What MerConcept does

MerConcept, founded in 2006 by François Gabart in Concarneau, Brittany, is a privately held (SASU) mission-driven ocean racing and maritime engineering company that operates as a performance and innovation integrator across the full vessel value chain — from concept and design through construction, assembly, technical management, and on-water operation. The company is organized into four departments: Ocean Racing (30 staff, managing IMOCA and ULTIM-class campaigns such as the record-setting SVR-LAZARTIGUE trimaran and IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance), Construction (20 staff, hosting builds and integrating composite, hydrofoil and propulsion systems in partnership with shipyards CDK Technologies and Multiplast), Maritime Mobility (4 staff, engineering decarbonized vessels including the Fast Foiling Ferry and electric hydrofoil catamaran SCF) and The LAB / Performance Durable (5 staff, R&D across biomaterials, energy autonomy, flight control, life cycle analysis and data analytics). The headcount is rounded out by ~12 transverse functions, totaling nearly 65 employees operating from a 1,400 m² facility.

The company's technical core lies in flying-boat (hydrofoil) platforms, advanced composite and biosourced-material construction (e.g., the OPTIFLAX linen-fiber Optimist), propulsion chains spanning hybrid, solar, wind and hydrogen sources, and flight control / piloting systems optimized for stability and energy efficiency. It collaborates with leading naval architects (VPLP Design, Guillaume Verdier, Vincent Lauriot-Prévost) and technology specialists (Madintec, Kossel Control) rather than competing with them. In July 2020 MerConcept adopted "entreprise à mission" status under France's PACTE law, formally committing to advancing sustainable ocean mobility, and in April 2024 launched UpWind by MerConcept, an all-female Ocean Fifty racing program co-created with 11th Hour Racing.

MerConcept generates revenue through four professional-services streams: ocean racing team and sports project management; construction, assembly and systems integration; maritime mobility engineering and prototyping; and R&D / innovation lab services. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured project-by-project around anchor enterprise clients (notably MACIF for the IMOCA program and KRESK Group for SVR-LAZARTIGUE), strategic partners (VELA, 11th Hour Racing, Alwena Shipping), and individual skippers. Geographic footprint is centered in France with a global project reach served through direct engagement from the Concarneau headquarters.

Name

MerConcept

Legal name

SASU MerConcept

Website

https://merconcept.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

MerConcept is a French, mission-driven ocean racing and maritime engineering integrator that designs, builds and operates high-technology sailing vessels — including hydrofoil trimarans and IMOCA yachts — for skippers, sponsors and sustainable maritime mobility clients from its Concarneau base.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Offshore Racing and Marine Engineering Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Sailing Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Yacht Prototype, One-Off & Concept Build Programs (IMAJAMAL), Luxury Yacht Systems Integration & Commissioning (Shipyard) (IMAJAMAI)

Keywords

• Offshore racing services
• Marine engineering
• Sailing vessel design
• Maritime decarbonization
• Composite boat construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Concarneau

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ocean Racing Team Management: Managing and operating ocean racing projects including technical management, sports project management, boat operation and optimization for sailing teams (e.g., SVR-LAZARTIGUE trimaran, IMOCA MACIF)
2. Construction and Assembly Services: Design, construction, and assembly of high-technology sailing vessels for clients. Services include composite part production, system integration, hydrofoil design, and boat design collaboration with architects.
3. Maritime Mobility Engineering: Engineering and prototyping services for sustainable maritime transport including feasibility studies, propulsion system design, naval architecture, and innovation transfer from ocean racing to commercial vessels.
4. R&D and Innovation Lab Services: Research and development across 5 axes: materials, energy, piloting, life cycle analysis, and data analysis. Includes biomaterial part design and eco-conception services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MerConcept is an offshore racing integrator that designs, constructs, and manages high-performance sailing vessels (IMOCA and ULTIM class) for professional skippers and racing teams, while engineering sustainable maritime mobility solutions (hydrofoil ferries, electric hydrofoil catamarans, sail-powered cargo) for commercial transport operators. The company operates across four divisions — Ocean Racing, Construction, Maritime Mobility, and The LAB (R&D) — delivering projects from concept through construction and operation in collaboration with partner architects, shipyards, and energy specialists.

Product overview

MerConcept is a mission-driven ocean racing and maritime innovation company founded in 2006 by François Gabart, headquartered in Concarneau, Brittany. It operates as an integrator of performance and innovation across the full value chain — from design and construction to operation — serving offshore racing and maritime mobility markets. The company is organized into four core divisions: Ocean Racing (boat design, construction, assembly, and sports project management for IMOCA and ULTIM class vessels); Maritime Mobility (decarbonization-focused ship design and engineering for passenger transport, crew transfer vessels, and high-tech yachting); Construction (composite manufacturing, hydrofoil system design, assembly, and systems integration); and Performance Durable / The LAB (sustainable innovation R&D across materials, energy, piloting, life cycle analysis, and data analysis). A fifth initiative, UpWind by MerConcept, is a diversity and inclusion sailing program launched in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UpWind by MerConcept: Women's sailing team promoting diversity, inclusion and excellence in ocean racing, launched in April 2024

Products and services

• Ocean Racing Division Full-service offshore racing division offering boat design, construction, assembly, system integration, performance optimization, technical assistance, and sports project management for professional sailing teams and skippers competing in IMOCA and ULTIM class races (Vendée Globe, Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre).
• Maritime Mobility Division Maritime mobility division developing innovative, tailor-made prototype vessels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in maritime transport, targeting passenger transport (Fast Foiling Ferry), professional offshore transport (VELA cargo), and high-tech yachting (SCF electric hydrofoil catamaran).
• Construction Division Construction department hosting and building ocean racing projects in collaboration with partner shipyards (CDK Technologies, Multiplast), covering assembly, system integration, composite manufacturing, hydrofoil system design, and boat design in partnership with naval architects.
• Performance Durable (The LAB) Sustainable innovation laboratory and R&D department focused on five axes: materials (bio-sourced and recyclable composites), energy (propulsion chain and energy autonomy), piloting (flight control and assistance systems), life cycle analysis (LCA), and data analysis for boat reliability and performance optimization.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% reduction in energy consumption
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VELA (Vela Transport)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerConcept is technical and strategic partner of VELA, a sail-powered goods transport company co-founded by François Gabart. Teams work on ship design, sail systems, operational manual, meteorological routing, rigging expertise, and sailing assistance.
• VPLP DesigncoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on naval architecture and design for maritime mobility projects including Fast Foiling Ferry and electric hydrofoil catamaran (SCF), as well as IMOCA racing vessels.
• Alwena ShippingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in development of Fast Foiling Ferry (F3), a 24-30m hydrofoil catamaran for passenger transport capable of carrying up to 200 passengers at 40 knots with 40% reduced consumption.
• CDK TechnologiescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner shipyard for construction of IMOCA hulls and structures. Central hull and floats of SVR-LAZARTIGUE manufactured at CDK. Collaboration on construction of IMOCA 60 vessels including Mālama for 11th Hour Racing Team.
• MultiplastcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner shipyard for construction of structural parts including central hull and floats of SVR-LAZARTIGUE trimaran.
• Guillaume Verdier (Naval Architecture Firm)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with naval architect Guillaume Verdier for design of IMOCA vessels including Apivia, IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance, and Mālama for 11th Hour Racing Team.
• Vincent Lauriot-PrévostcoreTechnology or IntegrationArchitect who collaborated on design of SVR-LAZARTIGUE trimaran with MerConcept engineers.
• BigshipminorOthersMarine industry partner listed among MerConcept partners.
• CastalieminorOthersMarine industry partner listed among MerConcept partners.
• Klaxoon GroupminorOthersTechnology partner listed among MerConcept partners.
• Guy CottenminorOthersMarine industry partner listed among MerConcept partners (clothing/equipment).
• PlastimominorOthersMarine industry partner listed among MerConcept partners (marine equipment).
• TBS GroupminorOthersMarine industry partner listed among MerConcept partners.
• 11th Hour Racing TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational sailing team for whom MerConcept redesigned hydrofoil systems (Alaka'i) and designed/built IMOCA 60 Mālama. Partnership includes sustainable development alignment and technology transfer.
• ERPLASTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of OPTIFLAX project - prototype Optimist boat built with biosourced linen fibers and partially biosourced resin, supported by Brittany Region.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CDK Technologies: Composite shipyard and direct collaborator that builds IMOCA hulls and SVR-LAZARTIGUE structures for MerConcept — comparable as a French racing-yacht/IMOCA construction specialist serving the same offshore racing customer base.
• Persico Marine: Italian builder of advanced composite racing and superyacht vessels (including America's Cup and IMOCA boats) — directly comparable as a high-performance racing-yacht and foiling-boat manufacturer competing for design/build contracts in the same niche.
• VPLP Design: Leading naval architecture firm collaborating with MerConcept on F3, SCF, and racing IMOCA projects; comparable as a design/engineering peer operating in the same IMOCA/ULTIM/flying-boat design space.
• Artemis Technologies: Belfast-based developer of the EF-12 PWR foiling ferry and Artemis Racing's technology spin-out — a direct peer in commercializing racing-derived hydrofoil and energy-autonomy tech for passenger vessels, the same end-market MerConcept's Maritime Mobility division targets.
• Multiplast (Groupe Carboman): French composite shipyard (Vannes) building structural parts and central hulls/floats for ULTIM multihulls including SVR-LAZARTIGUE — a direct comparable as a high-performance composite marine manufacturer competing for the same ocean-racing build contracts.
• Cookson Boats: New Zealand-based America's Cup and IMOCA composite boat builder — a comparable racing-yacht manufacturing peer with similar advanced-composite construction and foiling-system engineering capabilities.
• High Modulus (HMD): New Zealand-based composite engineering firm building America's Cup and IMOCA racing yachts — directly comparable as a high-performance racing-yacht constructor with overlapping customer base in international offshore sailing.

Broad incumbents

• Sunreef Yachts: Polish luxury sailing catamaran builder supplying bespoke eco-conscious yachts — comparable as a high-end sailing-yacht manufacturer targeting high-net-worth clients interested in sustainable performance, an adjacent segment to MerConcept's racing and high-tech yachting work.
• Guillaume Verdier Design: Renowned naval architect who collaborates with MerConcept on IMOCA designs (Apivia, MACIF, Mālama) — a peer/competitor in naval architecture for high-performance sailing vessels across the IMOCA, America's Cup and ULTIM classes.

Emerging players

• Candela (Candela Boats): Swedish electric hydrofoil boat maker (P-12 Shuttle ferry, C-8 leisure foiling boat) — partial-overlap peer working on the same hydrofoil/electric-propulsion axis as MerConcept's SCF and F3 prototypes, focused on zero-emission marine mobility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/merconcept_
• Facebookfacebook.com/MerConceptFG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/merconcept1
• Instagraminstagram.com/merconcept_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 MerConcept