What Marseille Innovation does

Marseille Innovation is a public-private startup incubator and accelerator operating across three specialized campuses in Marseille, France: the Hôtel Technologique at the Château-Gombert technopole (3,500 m², focused on deeptech/photonics/advanced manufacturing and co-located with Centrale Marseille, Polytech Marseille, and 8 university research labs), the Pôle Média Belle de Mai (120,000 m² former tobacco factory for digital and creative industries), and the CIC Place de l'Innovation (co-managed with CIC Lyonnaise de Banque near Saint-Charles station). It serves early-stage to scale-up technology startups through a full lifecycle program stack: START-MI for pre-launch validation, GROW-MI for business structuring and acceleration, SCALE-MI for organizational scaling, fundraising, governance, and internationalization, plus the Soft-Landing Provence Africa Connect program for African startups entering Europe. The organization is one of the first European Business and Innovation Centers and holds the French Tech Aix-Marseille label.

The organization generates revenue through a hybrid non-profit / public-private model: hosting fees from startups occupying its offices, public subsidies from Métropole Aix-Marseille Provence, Région Sud, Ville de Marseille, French Tech, and Bpifrance, partnership fees, and management of co-investment vehicles. The Prêt d'Honneur Innov'+ program (co-managed with Réseau Entreprendre Provence and backed by Bpifrance with a 70% guarantee) provides up to €45,000 in non-dilutive financing (€30,000 MI + €15,000 Bpifrance) at 0% interest, 48-month linear repayment, with no equity taken. Distribution operates through direct applications, French Tech Aix-Marseille ecosystem referrals, annual events (50+ per year), and partner channels (ANIMA, Eurobiomed, KEDGE, La Plateforme, INPI, OVH, Sendinblue). Management is led by Laurence Olivier as Directrice générale and Denis Liotta as President, with Fadila Bakrar as Responsable Sourcing Startup at the Hôtel Technologique.

Name

Marseille Innovation

Legal name

Marseille Innovation

Website

https://marseille-innov.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Marseille Innovation is a public-private startup incubator and accelerator operating three specialized campuses in Marseille, France, running lifecycle programs (START-MI, GROW-MI, SCALE-MI, Soft-Landing Africa Connect) and the Prêt d'Honneur Innov'+ non-dilutive financing fund for early-stage to scale-up tech startups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation and Acceleration Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked) (BPADAMAE)

Keywords

• Startup incubator services
• Business acceleration programs
• Startup co-working spaces
• Innovation financing programs
• Entrepreneurship support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Marseille-en-beauvaisis

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Incubation/Acceleration Program Fees: Marseille Innovation generates revenue primarily through hosting fees from startups occupying office spaces on its 3 campuses, combined with public funding and subsidies from institutional partners (Métropole Aix-Marseille Provence, Région Sud, French Tech). The organization also benefits from partnership fees and co-investment vehicle proceeds (Prêt d'Honneur fund). As a non-profit association / public-private structure, it does not charge equity from startups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Marseille Innovation is a startup incubator and accelerator operating across three campuses in Marseille. It provides structured acceleration programs (START-MI for launching, GROW-MI for growth, SCALE-MI for scale-up), physical office infrastructure with fibre connectivity, expert mentorship, and the Prêt d'Honneur Innov'+ non-dilutive financing program (up to €45,000). The organization supports innovative startups from idea through scale-up, including a dedicated Soft-Landing program for African startups entering the European market.

Product overview

Marseille Innovation is a startup accelerator/incubator operating across three campuses in Marseille (Hôtel Technologique at Château-Gombert, Pôle Média Belle de Mai, and CIC Place de l'Innovation). The organization offers a portfolio of structured acceleration programs: START-MI for startup launch phase, GROW-MI for business structuring and acceleration, SCALE-MI for scale-up and internationalization, and Soft-Landing Provence Africa Connect for African startups entering Europe. The offering includes flexible office spaces on three campuses, access to a network of experts, workshops, mentorship programs, and the Prêt d'Honneur Innov'+ financing program (up to €45,000 non-dilutive funding). The organization functions as a business acceleration infrastructure rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• START-MI Incubation program designed for entrepreneurs launching their startup project, providing validation of technical, legal, and financial fundamentals to establish a solid foundation for new ventures.
• GROW-MI Acceleration program for entrepreneurs who have validated their project basics, focusing on structuring business organization, strengthening economic models, and accelerating sustainable growth.
• SCALE-MI Scale-up program for entrepreneurs with an established activity seeking to structure rapid and controlled growth in France and internationally, covering governance, fundraising, partnerships, and internationalization.
• Soft-Landing Provence Africa Connect Twelve-month soft-landing program designed for African startups in GreenTech, HealthTech, BlueTech, Cultural Industries, and Agritech sectors seeking to develop their business in Europe through mentorship, training, networking, and access to international events.
• Prêt d'Honneur Innov'+ Innovation honor loan program providing up to €45,000 in non-dilutive funding (€30,000 from Marseille Innovation/Network Entreprendre Provence fund plus €15,000 complementary Bpifrance loan) for young innovative companies under 3 years old, combined with strategic mentoring.

Quantifiable outcome

• >80% of supported startups pass their 5th year (survival rate)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Réseau Entreprendre ProvencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2026Marseille Innovation co-manages the Prêt d'Honneur Innov'+ financing fund with Réseau Entreprendre Provence, combining MI's operational startup support with Réseau Entreprendre's mentoring network and entrepreneurial community. The fund offers up to €30,000 in 0% loans to young innovative companies in Région Sud, with additional Bpifrance co-investment. Réseau Entreprendre also hosts office space at MI's Château-Gombert campus starting May.
• Métropole Aix-Marseille ProvencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Primary institutional backer and co-founder of Marseille Innovation's ecosystem. Provides major funding, legitimacy, and strategic direction. Initiated the Soft-Landing Provence Africa Connect program for African startups to enter European markets via Marseille.
• French Tech Aix-MarseillecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Marseille Innovation is the primary accelerator vehicle for the French Tech Aix-Marseille community, operating under the French Tech label and participating in national French Tech initiatives and programs.
• CIC Lyonnaise de BanquecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CIC co-manages the CIC Place de l'Innovation campus with Marseille Innovation, providing banking expertise, investor networks, and business development support to resident startups. Named as MIpartner in financing events.
• EY Ventury AvocatsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024EY Ventury is a designated MIpartner providing legal expertise to MI startups on SaaS contracts, fundraising negotiations, employment law, and intellectual property. Frequently hosts petit-déjeuner workshops at MI campuses.
• IODA ConsultingmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024IODA Consulting is an MIpartner specializing in innovation financing strategies. Covers CIR (Research Tax Credit), CII (Innovation Tax Credit), JEI (Young Innovative Company) status, and financing roadmap construction for startups.
• La PlateformemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024La Plateforme is a major AI and digital training institution in Marseille, co-hosting workshops with Marseille Innovation on AI, data strategy, and generative AI tools for startups. Guillaume Zaffaroni and Joël Gombin from La Plateforme regularly lead MI events.
• RisingSUDmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024RisingSUD is the regional economic development and attractiveness agency for Région Sud. Operates programs including Réseau Entreprise Europe (EEN), Up2Circ, Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs, and Invest PME, providing MI startups with access to European funding, international partnerships, and business tours.
• ANIMA Investment NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Part of the consortium running Soft-Landing Provence Africa Connect. ANIMA focuses on investment promotion and business development between Europe and the Mediterranean/Africa, providing MI's African startup program with international network access.
• EurobiomedmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Part of the Soft-Landing Provence Africa Connect consortium, bringing HealthTech sector expertise to the program for African startups seeking European market entry.
• KEDGE EntrepreneurshipmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Part of the Soft-Landing consortium. KEDGE Business School contributes entrepreneurship education and alumni networks to support African startup integration into the European ecosystem.
• CISAM (Cité de l'Innovation et des Savoirs Aix-Marseille)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the Soft-Landing Provence Africa Connect consortium, contributing innovation and knowledge ecosystem resources to African startup market entry support.
• Provence PromotionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Economic development agency for the Provence region, partner in Soft-Landing Provence Africa Connect and broader ecosystem development.
• Centrale MarseillemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Engineering school co-located on Château-Gombert technopole with Marseille Innovation. Provides direct access to engineering talent, research collaboration, and student projects for resident startups.
• Polytech MarseillemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Engineering school part of the Château-Gombert technopole ecosystem, providing talent pipeline and academic collaboration opportunities for MI startups.
• Aix-Marseille UniversitémajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20248 university departments in mechanics, mathematics, and sciences are co-located on the Château-Gombert campus, providing research partnerships and R&D collaboration for deeptech startups at Hôtel Technologique.
• INPI (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024INPI provides intellectual property workshops at MI campuses, helping startups protect innovations, software, brands, and patents through dedicated sessions with INPI regional engineers.
• APEC (Association pour l'Emploi des Cadres)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024APEC contributes recruitment workshops and HR advisory services to MI startups, helping founders build effective hiring processes for early-stage companies.
• CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CEA is one of 5 centres of research excellence available to MI startups through the 'Studio de l'innovation' (ANRT/BK Science Connect), providing access to scientific expertise for R&D projects.
• ENSAM (Arts et Métiers ParisTech)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Engineering school available to MI startups for R&D collaboration through the ANRT 'Studio de l'innovation' program, contributing manufacturing and industrial engineering expertise.
• INRAE (Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'environnement)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Research institute accessible through the ANRT 'Studio de l'innovation' program, providing agricultural, environmental, and bio-economy R&D expertise for MI startups.
• ONERA (Office national d'études et de recherches aérospatiales)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Aerospace research office accessible via the ANRT program, providing advanced scientific R&D capabilities for MI startups in relevant sectors.
• Sorbonne UniversitémajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Major research university accessible through ANRT's 'Studio de l'innovation' program, providing broad scientific expertise to MI startups for R&D collaboration.
• Vallée de l'Arc / Pays d'AixminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024One of three investment poles in Region Sud (alongside Marseille and Côte d'Azur) referenced in the 2025 fundraising barometer, reflecting geographic coverage of MI's ecosystem impact.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Station F: World's largest startup campus in Paris, hosting thousands of entrepreneurs across dozens of programs. Operates as a broader incumbent in the French accelerator landscape with significantly more scale, more capital partners, and a wider international footprint than Marseille Innovation.
• Bpifrance Le Hub: Bpifrance's innovation platform connecting startups with large corporates, investors, and public programs. Although a partner of Marseille Innovation through the Innov'+ loan program, it operates a much broader national acceleration footprint and competes for the same French innovation funding pool.
• La French Tech Aix-Marseille: The local chapter of the national La French Tech ecosystem label of which Marseille Innovation is the primary operational accelerator vehicle. Overlapping in branding, ecosystem coordination, and event programming, though La French Tech operates as a federating label rather than a direct service provider.

Direct peers

• Paris&Co: Paris-based innovation and economic development agency operating multiple thematic incubators. Directly comparable to Marseille Innovation as a French public-private incubator running sector-specific programs, providing workspace, mentorship, and ecosystem support to early-stage startups.
• Village by CA: Crédit Agricole's network of regional startup villages offering incubation, acceleration, and corporate-introduction programs across France. Comparable model combining physical coworking, expert network, and a banking partner ecosystem, operating multiple sites outside Paris in a similar non-equity accelerator structure.
• Réseau Entreprendre: National network of entrepreneur associations providing mentoring and zero-interest honor loans to startups. A direct peer and explicit partner of Marseille Innovation through the Prêt d'Honneur Innov'+ program, operating the same honor-loan model across multiple French regions.

Regional players

• Euratechnologies: Tech incubator and accelerator based in Lille serving the Hauts-de-France region with structured programs, co-working, and corporate partnerships. A comparable regional French incubator competing with Marseille Innovation for the same national public funding and French Tech visibility, but focused on northern France.
• H7 (Lyon): Lyon's central startup hub housed in a former industrial building, offering incubation, acceleration, events, and corporate connections. A peer regional French accelerator competing for the same French Tech Aix-Marseille / outside-Paris founder pool, with similar sector-agnostic programming and public-private backing.
• Halle Tropisme: Montpellier-based creative and digital industries incubator operating from a converted industrial site. Comparable regional French accelerator with a similar emphasis on cultural-creative sectors, public-private funding, and program-based startup support.

Emerging players

• Incubateur CentraleSupélec: University-linked deeptech incubator affiliated with CentraleSupélec engineering school. Comparable academic-anchored incubator model focused on deeptech and engineering-led startups, similar to MI's Hôtel Technologique campus co-located with Centrale Marseille.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/marseilleinnov
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marseille-innovation
• Instagraminstagram.com/marseilleinnov

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Marseille Innovation