artefact equips companies to better exploit their data

Vincent Luciani – After Polytechnique, I started my career at McKinsey, in consulting, on a wide variety of topics before specializing. I felt that many companies did not have the technology component to leverage their data. With Guillaume de Roquemaurel and Philippe Rolet, we understood that we could build technical solutions by offering them to companies to solve their problems.

We provide a team that engages with a client on a specific topic. At Orange, for example, there were around a hundred people working on their infrastructure and on personalized recommendation programs for their customers. We developed an application with their teams so that they do not encounter problems when using optical fiber. We used generational AI, specifically to improve fault detection on their networks.

We are not a SaaS platform, we do not sell software. Our aim is to transfer skills to our clients. We give them the algorithms and the rights to use them. They therefore improve on technical subjects, we do not want to create dependence on us.

There were several levels. In 2017, we met the advertising agency Netbooster, which does digital marketing, but failed to convert the data. We join him and find ourselves listed on the stock exchange. Until 2021, the situation is very chaotic. That year, we left the Stock Exchange with 80 million euros in turnover. We are then profitable and employ around 750 staff worldwide. The Ardian fund and Cathay Capital, which bought the shares, allowed us to simplify management.

We have doubled in size over the past three years to 1,500 employees in 25 offices worldwide. 2023 turnover will reach 150 million euros. We are aiming to get two or three items this year.

I didn’t start with a vision, unlike Elon Musk. I wanted to try things, telling myself that I wasn’t in big danger because at the time, I didn’t have a wife or kids. What I really enjoy these days is being able to choose who I work with. Every day, I am with people who inspire me.

We aim for 190 million euros in turnover in 2024. The goal is to continue to live as an independent player to one day become a global benchmark for data and AI services.