The GEMA Group

What The GEMA Group does

The GEMA Group (Grandes Ecoles des Métiers d'Avenir) is a France-based private higher education group founded in 2017 by David Derkx and integrated into Groupe Eureka Education in February 2021. The group operates a portfolio of three specialized schools: ESI Business School (sustainable development and management, founded 2017), IA School (artificial intelligence and management, founded 2019), and Cyber Management School (cybersecurity and management, founded 2023). Programs run from Bac+1 to Bac+5 and are delivered in both initial (full-time) and apprenticeship (alternance) formats, with all campuses holding CFA (Centre de Formation des Apprentis) status enabling apprenticeship pathways funded via employer co-investment.

The group's technology stack centers on a hybrid learning model combining in-person campus instruction with an online E-learning Campus, enabling students in career transition, autonomous learners, and international or distant apprentices to follow the full curriculum remotely. Programs are accredited via RNCP-certified titles at Levels 6 and 7 (recognized across Europe) and Qualiopi-certified by Bureau Veritas across 32 quality criteria. Delivery infrastructure spans nine physical campuses across major French metropolitan areas (Paris/Montrouge, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille, Nantes, Aix-en-Provence, Montpellier) plus the e-learning platform, with additional campuses (Strasbourg, Rennes) planned.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees from two streams: initial training (formation initiale) and apprenticeship contracts (alternance), where employers and OPCO funding partially offset training costs. The group monetizes its student pipeline through enterprise partnerships with 500+ companies including AXA, Crédit Agricole, SNCF, Federec, and Laboratoires Vichy, which recruit apprentices, interns, and graduates. Annual enrollment exceeds 5,000 active students and graduation cohorts have grown from 400+ in 2022 to 500+ in 2024. The group is led by David Derkx (Directeur Général) and Gad Chetboun (Directeur Pédagogique), with dedicated campus directors across major sites. A structural restructuring is planned for September 2025 consolidating IA School and Cyber Management School into NEXA Digital School, narrowing the group's portfolio focus toward ESI Business School.

Name

The GEMA Group

Legal name

Groupe GEMA

Website

https://groupe-gema.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The GEMA Group is a France-based private higher education group operating three specialized schools (ESI Business School, IA School, Cyber Management School) across nine campuses plus e-learning, delivering Bac+1 to Bac+5 programs in sustainable development, AI, and cybersecurity combined with management, primarily to individual students and enterprise partners via initial and apprenticeship formats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulogne-billancourt

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees — Initial Training: Revenue from full-time initial training programs (formation initiale) at Bachelor and Master's levels, where students attend campus-based courses full-time without an apprenticeship contract.
2. Tuition Fees — Apprenticeship/Alternance: Revenue from work-study programs (apprenticeship/professionalization contracts) where students split time between campus and employer. Students receive a salary while the employer may co-fund training costs. All campuses hold CFA status enabling these programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The GEMA Group is a private higher education group operating three specialized schools — ESI Business School (sustainable development and management), IA School (artificial intelligence and management), and Cyber Management School (cybersecurity and management) — delivering RNCP-certified Bachelor and Master's programs (Bac+1 to Bac+5) in either initial or apprenticeship (alternance) formats. The group delivers courses across 9 physical campuses in France and a national e-learning platform, with all campuses holding CFA status to enable work-study apprenticeship pathways.

Product overview

The GEMA Group (Grandes Ecoles des Métiers d'Avenir) is a private higher education group operating a portfolio of three distinct schools: ESI Business School (sustainable development and management), IA School (artificial intelligence and management), and Cyber Management School (cybersecurity and management). Programs range from Bac+1 to Bac+5, available in initial or apprenticeship formats across 9 physical campuses in France plus an e-learning platform. The group also organizes co-curricular programs including national competitions (Eloquence Competition, Open Pitch).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ESI Business School: Business school specializing in sustainable development, social impact, and digital management. Forms responsible and engaged managers of tomorrow.
• IA School
• Cyber Management School

Products and services

• ESI Business School Private business school specializing in sustainable development, social impact, and digital management, offering RNCP-certified Bachelor and Master's programs (Bac+1 to Bac+5) in initial or apprenticeship formats.
• IA School School specializing in artificial intelligence and management, offering programs that combine technical AI skills with business management expertise from Bachelor to Master's level (Bac+1 to Bac+5).
• Cyber Management School School specializing in cybersecurity and management, offering dual technical and managerial competency training in cybersecurity professions from Bac+1 to Bac+5, in initial or apprenticeship formats.
• E-learning Campus Online campus enabling students to follow the full curriculum in initial or apprenticeship format remotely, serving professionals in career transition, autonomous learners, international students, and apprentices in distant cities without a physical GEMA campus nearby.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15,000 students trained since 2017 across three schools
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• TV7 BordeauxminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2024GEMA students appeared on the TV game show 'Faites le buzz' on TV7 Bordeaux, representing the group and promoting school visibility through media participation.
• 1 Lettre 1 SourireminorOthers · 1 January 2024Charitable partnership enabling GEMA students to write personalized Christmas letters to isolated elderly people, promoting intergenerational solidarity and community engagement.
• Institut Marie Curie & Hôpital RothschildminorOthers · 1 January 2024GEMA students wrote Christmas letters to patients and hospitalized children at Institut Marie Curie and Hôpital Rothschild, providing emotional support during the holiday season.
• Doranco & ESCTminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Shared campus annex in Boulogne-Billancourt with Doranco and ESCT, other schools within Groupe Eureka Education.
• Euridis Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Shared campus space with Euridis Business School in Toulouse and Montpellier locations. Both schools are part of Groupe Eureka Education.
• AXAcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023AXA is listed as an enterprise partner of Groupe GEMA, collaborating to provide apprenticeship and internship opportunities for students in sustainable development, AI, and cybersecurity programs.
• Crédit AgricolecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Crédit Agricole is listed as an enterprise partner of Groupe GEMA, providing career placement and apprenticeship opportunities for students across the group's schools.
• SNCFcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023SNCF is listed as an enterprise partner of Groupe GEMA, collaborating on student apprenticeships and professional integration.
• FedereccoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Federec (Fédération professionnelle des entreprises du recyclage) is listed as an enterprise partner, supporting student placement in sustainable development and circular economy roles.
• Laboratoires VichycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Vichy Laboratories is listed as an enterprise partner, collaborating with Groupe GEMA on student apprenticeships and internships in fields related to sustainable development and digital transformation.
• Groupe EUREKA EDUCATIONflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2021Groupe GEMA was integrated into Groupe EUREKA EDUCATION in February 2021. This parent group provides strategic backing and enables resource sharing across member schools. GEMA operates alongside other schools including Euridis Business School, Doranco, and ESCT.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• INSEEC U. INSEEC U. is a French private higher-education group operating Grande École programs (Bachelor, BBA, MSc, MBA) across multiple French campuses in initial and alternance formats, with specializations including digital, luxury, sports, wine and hospitality management. Shares the same French business-school model, CFA alternance pathway, RNCP-certified titles and multi-campus distribution strategy as Groupe GEMA.
• ESG Group (ESG Schools): ESG Group operates a portfolio of French private business schools (ESG Finance, ESG Marketing, ESG SIÈGE, MBA ESG, etc.) covering Bachelor through Master's programs across French campuses in initial and alternance formats. Closely comparable to Groupe GEMA's ESI Business School in subject (sustainability-aware management) and to its multi-school format within the wider Galileo ecosystem.
• PPA Business School: PPA Business School is a French private business school (part of Galileo Global Education) delivering Bachelor to Master's programs across multiple French campuses, with alternance pathways and RNCP certifications. Directly comparable to ESI Business School within Groupe GEMA on size, target student segment, format (initial/alternance) and Parisian campus scale.
• IONIS Education Group: IONIS Education Group is a French private higher-education group running multiple specialized schools (EPITA, EPITECH, ESME, ICS Bégué, Sup'Biotech, etc.) across many French campuses in technology, engineering and management tracks. Comparable to Groupe GEMA in the multi-school multi-campus French private model combining technical specializations with management programs, served to similar Bac+1–Bac+5 student segments.
• Paris School of Business (PSB): PSB is a French private business school offering Bachelor, BBA and MSc programs in management, digital and sustainability across Paris and other French cities via initial and alternance pathways. A direct peer to ESI Business School/Groupe GEMA in targeting Bac+1–Bac+5 students with management plus future-oriented specializations (sustainability, digital) delivered through CFA-supported apprenticeship tracks.
• EDC Paris Business School: EDC Paris is a French private business school offering Bachelor to Master's programs in management with specializations including digital, finance, luxury and entrepreneurship, delivered in initial and alternance formats from a Paris campus. Comparable to ESI Business School in the French private higher-ed management space, with similar cadence of open days, alternance contracts and RNCP credentials.
• Galileo Global Education: Galileo Global Education is the largest French private higher-education group, owning INSEEC, ESG, PPA, PSB and other business and digital schools delivered across multiple French campuses in initial and alternance formats. Directly comparable to Groupe GEMA in that both operate multi-school, multi-campus French private higher-ed portfolios combining management with technical specializations, with a similar reliance on CFA status and enterprise apprenticeship partners.
• IESEG School of Management: IESEG School of Management is a French private Grande École (linked to Université Catholique de Lille) offering Bachelor, MSc and MBA programs in management across Lille and Paris, with growing emphasis on sustainability, digital and data. Comparable to Groupe GEMA's schools in management focus, Bac+3/Bac+5 credentialing and apprenticeship/work-integrated learning offerings.

Emerging players

• SKOLA (Live Education Group): SKOLA is a smaller French private higher-education group (part of Live Education Group) operating multi-format business and digital programs in alternance across French campuses. Emerging peer with partial overlap: similar apprenticeship-led French private model to Groupe GEMA but typically smaller scale and shorter track record.

Broad incumbents

• EMLYON Business School: EMLYON is an established French Grande École (triple-crown accredited) offering Bachelor, MSc and MBA programs in management with deep specializations in digital, AI and sustainability across its French and international campuses. Comparable as a French management higher-education player operating in the same future-skills thematic areas, but materially larger, older and broader in scope than Groupe GEMA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@groupegema2780
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groupe-gema

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The GEMA Group