Umi
UMI (United Motion Ideas) is a Lyon-based B2B market research technology company that uses AI/ML algorithms to help enterprise innovation, R&D, and strategic marketing teams validate and prioritize innovation projects by collecting professional feedback globally within one month.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLyon, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Umi does
UMI (S.A.S. United Motion Ideas) is a Lyon, France-based B2B market research technology company founded in 2014 that helps enterprise innovation teams validate and prioritize innovation projects through AI-driven market testing. The company's core product, the UMI Market Test tool, uses proprietary machine learning, AI, and Semantic Web algorithms to automatically identify and engage more than one billion professionals worldwide, collecting representative B2B feedback within approximately one month. Customers include enterprise Innovation Directors, R&D Directors, and Strategic Marketing Directors at large corporations across energy (EDF, Schneider Electric, Total), automotive (Michelin), pharmaceuticals (Sanofi Pasteur), aerospace/defense (Thales), mining/metallurgy (Eramet), chemicals (Arkema, Solvay), and construction/infrastructure (Bouygues, Vinci, Air Liquide, Veolia).
The platform delivers results through multiple formats including a dynamic web-based Market Report, a three-slide Executive Report for committees, and automated Video Synthesis. UMI operates a dual business model: a full-service Managed Service where UMI's Market Test Managers execute projects end-to-end, and a self-service Tool Charter software license offering unlimited users and projects with training and an arbitration dashboard for portfolio management. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to project scope, with multi-year enterprise contracts typical. GTM is sales-led and direct, targeting enterprise innovation, R&D, and strategic marketing functions through dedicated contact-sales engagement, supported by case-study content marketing, a corporate blog, and French business media appearances.
The company reports having guided over 500 innovations through its platform and delivering 80% year-over-year revenue growth for two consecutive years. UMI raised €5 million in a seed funding round in October 2022 and announced a New York City office opening in March 2026, signaling intent to penetrate North American enterprise innovation budgets. The technology stack holds ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certifications, supporting enterprise sales cycles.
Umi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Umi
- Legal name
- S.A.S. United Motion Ideas
- Website
- https://umi-innovation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- UMI (United Motion Ideas) is a Lyon-based B2B market research technology company that uses AI/ML algorithms to help enterprise innovation, R&D, and strategic marketing teams validate and prioritize innovation projects by collecting professional feedback globally within one month.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Umi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Innovation Market Testing Software
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- B2B/EDI & Partner Integration (BPAMAOAJ)
Keywords
Where Umi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lyon
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Umi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Managed Services (Full Support): UMI manages projects from A to Z - customers provide project information and UMI's Market Test Managers handle everything through to results delivery. This includes full team support, turnkey results, applicable for 1 project or specific volumes.
- Tool Licensing: Companies can purchase licenses to become autonomous in conducting Market Tests. Includes unlimited users, unlimited projects, training on tool usage, launch assistance, and arbitration dashboard for project portfolio management.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Multi-year contract | Full-service managed market testing with dedicated team support |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Umi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UMI is a B2B market test tool that helps corporations validate innovation projects by automatically identifying and engaging relevant professionals worldwide through proprietary AI, Machine Learning, and Semantic Web algorithms. The platform collects representative B2B feedback in approximately one month and delivers dynamic market reports, executive summaries, and video synthesis to support Go/No-Go innovation decisions. Customers can either license the tool for autonomous use or engage UMI's Market Test Managers for full-service managed delivery.
Product overview
UMI is a unified Market Test platform for innovation projects that combines a software tool with managed services. The core offering is the UMI Market Test Tool, which uses proprietary Machine Learning and AI algorithms to automatically match innovation projects with over one billion professionals worldwide and collect B2B feedback in approximately one month. Customers can choose between a self-service Tool Charter (software license with unlimited projects and users) or a full Managed Service where UMI's team handles the entire market test process. Key use cases include detecting market needs, validating solutions, sourcing innovation, finding partners, and prioritizing innovation portfolios. Deliverables include dynamic Market Reports, Executive Reports (3-slide summaries), and Video Synthesis. The platform also includes a professional community for innovation networking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- UMI Market Test Tool A B2B market research platform powered by proprietary AI and Machine Learning algorithms that automatically matches innovation projects to relevant professionals worldwide (over one billion reachable) and collects targeted feedback in approximately one month. Built for enterprise innovation, R&D, and strategic marketing teams seeking objective market validation.
- Managed Service (Full Support) Full-service option where UMI's Market Test Managers handle the entire market test project from setup through results delivery. Includes turnkey deliverables, full team support, and is applicable for single projects or specific volumes. Designed for enterprise customers that prefer outsourced execution.
- Tool Charter (Self-Service License) Recurring software license for companies that want autonomy in conducting their own market tests. Includes unlimited users, unlimited projects, training on tool usage, launch assistance, and an arbitration dashboard for managing project portfolios.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ innovations guided through the platform
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Umi
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Umi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature6 records
Umi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- CBI (Confederation of British Industry)minorSupporting the FUEL national business roadshow as a partner organization.
- Purbeck Personal Guarantee InsuranceminorSupporting the FUEL roadshow as a partner, helping address SME funding barriers.
- CO4CHminorSupporting the FUEL national business roadshow.
- Lyon Startup EcosystemminorThe Lyon-based startup UMI raised 5 million euros in funding, indicating investment from local/regional investors or venture capital associated with the Lyon startup ecosystem.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Umi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentPeers
Broad incumbents
- Qualtrics: Enterprise experience and survey platform (now owned by SAP) that competes in the broader market-research and feedback-collection category. Comparably targets enterprise buyers but offers a much wider portfolio beyond innovation validation, including CX, EX, and brand tracking.
- Ipsos: Global market research leader serving many of the same Fortune 500 customers (including Sanofi, Michelin, EDF, L'Oréal). Competes with UMI for enterprise innovation-research budgets but operates a much broader, primarily services-led model.
Direct peers
- Toluna: Global online panel and market-research platform providing consumer and B2B insights via automated respondent matching. Closely mirrors UMI's combination of panel access, automated targeting, and enterprise self-service tooling.
- Dynata: One of the world's largest first-party data and research platforms, providing B2B and B2C audience access and survey tooling. Directly comparable in audience-matching technology and enterprise customer overlap.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Umi social profiles
Digital presenceUmi compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Umi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Umi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Umi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Umi M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Umi
What does Umi do?
UMI is a B2B market test tool that helps corporations validate innovation projects by automatically identifying and engaging relevant professionals worldwide through proprietary AI, Machine Learning, and Semantic Web algorithms. The platform collects representative B2B feedback in approximately one month and delivers dynamic market reports, executive summaries, and video synthesis to support Go/No-Go innovation decisions. Customers can either license the tool for autonomous use or engage UMI's Market Test Managers for full-service managed delivery.
Is Umi a public or private company?
Umi is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Umi founded?
Umi was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Umi based?
Umi is headquartered in Lyon, France, in the Europe region.
How does Umi make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Managed Services (Full Support) is the primary driver. The others are tool Licensing.
Who are Umi's main competitors?
AYTM (Ask Your Target Market) is listed as a peer. Broad incumbents are Qualtrics and Ipsos. Direct peers are Toluna and Dynata.
Does Umi have an API?
No public API is recorded for Umi.
What industry is Umi in?
Umi's product category is Innovation Market Testing Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAOAJ, B2B/EDI & Partner Integration. Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7370.