Stych
Stych is a French hybrid driving school, founded in 2014, that combines online code de la route theory training with in-person practical lessons across France's largest network of 75 licensed agencies and 1,042 appointment points, serving individual learner drivers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Stych does
Stych is a French driving school operator founded in 2014 that combines online theory preparation with in-person practical driving lessons under a hybrid delivery model. Its platform lets students self-serve the full licensing journey — registering, revising the code de la route theory (7,194 thematic tests, 25 mock exams), scheduling lessons with state-certified instructors, and booking exams — via a mobile app or the stych.fr website. The company runs France's largest driving school network, with 75 licensed agencies and 1,042 appointment points staffed by 851 instructors and 84 advisors, enabling lessons near students' homes or workplaces across metropolitan France.
The core product is the Permis B (car license) program, sold as tiered packages — Permis Zen from €249, Permis Premium from €395, and Permis Accéléré from €649 — supplemented by free code training, CPF-funded packages (€799-€2,299), Conduite Accompagnée from €699, motorcycle licenses, and add-on modules for eco-driving, road safety, and auto insurance. Stych monetizes primarily via one-time package purchases, with installment payment options (3x by card, 6x by check) and Qualiopi-certified access to France's CPF government training funds.
Revenue mechanics rest on volume of license candidates, average package price, and instructor utilization. The company claims 30% lower pricing than traditional driving schools, a 25-hour average driving time versus a 35-hour national average, an 86% driving exam pass rate, and a 45-day average exam wait (30 days for premium tiers). Stych has raised $2M (2018) and $10M (2022) from Clarium Capital and Ring Capital, and is reportedly pursuing a new funding round as of November 2025.
Stych firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stych
- Legal name
- Stych
- Website
- https://stych.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Stych is a French hybrid driving school, founded in 2014, that combines online code de la route theory training with in-person practical lessons across France's largest network of 75 licensed agencies and 1,042 appointment points, serving individual learner drivers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Stych is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices12 records
Markets served
Stych business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Driving License Course Packages: One-time payment for driving school packages including theory training (code) and practical driving lessons. Packages range from basic (Permis Zen) to premium (Permis Premium) to accelerated (Permis Accéléré) options. Prices range from €249 to €1399 depending on package and number of driving hours included.
- CPF (Professional Training Account) Financing: Government-funded training through France's CPF system. Stych is certified Qualiopi and approved for permit financing. Eligible users (job seekers, employees with co-financing) can use up to €900 from their CPF for permit training, with remaining balance paid by student.
- Installment Payment Plans: Payment flexibility offered: up to 3 installments by credit card or up to 6 installments by check. This allows price-sensitive customers to spread payments while accessing training immediately.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Permis Zen (Economy) - Basic package from €249 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Permis Premium - Mid-tier package from €395 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Permis Accéléré (Accelerated) - Fast-track package from €649 |
| Hybrid | Multi-year contract | CPF-eligible Packages - Government-funded training from €799 |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Code Training - Lead generation/free tier |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Conduite Accompagnée (Supervised Driving) - From €699 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Stych product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stych operates a hybrid driving school that combines online theory training (code de la route) with in-person practical driving lessons across France. Customers access free road code preparation through a web platform and mobile app, then purchase driving lesson packages (Permis Zen, Permis Premium, Permis Accéléré) for category B car licenses, motorcycle licenses, and accompanied driving programs. The company supplements its self-paced digital learning with a physical network of 75 licensed driving school agencies and 1,042 appointment points staffed by 851 state-certified instructors.
Product overview
Stych is a hybrid driving school offering a comprehensive platform that combines online theory preparation with practical driving lessons across France. The core product is the Permis B (car driver's license) training, supported by free Code de la Route theory preparation. The company offers three main driving packages: Permis Zen (economy), Permis Premium (enhanced with priority exam scheduling), and Permis Accéléré (30-day intensive program). Additional products include CPF-financed programs, Conduite Accompagnée (accompanied driving from age 15), motorcycle licenses, and supplementary training modules for eco-driving, road safety, and bicycle/scooter education. A virtual coach feature and mobile application provide digital learning support alongside 75 physical agency locations and 1042 meeting points nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Code de la Route (Free Theory Training)
Quantifiable outcome
- 30% reduction in driving hours needed (25 hours average vs 35 hours national average)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Stych
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Stych technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Stych partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Stych competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ornikar: French digital-first driving school offering the same hybrid online theory + in-person practical lesson model as Stych. Ornikar raised large VC rounds (reported unicorn-scale valuation) and is Stych's most direct competitor in the online auto-école nouvelle génération category.
- En Voiture Simone: Paris-based driving school originally focused on women learners but now serving all genders. Operates a hybrid digital + physical model directly competing with Stych in the Île-de-France market and select French cities.
- Permis Pas Cher: French discount driving school positioned on low-price packages. Competes directly with Stych's Permis Zen entry-level tier on price-sensitive customer segments in metropolitan France.
- Auto-École.net: French online platform aggregating and connecting learners to local driving schools, with a code de la route preparation app similar to Stych's free theory training. Competes on the digital funnel layer.
Broad incumbents
- CER (Centres d'Éducation Routière): One of France's largest traditional driving school networks with hundreds of franchise agencies nationwide. CER represents the incumbent physical network that Stych is disrupting; increasingly digitizing its offering in response to Stych and Ornikar.
- ECF (École de Conduite Française): Major traditional French driving school network affiliated with the ECF federation, with broad geographic coverage. Competes with Stych primarily on physical network density and brand legacy among traditional learner segments.
- Leclerc Auto-École: Driving school chain affiliated with the Leclerc retail group, leveraging retail foot traffic and aggressive pricing. Directly competes with Stych on price-point positioning in suburban and peri-urban French markets.
Regional players
- MyPermis: French online driving school platform with regional strongholds, offering the same hybrid code+conduite model as Stych. Comparable primarily in product offering but smaller in scale and geographic reach.
Emerging players
- Drive Change (UK): UK-based digital driving school platform applying a similar hybrid digital-plus-instructor model to the British market. Comparable as a cross-border reference for the digital auto-école category Stych operates in.
- Aceable: US-based digital driving education company offering online driver's ed and behind-the-wheel coordination. Comparable as a category peer — hybrid digital + practical lessons — though operating in a different regulatory environment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Stych social profiles
Digital presenceStych compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Stych financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stych leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Stych funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stych 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 Stych
What does Stych do?
Stych operates a hybrid driving school that combines online theory training (code de la route) with in-person practical driving lessons across France. Customers access free road code preparation through a web platform and mobile app, then purchase driving lesson packages (Permis Zen, Permis Premium, Permis Accéléré) for category B car licenses, motorcycle licenses, and accompanied driving programs. The company supplements its self-paced digital learning with a physical network of 75 licensed driving school agencies and 1,042 appointment points staffed by 851 state-certified instructors.
Is Stych a public or private company?
Stych is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Stych founded?
Stych was founded in 2014. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Stych based?
Stych is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Stych make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Driving License Course Packages are the primary driver. The others are CPF (Professional Training Account) Financing and installment Payment Plans.
Who are Stych's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ornikar, En Voiture Simone, Permis Pas Cher and Auto-École.net. Broad incumbents are CER (Centres d'Éducation Routière), ECF (École de Conduite Française) and Leclerc Auto-École. MyPermis is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Drive Change (UK) and Aceable.
Does Stych have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stych.