2012 by Martin Pejsa and Miroslav Esser in Prague; now active in eight European countries. Over 50 startups launched “from ideation to scale.”

EIT Digital (Belgium) — A European digital-innovation and education organisation taking an entrepreneurial approach to Europe’s digital transformation.

Entrepreneur First (United Kingdom) — Founded in 2011 by Matthew Clifford and Alice Bentinck to invest in talented entrepreneurs. Operates in Toronto, London, Berlin, Paris, Singapore, and Bangalore.

Finleap (Germany) — A finance-focused corporate venture builder founded by Ramin Niroumand and owned by IONIQ. Co-founded 15+ firms, including Solarisbank, Connect, and Element.

Food Labs Venture Studio (Germany) — Specialised in the food and agri-food industry. Since 2015 it has supported 20+ startups and helped raise over €10 million.

Founders Factory (United Kingdom) — Created by Brent Hoberman and Henry Lane Fox. Partners with six large corporates (M&S, L’Oréal, Aviva, EasyJet…) to co-create startups.

Nuclio (Spain) — Founded by Carlos Blanco in Barcelona (now also Madrid), replicating successful models from abroad. About fifteen startups so far (Housfy, Typs, Proptex, Casum).

Rocket Internet (Germany) — Launched in 2007 by Marc, Oliver, and Alexander Samwer and Fabio Tran; builds and invests in startups replicating proven business models in high-growth markets. Offers Incubation, Investment, and Growth. Startups: Bluenest, Everstox, Global Savings Group, Home24, Nestpick. Also behind StartupGym in Italy.

WeBuild Ventures (Switzerland) — Creates fast-growing tech companies for the next generation of Swiss innovators, with a focus on insurance, financial services, real estate, and mobility.