Business France
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CEO and Co-founder of WOOM
Belgian-born Laurence Fontinoy graduated in Commercial Engineering at Belgium’s Louvain Catholic University in 1994 and went on an exchange program for one year at New York’s Stern Graduate Business School. She worked for almost four years at Belgacom Mobile in Belgium, where she supervised the launch of its first prepaid card. In 1999, she moved to the Netherlands to join Dutch telecoms provider Ben as a customer development manager. After completing an MBA in 2002 at IESE University of Navarra, the mother-of-three joined eBay Spain as head of category and seller development. In 2005, she was promoted to marketing and communications director but left in 2008 to join Google as the regional country marketing manager for Spain and Portugal. In 2015, she left to become the CEO and co-founder of WOOM with former eBay colleague Clelia Morales.
Belgian-born Laurence Fontinoy graduated in Commercial Engineering at Belgium’s Louvain Catholic University in 1994 and went on an exchange program for one year at New York’s Stern Graduate Business School. She worked for almost four years at Belgacom Mobile in Belgium, where she supervised the launch of its first prepaid card. In 1999, she moved to the Netherlands to join Dutch telecoms provider Ben as a customer development manager. After completing an MBA in 2002 at IESE University of Navarra, the mother-of-three joined eBay Spain as head of category and seller development. In 2005, she was promoted to marketing and communications director but left in 2008 to join Google as the regional country marketing manager for Spain and Portugal. In 2015, she left to become the CEO and co-founder of WOOM with former eBay colleague Clelia Morales.
Co-CEO and co-founder of Pula
Kenyan-born Thomas Njeru co-founded insurtech Pula in 2015 and became its co-CEO in June 2017. Providing insurance to smallholder farmers was a key objective for Njeru, who grew up in a small farming community.After his education at Mangu High School, Njeru went on to graduate in actuarial science at the University of Nairobi in 2009. He became a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in December 2011. He also completed a CFA financial analysis qualification in 2015 and MBA from Strathmore Business School in 2018.He worked at UAP Insurance for almost four years before joining Deloitte in South Africa in 2012 as a consulting actuary. In 2014, he was promoted to become director of actuarial and insurance advisory. He left in 2018 to focus on his work at Pula as co-CEO.
Kenyan-born Thomas Njeru co-founded insurtech Pula in 2015 and became its co-CEO in June 2017. Providing insurance to smallholder farmers was a key objective for Njeru, who grew up in a small farming community.After his education at Mangu High School, Njeru went on to graduate in actuarial science at the University of Nairobi in 2009. He became a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in December 2011. He also completed a CFA financial analysis qualification in 2015 and MBA from Strathmore Business School in 2018.He worked at UAP Insurance for almost four years before joining Deloitte in South Africa in 2012 as a consulting actuary. In 2014, he was promoted to become director of actuarial and insurance advisory. He left in 2018 to focus on his work at Pula as co-CEO.
CEO and co-founder of Beyond Leather Materials / Leap
German native Mikael Eydt graduated in economics in 2016 at Erlangen-Nürnberg’s Friedrich-Alexander University. He worked at his family’s hotel company in Germany while studying at university from 2011 to 2016. Eydt also briefly worked in sales for insurance company Debeka and completed his national service as a soldier in Germany. In 2017, Eydt went back to work as a junior manager at family-owned Hotel Eydt in Kirchheim.Currently based in Copenhagen, he is now the CEO and co-founder of Danish alt-leather biotech, Beyond Leather Materials, that produces vegan leather materials from apple waste. He was responsible for the startup’s business development for two years before becoming CEO in July 2020.
German native Mikael Eydt graduated in economics in 2016 at Erlangen-Nürnberg’s Friedrich-Alexander University. He worked at his family’s hotel company in Germany while studying at university from 2011 to 2016. Eydt also briefly worked in sales for insurance company Debeka and completed his national service as a soldier in Germany. In 2017, Eydt went back to work as a junior manager at family-owned Hotel Eydt in Kirchheim.Currently based in Copenhagen, he is now the CEO and co-founder of Danish alt-leather biotech, Beyond Leather Materials, that produces vegan leather materials from apple waste. He was responsible for the startup’s business development for two years before becoming CEO in July 2020.
Chairman and Founder of Xpeng Motors
He received his bachelor’s from the South China University of Technology in 1999. In 2004, he co-founded Chinese mobile internet software and services provider UCWeb. In 2014, He both founded and invested in Xpeng Motors (short for Xiaopeng Motors). After UCWeb was acquired by Alibaba in 2014, he served as president of UCWeb and of the Alibaba Mobile Business Group, chairman of Ali Games and president of Tudou successively. In August 2017, he left Alibaba to join Xpeng Motors full-time as chairman.
He received his bachelor’s from the South China University of Technology in 1999. In 2004, he co-founded Chinese mobile internet software and services provider UCWeb. In 2014, He both founded and invested in Xpeng Motors (short for Xiaopeng Motors). After UCWeb was acquired by Alibaba in 2014, he served as president of UCWeb and of the Alibaba Mobile Business Group, chairman of Ali Games and president of Tudou successively. In August 2017, he left Alibaba to join Xpeng Motors full-time as chairman.
Co-founder, CEO of BEEVERYCREATIVE
Aurora Baptista has been a co-founding partner of BEEVERYCREATIVE since 2012 when it was known as bitBOX. She became its new CEO in August 2015. The Portuguese graduate in Business Management was also a postgrad at Harvard University in 2005.In 2008, Baptista started her own consultancy Cumprir Metas, Lda. She was an administrator at McKinsey for three years before becoming a partner at Arthur Andersen in 1990 for 11 years. She later became a partner at SGG Serviços Gerais deGestão (SGG) for over 18 years and a partner at Deloitte for seven years until 2008.
Aurora Baptista has been a co-founding partner of BEEVERYCREATIVE since 2012 when it was known as bitBOX. She became its new CEO in August 2015. The Portuguese graduate in Business Management was also a postgrad at Harvard University in 2005.In 2008, Baptista started her own consultancy Cumprir Metas, Lda. She was an administrator at McKinsey for three years before becoming a partner at Arthur Andersen in 1990 for 11 years. She later became a partner at SGG Serviços Gerais deGestão (SGG) for over 18 years and a partner at Deloitte for seven years until 2008.
Founder and CEO of Haoqipei of Haoqipei
Haoqipei Founder and CEO Chen Xi graduated from Tianjin University's Special Class for the Gifted Young. He is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the gaming and social networking sectors. Before founding Haoqipei in 2016, Chen co-founded corporate management solutions provider Redsoft, mobile gaming startup CMF Mobile Game, mobile marketing solution provider CMF Mobile and business social networking startup Renmaitong.
Haoqipei Founder and CEO Chen Xi graduated from Tianjin University's Special Class for the Gifted Young. He is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the gaming and social networking sectors. Before founding Haoqipei in 2016, Chen co-founded corporate management solutions provider Redsoft, mobile gaming startup CMF Mobile Game, mobile marketing solution provider CMF Mobile and business social networking startup Renmaitong.
Co-founder of Pintek
Formerly a financial analyst, Ioann Fainsilber graduated from the University of Bath in UK, with a bachelor's in business administration in 2012. He also has a master's in Finance and Private Equity from the London School of Economics. While at university, he worked briefly as an analyst at Essilor's USA and Lloyd's Banking Group. He also acted as financial advisor for a student advertising company for over two years in Bristol while studying for his degree.In 2014, Fainsilber joined Morgan Stanley as a tech analyst. In 2016, he worked as a private equity associate at American VC Silver Lake. He left UK for Indonesia in 2017 and became the CFO of Ayopop, an android developer for e-commerce platforms and payment apps. Pintek, with Ayopop as shareholder, was established by Fainsilber and Ayopop co-founder Tommy Yuwono in March 2018. Fainsilber remained as CFO at Ayopop until January 2019.
Formerly a financial analyst, Ioann Fainsilber graduated from the University of Bath in UK, with a bachelor's in business administration in 2012. He also has a master's in Finance and Private Equity from the London School of Economics. While at university, he worked briefly as an analyst at Essilor's USA and Lloyd's Banking Group. He also acted as financial advisor for a student advertising company for over two years in Bristol while studying for his degree.In 2014, Fainsilber joined Morgan Stanley as a tech analyst. In 2016, he worked as a private equity associate at American VC Silver Lake. He left UK for Indonesia in 2017 and became the CFO of Ayopop, an android developer for e-commerce platforms and payment apps. Pintek, with Ayopop as shareholder, was established by Fainsilber and Ayopop co-founder Tommy Yuwono in March 2018. Fainsilber remained as CFO at Ayopop until January 2019.
Co-founder, CEO of SingularCover
González-Montejano is the Spanish CEO and co-founder of AI-enhanced insurtech SingularCover, where he has worked since 2018. Prior to this, he briefly worked as CMO at the US-based Center for Cross-Cultural Studies, an exchange program, and at Madrid-based automotive marketplace startup Autingo. He previously spent five years as Senior Vice-President for Southern Europe of Affinion, a global leader in loyalty and engagement solutions and a provider of insurance to large multinationals. Before that, he had spent almost two decades working in the US, the UK, Spain and Southern Europe in a range of executive posts in large multinationals, incuding Citigroup and BNP Paribas. He holds an MBA in Finance from Carroll School of Management, Boston College, and a Business Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, as well as a professional qualification as a licensed insurance broker in Spain. González-Montejano volunteers frequently for organizations helping the elderly.
González-Montejano is the Spanish CEO and co-founder of AI-enhanced insurtech SingularCover, where he has worked since 2018. Prior to this, he briefly worked as CMO at the US-based Center for Cross-Cultural Studies, an exchange program, and at Madrid-based automotive marketplace startup Autingo. He previously spent five years as Senior Vice-President for Southern Europe of Affinion, a global leader in loyalty and engagement solutions and a provider of insurance to large multinationals. Before that, he had spent almost two decades working in the US, the UK, Spain and Southern Europe in a range of executive posts in large multinationals, incuding Citigroup and BNP Paribas. He holds an MBA in Finance from Carroll School of Management, Boston College, and a Business Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, as well as a professional qualification as a licensed insurance broker in Spain. González-Montejano volunteers frequently for organizations helping the elderly.
CEO and co-founder of Biel Glasses
Jaume Puig Adamuz is co-founder and CEO of Biel Glasses, a medtech developing smart glasses for people with low vision. Prior to founding the startup in 2017, he was a pre-sales and product manager at cloud services company MediaCloud, and was the Workplace Transformation Governance Manager in the Government of Catalonia's education department, where he was in charge of its digital transformation.In total, he has over 25 years' experience as a manager in various technology companies, including British Telecom, Deustche Bank, Telefónica and Tiscali. Puig also previously founded two companies, Mobbiz Communication, a mobile marketing services company, where he worked from 2003 to 2013, and Fleet Control Systems, one of the first commercial radio and GPS fleet location and management systems, where he worked from 1995 to 1998.Puig holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Ramon Llull in Barcelona.
Jaume Puig Adamuz is co-founder and CEO of Biel Glasses, a medtech developing smart glasses for people with low vision. Prior to founding the startup in 2017, he was a pre-sales and product manager at cloud services company MediaCloud, and was the Workplace Transformation Governance Manager in the Government of Catalonia's education department, where he was in charge of its digital transformation.In total, he has over 25 years' experience as a manager in various technology companies, including British Telecom, Deustche Bank, Telefónica and Tiscali. Puig also previously founded two companies, Mobbiz Communication, a mobile marketing services company, where he worked from 2003 to 2013, and Fleet Control Systems, one of the first commercial radio and GPS fleet location and management systems, where he worked from 1995 to 1998.Puig holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Ramon Llull in Barcelona.
CFO, CMO and co-founder of RecyGlo
Initially trained as an electrical engineer at Thanlyin Technological University in 2009, Okka Phyo Maung went on to obtain a joint degree in American studies, sustainable and green tech from Colorado State University and Daejeon University in South Korea. He also provided research and technical support for two local universities while studying in Korea.In 2013, he went to study at Vesalius College in Brussels and graduated in business administration in 2017. While living in Brussels, he gained work experience as a data analyst at Management Centre Europe and was a cost consultant at Bridgewater Consulting.In Myanmar, he has worked as a project coordinator for the construction of telecoms towers in 2013. He was also an advisory consultant for accounting firm EY’s financial due diligence projects. In 2018, he began working full-time as the CFO and CMO of RecyGlo, Myanmar’s first waste management and recycling tech company.
Initially trained as an electrical engineer at Thanlyin Technological University in 2009, Okka Phyo Maung went on to obtain a joint degree in American studies, sustainable and green tech from Colorado State University and Daejeon University in South Korea. He also provided research and technical support for two local universities while studying in Korea.In 2013, he went to study at Vesalius College in Brussels and graduated in business administration in 2017. While living in Brussels, he gained work experience as a data analyst at Management Centre Europe and was a cost consultant at Bridgewater Consulting.In Myanmar, he has worked as a project coordinator for the construction of telecoms towers in 2013. He was also an advisory consultant for accounting firm EY’s financial due diligence projects. In 2018, he began working full-time as the CFO and CMO of RecyGlo, Myanmar’s first waste management and recycling tech company.
Co-founder of UpHill
Sequiera is a Portuguese co-founder at UpHill, whose SaaS helps healthcare professionals keep up-to-speed on the latest clinical treatments and protocols using AI. Despite being heavily involved in the development of the software Simulate, Sequiera continues to work in the medical field full-time.He works as a consultant at the SPMS – Shared Services of the Ministry of Health in Portugal – that centralizes, optimizes and rationalizes the procurement of goods and services in the state health service. He also lectures part-time in Leadership and Management in Healthcare at his former university, where UpHill was established.Sequiera has been President of ANEM, the Portuguese Medical Students’ International Committee and for two years helped develop the medical curriculum at the University of Luxembourg. He also holds a postgraduate qualification in Information Management and Business Intelligence in Healthcare from NOVA Information Management School in Lisbon.
Sequiera is a Portuguese co-founder at UpHill, whose SaaS helps healthcare professionals keep up-to-speed on the latest clinical treatments and protocols using AI. Despite being heavily involved in the development of the software Simulate, Sequiera continues to work in the medical field full-time.He works as a consultant at the SPMS – Shared Services of the Ministry of Health in Portugal – that centralizes, optimizes and rationalizes the procurement of goods and services in the state health service. He also lectures part-time in Leadership and Management in Healthcare at his former university, where UpHill was established.Sequiera has been President of ANEM, the Portuguese Medical Students’ International Committee and for two years helped develop the medical curriculum at the University of Luxembourg. He also holds a postgraduate qualification in Information Management and Business Intelligence in Healthcare from NOVA Information Management School in Lisbon.
Co-founder, CEO and Chairman of Feedzai
Nuno Sebastião is CEO and co-founder at Feedzai, the world’s market-leading digital solution in fighting online fraud and the fourth Portuguese unicorn, where he has worked full-time since 2010, from before its official launch. Since 2018, he has also been a senior advisor at Feedzai’s investor, the US-based VC Oak HC/FC. Prior to Feedzai, Sebastião was a product manager at the European Space Agency in Germany from 2006–10, where he led the development of the Satellite Simulation Infrastructure. Previously, he was Founder and CEO at his first startup, a company pioneering software validation for the aerospace sector, for just under two years, and worked as a consultant at Critical Software and Deloitte, for a total of three years.Sebastião holds two MBAs, one from London Business School and the other from UCLA, and completed his undergraduate studies in computer science at the University of Coimbra, Portugal.
Nuno Sebastião is CEO and co-founder at Feedzai, the world’s market-leading digital solution in fighting online fraud and the fourth Portuguese unicorn, where he has worked full-time since 2010, from before its official launch. Since 2018, he has also been a senior advisor at Feedzai’s investor, the US-based VC Oak HC/FC. Prior to Feedzai, Sebastião was a product manager at the European Space Agency in Germany from 2006–10, where he led the development of the Satellite Simulation Infrastructure. Previously, he was Founder and CEO at his first startup, a company pioneering software validation for the aerospace sector, for just under two years, and worked as a consultant at Critical Software and Deloitte, for a total of three years.Sebastião holds two MBAs, one from London Business School and the other from UCLA, and completed his undergraduate studies in computer science at the University of Coimbra, Portugal.
CEO and co-founder of AgroCenta (Holdings)
Francis Obirikorang completed a bachelor’s degree in materials engineering in 2006 at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana.In 2008, Obirikorang started work as a technical writer at Esoko, a Ghanaian digital development agency in Accra, where he met web developer Michael Ocansey. Obirikorang left Esoko in 2010 and became lead technical writer for Corenett, a transactions processing management company. In 2013, he worked at digital advertising agency TXT Ghana as a business analyst until 2015.In January 2015, Obirikorang and Ocansey established their first startup Swappaholics Holdings in the British Virgin Islands. In 2016, the two friends also co-founded AgroCenta (Holdings) Limited in Mauritius with Obirikorang as CEO and Ocansey as CTO. Ocansey left the Swappaholics in 2016 to focus on building AgroCenta.Obirikorang still runs both companies as CEO and joined the global entrepreneur community Startup Grind in 2016 as chapter director of Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city.
Francis Obirikorang completed a bachelor’s degree in materials engineering in 2006 at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana.In 2008, Obirikorang started work as a technical writer at Esoko, a Ghanaian digital development agency in Accra, where he met web developer Michael Ocansey. Obirikorang left Esoko in 2010 and became lead technical writer for Corenett, a transactions processing management company. In 2013, he worked at digital advertising agency TXT Ghana as a business analyst until 2015.In January 2015, Obirikorang and Ocansey established their first startup Swappaholics Holdings in the British Virgin Islands. In 2016, the two friends also co-founded AgroCenta (Holdings) Limited in Mauritius with Obirikorang as CEO and Ocansey as CTO. Ocansey left the Swappaholics in 2016 to focus on building AgroCenta.Obirikorang still runs both companies as CEO and joined the global entrepreneur community Startup Grind in 2016 as chapter director of Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city.
CTO, co-founder of Teliman
Abdoulaye Maiga is CTO and co-founder at Teliman, Mali’s first on-demand mobility startup and one of francophone Africa’s first, where he has worked since its launch in 2018. Before that, he was CTO and co-founder at French real estate startup Wemblee where he still works part-time from Mali, initially simultaneously working as a salesforce administrator and developer in chemical company SEPPIC.Maiga previously worked at Rakuten in Tokyo for one year as a research and development VR scientist and also completed a stint at Accenture in Paris as an information system consultant. He also completed short stints in engineering at BCS Group in New Zealand and in business development at EATOPS in the Netherlands. The Malian national obtained two master’s degrees in innovation economics from Universite Paris-Saclay (2017) and in computer science from Keio University in Tokyo (2015), after winning scholarships to study overseas.
Abdoulaye Maiga is CTO and co-founder at Teliman, Mali’s first on-demand mobility startup and one of francophone Africa’s first, where he has worked since its launch in 2018. Before that, he was CTO and co-founder at French real estate startup Wemblee where he still works part-time from Mali, initially simultaneously working as a salesforce administrator and developer in chemical company SEPPIC.Maiga previously worked at Rakuten in Tokyo for one year as a research and development VR scientist and also completed a stint at Accenture in Paris as an information system consultant. He also completed short stints in engineering at BCS Group in New Zealand and in business development at EATOPS in the Netherlands. The Malian national obtained two master’s degrees in innovation economics from Universite Paris-Saclay (2017) and in computer science from Keio University in Tokyo (2015), after winning scholarships to study overseas.
CEO and and co-founder of Bluepha
Zhang Haoqian completed a doctorate degree in systems and synthetic biology at Peking University in 2016. He has published more than 20 papers in international academic journals. In 2019, he was honored as one of China's 100 Most Creative People in Business. He is also a member of the Synthetic Biology Committee under China Society of Biotechnology.Peking University has participated in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competitions, with Zhang as a team member or leader between 2008 and 2010. The team has won gold medals twice at the iGEM competitions supported by MIT. He was also coaching the university’s iGEM team from 2011 until 2017. Zhang also founded the committee of China iGEMer Community.In 2010, Zhang met fellow iGEMer and Bluepha co-founder Li Teng at the iGEM giant jamboree event. They co-founded SynBio startup Bluepha in 2016, a spin-off from Tsinghua University.
Zhang Haoqian completed a doctorate degree in systems and synthetic biology at Peking University in 2016. He has published more than 20 papers in international academic journals. In 2019, he was honored as one of China's 100 Most Creative People in Business. He is also a member of the Synthetic Biology Committee under China Society of Biotechnology.Peking University has participated in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competitions, with Zhang as a team member or leader between 2008 and 2010. The team has won gold medals twice at the iGEM competitions supported by MIT. He was also coaching the university’s iGEM team from 2011 until 2017. Zhang also founded the committee of China iGEMer Community.In 2010, Zhang met fellow iGEMer and Bluepha co-founder Li Teng at the iGEM giant jamboree event. They co-founded SynBio startup Bluepha in 2016, a spin-off from Tsinghua University.
Verkor: Accelerating low‑carbon battery production in France
French startup Verkor aims to raise up to €1.3bn by the end of next year to finance its first Gigafactory producing sustainable lithium-ion batteries for the European market
Biomede: Harnessing plants’ natural attributes to decontaminate soil
The Lyon-based startup says using plants to remove harmful metals from the earth is a sustainable, cost-effective green alternative to decontaminate soil in agricultural or urban environments
Qairos Energies: Mass producing green hydrogen from industrial hemp
The French startup is seeking a €19m Series B round to produce industrial quantities of green hydrogen and is planning a “circular economy” partnership with local farmers
Housfy leads growth in Spanish proptech
The real estate platform helps clients sell their property without the astronomical agency fees
Les Nouveaux Affineurs: Disrupting centuries-old French cheese culture
Backed by Michelin-star chefs and investors, Les Noveaux Affineurs is gearing up to be a global player in the billion-dollar vegan cheese market
Refurbed: Electronics recycling marketplace gets $54m for EU consolidation, overseas expansion
Consumers can reduce their carbon footprints by shifting toward a circular economy, become carbon-neutral by planting one tree with every purchase from Refurbed
FuVeX: Long-range hybrid-technology drones for multiple business uses
With its innovative hybrid helicopter and airplane technology, FuVeX is poised to take full advantage of the business opportunities afforded by new European regulations governing long-range drones
BeePlanet Factory: Recycling EV batteries as a sustainable, profitable business
With 4kWh–200kWh residential and industrial battery packs, the Pamplona-based startup wants to scale its energy storage solutions in the agri-food sector, camping sites and mountain huts
New Food Invest: Growing an alternative protein business in Asia
With more than 4bn people, Asia presents unique opportunities and challenges to alternative protein startups. Four leading entrepreneurs shared their experiences at the recent New Food Invest conference
After emulating Chinese business models, Indonesian startups seek success abroad
Indonesia adapted and furthered the successful business models that created unicorns in China. Now, it's exporting its own to the rest of Southeast Asia, even beyond
European agritech is the new global focus, as startup investments nearly doubled in 2019
Last year, European agritech surpassed China for the first time in investments received, with openings in multiple subsectors from big data to blockchain
Ecojoko: Using AI, real-time data to save electricity
The French startup’s energy-saving assistant and mobile app show how much electricity is being used and how much can be saved for every household appliance
Ruangguru cracks business model as it reaches 13 million student users
Holding pole position as Indonesia's popular tutoring services app, Ruangguru is revving up to expand into the lucrative corporate training sector
Zero 2 Infinity: Multibillion-euro business line launches into near space
Europe's only near space player using balloon technology targets high demand in a lucrative market, including space tourism
Covid-19: Indonesia's P2P lenders ready for slower business, default risk
P2P lending startups set up stricter scrutiny, budget reserves; playing key role in helping Indonesian businesses survive the Covid-19 crisis
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