Eric Guigné is the President and Founder of POLARYS, a Digital Services Company specialized in DATA working with more than 300 companies among which, the Investment Funds. Entrepreneur but also Business Angel, he answers our questions during the 5th edition of the START-UP GOLF CHALLENGE in Paris

1/ Data for Investment Funds, is it a topic? 

Indeed, the stake in private equity is to be able to recover a maximum of Data, and to analyze a maximum of information to make the best decisions.

The best investment decisions, the best sales decisions, the best decisions for managing the companies they buy, for merging them or making them grow

POLARYS’ business is to have consultants, experts on all these DATA issues.

Data recovery, data analysis in order to implement data architectures for business decision makers in the private equity business. There is a lot of information that the Funds have on their own performance.  But there is even more information that can be found outside. The open data to the paid data through Data Providers.

There is a gold mine and it is a very important issue to find the best opportunities for growth.

Suivre ses investissements grâce à la data

2/ How POLARYS help Investment Funds

Polarys’ job is to provide consulting and integration services for data and decision making.

So consulting means analyzing our customers’ needs and recommending the best solutions, X, Y or Z, because there are many technological solutions on the market and it is difficult for our customers to see clearly.

POLARYS have experts who are able to do this independently. We are not a re-seller, we are not a player in a single technological solution. We assess all the possible solutions on the market for the mid-market, for very large international funds, for funds that do Mezzanine, for funds that do Fund of Funds or LBO.

Contact us for Fundraising? Apply on MY PITCH IS GOOD , we will get back to you and help you in your fundraising. MY PITCH IS GOOD makes the introduction to our Network of Investors.

My Pitch Is Good

All of these are relatively different. The needs are different, the fundraising processes are different. The due diligence processes are different and therefore there are different tool needs.

So our first activity is what we call “Think”.  An upstream consulting to recommend the right architectures.

We provide support.  We don’t just say “you should do this” but we help concretely with commitments on results.

Setting up these information systems until they have platforms that allow them to better see their investors, their clients, their portfolio, the performance of their entire ecosystem and also to compare themselves and do benchmarking, which is also very important.

3/ Who are the clients of POLARYS

We are talking about thirty clients who are divided between small management companies that manage 2 or 3 funds.

Generally you need to have at least 2 or 3 funds for it to become a little complicated and for it to be necessary to set up an information system, but our smallest clients manage less than a billion. they manage a few funds of a few hundred million.

But our smallest clients manage, I think, less than a billion, manage a few funds at a few hundred million. Up to very large funds such as ARDIAN or ADIA in the Emirates. These large funds which are obviously record-breaking funds that we know are the largest in Europe or the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world.

They have relatively different issues. It’s the same thing but it’s 10 times or 100 times much more.

The tools, methods and teams use different technologies. But we are fortunate to be able to serve this whole spectrum of clients. they sometimes only do fund of funds, sometimes only direct, sometimes Mezzanine, sometimes Real Estate, who do different asset classes.

4/ What do you think about MY PITCH IS GOOD ?

It’s a great platform that we are very happy to be associated with.

We like these meetings between project holders, inventors, start-ups and then obviously there is a need to finance them, and it’s really a great place to make them meet so bravo for this great initiative too.

POLARYS is a partner of the 5th edition of Paris of the  START-UP GOLF CHALLENGE at golf de l’isle Adam, the 17th September 2021.

START-UP  GOLF CHALLENGE ,& MY PITCH IS GOOD

Check out the Interview of Eric Guigné on our page Youtube MY PITCH IS GOOD

Interview made by Fabrice Clément –> #mytwitter / #mylinkedin

The funds raised by French Tech continue to grow from year to year. And we could set a new record in 2019. More than 1.1 billion euros were already raised in the first quarter, during 165 operations. The 4 billion euro mark could therefore be crossed.

1/A durable growth

The growth of French Tech has been sustainable for several years. Since 2016, the funds raised have steadily increased. In 2016, they were 2.20 billion euros, in 2017 of 2.56 billion, in 2018 of 3.62 billion.

To make a comparison, in 2018 Q1, 800 million euros had been raised against 1.1 billion this year, an increase of 30%.

Nombre de tours de table et montant des levées de fonds depuis 2017 en France

2/ Higher fundraising

Since the beginning of 2019, we observe the same phenomenon as in 2018. A number of rounds of almost stable table, but committed means which increase strongly.

Indeed, if the tickets of less than five million euros still represent the majority of rounds, we can note an increase of more than 25% tickets over 5 million euros. If 33 lifts were made in the first quarter of 2018, there was a 25% increase in the first quarter of 2019 with 43 lifts. Among these raised, 23 more than 10 million euros against 19 in 2018.

3/ More and more huge fundraising

If we take into account the beginning of April, France already has four mega levées, ie rounds of tables of more than 100 million euros. In February, Insect raised 110 million euros to increase the alternative protein model. Doctolib raised 150 million euros in March. This platform of E-health has thereby become the fifth French unicorn. In early April, the e-commerce platform specializing in gardening and DIY ManoMano raised 110 million euros. Finally, HR Path, which specializes in HR solutions for companies, has raised 100 million euros.

These mega lifts are becoming more important. In 2017, the biggest French mega-levy was 71 million euros (Activy), and 3 had crossed the 100 million mark in 2018. France already broke its record after four months in France. 2019 and seems to be gradually catching up with its European neighbors and competitors such as Germany and the United Kingdom.

The French Tech is doing well, and this is confirmed from year to year. 2019 is off to a flying start. The START-UP GOLF CHALLENGE is the opportunity to show, through a day dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation and networking, the good health of this sector, by meeting entrepreneurs and investors on the land. golf but also during a pitch session, MY PITCH IS GOOD.

Don’t hesitate to follow us on our social networks!

Thomas Morant

We will tell you the story that shows that success is not a point to reach but the path your are wlaking on.

1/ Challenge gave ideas

START-UP GOLF CHALLENGE, the first golf competition between Investors and Entrepreneurs has seen during its events entrepreneurs who love the Challenge. Taïg Khris’ career forces respect in the eclecticism of his performances that compose it. A case study, a success story to share.

Taig Khris, with his last assignment at the Board of France Digital, aims to desacralize entrepreneurship by making it more understandable and above all more accessible.

“In France, the great ideas that can be global take a long time to emerge “is what Taïg Khris explained to Stéphane Soumier in an interview on BFM BUSINESS. (28/11/2018)

Indeed, there is a dichotomy between the amounts raised in the US and those raised in France for the same idea. We are on a range from x4 to x6.

2/ Believe in your dream

Taïg Khris started his career as a top athlete. Triple World Champions in Ramp on Ramp and win X GAMES. Taig Khris is one of the most successful extreme athletes to date.

Taking risks is part of his DNA. When he convinces the mayor of Paris to let him jump from the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower, He already knows that he will succeed in creating the Buzz. It broke the Record of the higher jump with Roller. This achievement is relayed on social networks.

Convincing is a challenge that suits him well. In 2016, he created ONOFF offering the possibility of having a second number without the need for a sim card. ONOFF is a global operator with licenses in more than 21 countries around the world. His patents and its developments were subjected to the hard law of “Cash is King”.

“Every month, I had to find 250,000 euros to save my company”.

“It was necessary to fight” he mentioned, because from a Roller World Champion to a Mobile Operator, there is a gap and it was necessary to convince funds..

Today is company run ONOFF very well. he has raised 10 Millions euros with ID Invest & OneRagtime. ONOFF is a success and Taïg has joined the Board of France Digital alongside Frédéric Mazzela (Co-Founder of BlaBlacar) recently elected as Co-President

His goal within France Digital is very clear: Help French companies to become the giants of tomorrow. “I am a competitor and I try to always see things Big”.

Opening entrepreneurship to young people with a different curriculum is also a challenge that seduces him.

3/ Get inspired in his Challenge

“The luck, the more I work the more she smiles at me” said Taïg on BFM Business studio.

It is true that organizing a world record with a Roller jump in Roller of the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower requires an organization worthy of a management of Start-up Mondial.

There are bound to be difficulties and successes. “Quick Win”, as we often say, can show us that we are on the right track.

“Thanks to workforce, passion and perseverance, we create our own positivism”. This is the sentence that must be put forward from Taig Khris as a conclusion.

It must reassure and strengthen any entrepreneur in the sense of his motivated choices in his desires.

Taïg Khris is an Outstanding Entrepreneur to Follow.

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Fabrice Clément  –> #mytwitter / #mylinkedin

This will be the year 2018 in terms of investments in Capital Risk. GOWEEZ and the START-UP GOLF CHALLENGE, the first golf competition between Investors and Entrepreneurs, explains why

1/ The Trends

Before that, we have to situate things, the year 2018 is not over yet so we must be vigilant. But all the indicators show that this year is unique. The first element that allows to demonstrate this is the number of Rounds made over the 3 quarters.

Indeed, each of these quarters has experienced a huge increase. Take for example Q3 which offers an increase in the number of Table Rounds by more than 34% compared to the same quarter in 2017

But if we talk concretely about the volumes of money raised we are overwhelming any kind of previous statements.

(see the graph below)

START-UP GOLF CHALLENGE – Money raised in France Quarter Timeline

2/ Money raised

Never have been such amounts invested in the french history of venture capital. Notably in Q2 2018 with a month of May which alone represents 46% of the volume of business issued this quarter.

This can be explained in particular by these great 51 million euro raised by OpenClassrooms among BPI France , General Atlantic, Citizen Capital as well as Alven Capital

OpenClassrooms was founded in July 2016 by Pierre Dubuc and Mathieu Nebra. The goal is to make education great again to all and thus to promote the employability of people.

OpenClassrooms offers hundreds of free Massive Online Open Classrooms (MOOCs) as well as career paths and mentoring via subscriptions under different offers.

It offers 100% online certifications and degree programs recognized by the state.

The Start-Up Comet, in the Human Resources sector, which was able to raise during this month of May 11 million euros from among Daphni and Otium Venture .

3/ Another sure sign

Record  broken ! The good news is that there will be no more doubt. Taking these first three quarters of 2018 and comparing them to the complete year 2017, we are already at 23% increase of volumes invested in Venture Capital.

A very favorable sign that is confirmed by many Tweets issued by the National Federation of Business Angels:

FRANCE ANGELS partner of the START-UP  GOLF CHALLENGE .

We wish you a good reading. We will be happy to meet you for the next Challenges in 2019 during the 3rd edition of PARIS. But also in Geneva with its 2nd edition…

Maybe more surprises ? 🙂

In the meantime, do not hesitate to follow us on social networks..

Fabrice Clément

The 8th Novembre 2017, GP Bullhound presented for the 3rd year, its survey about TITANS of TECH 2017. This well-documented document is available on the site GP-Bullhound.

The purpose of this survey is to give a clear visibility about European Tech Companies health from a financial performance perspective. The aim is also to detect the eventual shift from a Unicorn Status to a Titan one.

In Fact, the study highlights the definition of Titan. To be a Titan, you must have external growth completed by investment in capital from Funds.

Furthermore, you have to be an indisputable leader in your market. You need to have quickly grown to a valuation over 50 billion dollars. Of course this company must be “WorldWide”.

For the time being, Our first 3 Europeans, Delivery Hero, Spotify and Zalando have raised over $ 1.8 billion and made 12 acquisitions to date. But they can not define themselves as Titan. These companies can reach so far, over $ 10 billion.

We are far from companies like Facebook, Tesla or Uber. Each one has an estimated value of more than $ 50 billion.

The Titans of Tech Study 2017, pinpoints the fact that it is necessary for the European leaders to increase their capital opening. This in order, to compete with the average raised funds in Asia or in the US which is five times higher than what is done in Europe.

In this study, we can see that Spotify, Zalando and Supercell are the European Companies whose valuation is over $ 10 Billion..

According GP Bullhound, Which companies are growing strongly ?

According to the study, over the last 17 years, 57 companies valued over $ 1 billion each, have allowed a better attractiveness for investments.

The growth of their trust sympathy has been fostered by a track proven expertise and the ability to attract new talent.

From these 57 large companies, 72% are already profitable, this is the case for CRITEO, XING or SUPERCELL.

The other 28% are unprofitable so far. But their growth suggests a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) at 103%, 2 times higher than those above stated.

The companies to follow in this 28% are represented by 15 companies like BLA BLA CAR, ROCKET INTERNET, or TRIVAGO.

You Want to know more ? You want to discover the Start-ups World ? We invite you to request the Titans of Tech study directly on the GP BullHound website. Of course we welcome you join us and discuss with future French unicorns by registering at START-UP GOLF CHALLENGE .