What Res Publica does

Res Publica is a French participatory-democracy and stakeholder-consultation consultancy headquartered in Arcueil (Val-de-Marne), founded in 2004. It serves French public institutions (ANCT, ADEME, CESE, metropolitan areas, municipalities, regions) and large private-sector organizations in regulated industries (RTE, MAIF, SNCF Réseau, France Télévisions, Veolia, Hospices Civils de Lyon) by designing and facilitating citizen conventions, climate assemblies, participatory planning processes, internal corporate conventions, and statutory public consultations. The firm operates a 7-stage deliberative methodology codified in its Manifesto and Charter of Participation, applied consistently across 30+ documented reference projects.

Its sole proprietary technology asset is the Jenparle digital participation platform, developed in-house to support online consultation, participatory mapping, idea collection, asynchronous deliberation, and hybrid (in-person plus remote) facilitation. Jenparle is deployed both as an integrated tool within consultancy engagements and as a licensable standalone offering. Res Publica monetizes primarily through fee-for-service consulting engagements awarded via French public procurement or direct negotiation, with supplementary revenue from platform licensing and EU consortium participation (Horizon 2020 PHOENIX, LIFE FiRéno+). Distribution is exclusively direct: sales cycles are consultative and project-based, with long-term account management across major institutional clients.

Since June 2024 the firm has operated as a société à mission under the French PACTE law, with a 9-member Mission Committee providing independent oversight; it achieved AFNOR Engagé RSE and Responsibility Europe labels at the 3-star 'Exemplaire' level in 2026, and publishes an annual three-scope carbon footprint (96 tonnes CO2e in 2024). The firm employs 11-50 staff, including approximately 25 named consultants and a technical director, and is led by President Gilles-Laurent Rayssac and Managing Director Sophie Guillain.

Name

Res Publica

Legal name

Res publica

Website

https://respublica-conseil.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Res Publica is a French participatory-democracy consultancy (founded 2004, Arcueil) that designs citizen conventions, climate assemblies, and stakeholder consultations for French public institutions and large enterprises, using its proprietary Jenparle digital platform and a codified 7-step deliberative methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Participation Consulting

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182), Public Relations Agencies (541820), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Affairs & Government Relations (MPAAADAE), PR, Reputation Management & Earned Media Platforms (BPAMALAO)

Keywords

• Participatory democracy consulting
• Citizen engagement services
• Public consultation
• Deliberative process design
• Stakeholder dialogue facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Arcueil

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. Consulting Services - Public Sector: Res publica generates revenue primarily through fee-for-service consulting engagements with government institutions, metropolitan areas, municipalities, public agencies, and regulated entities. Projects range from citizen conventions and participatory planning to organizational dialogue initiatives, typically contracted via public procurement or direct negotiation.
2. Consulting Services - Private Sector: Engagements with private-sector organizations including insurance companies (MAIF), utilities (Veolia), media groups (France Télévisions), transport operators (SNCF, RTE), and healthcare institutions (Hospices Civils de Lyon) for internal conventions, participatory strategy, and stakeholder dialogue. Revenue is project-based, fee-for-service.
3. Platform Licensing - Jenparle: Jenparle, the proprietary digital participation platform, is made available to clients as part of Res publica's service delivery. The platform can also be licensed independently for specific consultation and dialogue processes, generating supplementary recurring or per-engagement revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Res publica is a French consulting firm that organizes citizen conventions, public consultations, and internal corporate dialogues using a proprietary 7-step deliberative methodology. The firm helps government institutions, local authorities, and large private-sector organizations design and facilitate participatory processes, stakeholder engagement, and strategic co-construction projects. It also developed and licenses Jenparle, a proprietary digital participation platform supporting hybrid (in-person + remote) consultation.

Product overview

Res Publica operates as a consultation and collaborative dialogue consulting firm with one core proprietary product: the Jenparle digital platform. Jenparle is a citizen participation platform that enables online deliberation, surveys, and collaborative discussions. The company deploys a 7-step methodology for organizing participatory processes including citizen conventions, participatory budgets, and public consultations, both in-person and remotely using the Jenparle platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jenparle: Digital participation platform developed by Res publica for online dialogue and citizen participation, used during conventions and consultations.

Products and services

• Jenparle Digital Participation Platform A proprietary online platform enabling real-time dialogue, online surveys, collaborative discussions, participatory mapping, and asynchronous moderation for public consultations and citizen conventions. Used as a standalone SaaS offering and embedded within Res publica's consulting engagements, enabling hybrid in-person + remote participation processes for clients.
• Participatory Democracy Consulting Services Project-based consulting engagements for French public institutions and large private-sector organizations, applying a 7-step deliberative methodology (context analysis, stakeholder mapping, process design, facilitation, digital integration, synthesis, follow-up) to citizen conventions, participatory planning, regulatory public consultations, and democratic innovation projects.
• Internal Corporate Conventions & Strategic Co-Construction Structured internal conventions and consensus conferences for large enterprises, engaging employees and stakeholders to co-construct corporate strategy, climate roadmaps, and CSR commitments. Deployed for clients such as MAIF, France Télévisions, RTE, Veolia Eau d'Ile-de-France, and Hospices Civils de Lyon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual carbon footprint measured at 96 tonnes CO2e (2024), with carbon intensity of 41 kgCO2e/k€ and 1.4 tonnes per employee, both below sector averages
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers25 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• Sami (carbon assessment agency)coreOthers · 1 January 2024Res publica partners with Sami, a French carbon assessment firm, for the annual calculation of its carbon footprint across all three scopes. Sami provides the methodology and reporting platform for Res publica's annual carbon assessment (conducted voluntarily since 2020). The partnership reflects Res publica's commitment to measuring and reducing its environmental impact.
• Harris InteractivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership (nearly two decades) with Harris Interactive for recruiting citizens in random-selection-based processes. Harris Interactive handles the methodological recruitment of randomly selected participants for citizen conventions, ensuring statistically representative samples, while Res publica provides the deliberative methodology and facilitation. Joint projects include the Convention Citoyenne pour le Climat and the Council of Alimentary National workshop on food packaging.
• CerescocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCeresco partners with Res publica for agricultural and food sector projects. Ceresco brings expertise in agricultural economics and rural development, while Res publica provides participatory methodology. The partnership combines Ceresco's sector knowledge with Res publica's facilitation capabilities for projects involving farming communities and food system stakeholders.
• KodikominorOthersRes publica is a corporate philanthropy (mécénat) partner of Kodiko, an association supporting refugees into employment through mentorship. Two Res publica employees per year participate in the Kodiko programme, each mentoring a refugee member of the Kodiko cohort through bi-monthly meetings. This partnership is a structured corporate social responsibility initiative, not a commercial arrangement.
• La Nef (cooperative bank)minorOthersRes publica holds equity stakes in La Nef, a cooperative bank that finances projects with ecological, social, or cultural added value. Res publica has also chosen La Nef as its banking provider. Deposits are Finansol-labeled, guaranteeing solidarity and transparency. This is a financial/social investment partnership aligned with Res publica's mission and RSE commitments.
• EnercoopminorOthersRes publica subscribes to a 100% renewable electricity contract with Enercoop, the French renewable energy cooperative. This aligns with the firm's carbon reduction commitments and RSE policy.
• Eurogroup ConsultingstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEurogroup Consulting and Res publica partnered on the ANCT accord-cadre for territorial strategy in the Grand Est region (PTRTE), where Eurogroup provided overall consulting coordination and Res publica contributed participatory methodology. The partnership combines big-strategy consulting with Res publica's facilitation expertise.
• Une Fabrique de la VillestrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUne Fabrique de la Ville acts as lead contractor (mandataire) with Res publica as co-mandataire on the Métropole Rouen Normandie 2050 project and the Grand Arras consultation project. This co-contracting arrangement extends Une Fabrique de la Ville's reach into participatory consultation while giving Res publica access to larger mandates.
• L'Atelier des GibouléesstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorL'Atelier des Giboulées serves as mandataire with Res publica as co-mandataire on several projects including the Métropole Rouen Normandie project and the Grand Arras consultation. The arrangement allows joint pursuit of large public-sector mandates where Giboulées provides urban planning expertise and Res publica provides participation methodology.
• PhytolabminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPhytolab was the mandataire for the La Baule-Escoublac promenade requalification project, with Res publica providing the participation and consultation component. Phytolab brings landscape architecture and urban design expertise to complement Res publica's deliberative processes.
• AlcimedstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAlcimed partnered with Res publica on the Hospices Civils de Lyon strategic project, where Alcimed contributed healthcare sector consulting expertise and Res publica designed and animated the hybrid participatory process (Agoras + online debates).
• I Care (for ADEME TETE programme)strategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorI Care is the mandataire for the ADEME 'Territoires Engagés pour la Transition Ecologique' (TETE) programme, with Res publica responsible for programming, organizing, and facilitating 25 regional meetings. The partnership leverages I Care's environmental engineering expertise with Res publica's facilitation capabilities.
• 2 Degrees Investing Initiative (2DII)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner2DII (a think tank specializing in low-carbon financing) is part of the FiRéno+ European consortium with ADEME and Res publica, co-funded by the EU LIFE programme. 2DII contributes financial and climate expertise while Res publica organizes stakeholder dialogue and roundtables on building renovation and renewable energy financing.
• ADEME (Agency for Ecological Transition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADEME is a key institutional partner, co-financing multiple projects including the FiRéno+ European consortium (LIFE programme), the Territoire(s) 2050 programme with 7 pilot territories in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and the TETE (Territoires Engagés pour la Transition Ecologique) programme. Res publica contributes participatory methodology to ADEME's territorial ecological transition initiatives.
• Centre d'Etudes Sociales, Université de CoimbrastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Coimbra's Centre for Social Studies coordinates the PHOENIX European project (Horizon 2020) in which Res publica participates. The project spans 15 partners across 10 European countries and focuses on promoting participatory and deliberative processes for the European Green Deal. Res publica coordinates the two French territorial commissions and contributes expertise in participation methodology.
• La MOT (Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa MOT partnered with Res publica on the Espace Catalan Transfrontalier consultation project, bringing cross-border governance expertise to complement Res publica's participatory methodology for the multilingual, multi-country citizen consultation.
• Université de GironaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversité de Girona partnered with Res publica on the Espace Catalan Transfrontalier project, contributing academic expertise and Catalan cross-border knowledge to the consultation process involving French and Spanish stakeholders.
• UrbaplanminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUrbaplan was the co-traitant on the Grand Genève en Transition project alongside Res publica, contributing urban planning expertise while Res publica handled the participation and consultation methodology.
• TerralmaminorOthersTerralma is listed among Res publica's frequent collaborators, suggesting a recurring partnership for territorial and environmental consulting projects.
• EpiceumminorOthersEpiceum is listed among Res publica's frequent collaborators, suggesting a recurring partnership for territorial marketing and development consulting.
• WebTvProdminorOthersWebTvProd is listed among Res publica's frequent collaborators, likely providing video production services for documenting consultation processes, conference coverage, and communication materials.
• Denis PowerminorOthersDenis Power is listed among Res publica's frequent collaborators, suggesting a recurring consulting or facilitation partnership.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Citizenlab: Citizenlab is a civic-tech SaaS provider offering digital citizen participation tools to municipalities and organizations across Europe. It competes with the Jenparle platform in the standalone software layer of the participation market, especially for smaller municipalities and English-speaking markets.
• Harris Interactive: Harris Interactive is a long-standing Res publica partner (nearly two decades) handling citizen recruitment via random sampling. It offers complementary polling and survey methodology and competes partially where it provides its own consultation facilitation for major French public clients.
• Decidim (civic-tech platform): Decidim is a leading open-source digital participation platform used by many French municipalities. It is an indirect competitor to Res publica's Jenparle, particularly for clients seeking standalone civic-tech tools without bundled facilitation services.

Broad incumbents

• Alcimed: Alcimed is a French innovation and public-sector consultancy that partnered with Res publica on the Hospices Civils de Lyon strategic project. It competes in adjacent strategic consulting mandates where participation methodology is one component of broader sector transformation work.
• Eurogroup Consulting: Eurogroup Consulting is a major French management and public-sector consultancy. It is both a Res publica partner (on the ANCT Grand Est framework) and an incumbent competitor that bundles participation capabilities into broader transformation mandates for governments and large enterprises.

Direct peers

• Citizing: Citizing is a Brussels-based consultancy specialized in citizen participation and public consultation, serving EU institutions, member states, and large organizations. It competes with Res publica particularly on European-funded projects such as Horizon 2020 and on cross-border consultation mandates.
• Une Fabrique de la Ville: Une Fabrique de la Ville is a French urban planning and citizen participation consultancy acting as Res publica co-mandataire on Métropole Rouen Normandie and Grand Arras projects. It overlaps directly in territorial strategy and participatory planning for French metropolitan clients.
• Missions Publiques: Missions Publiques is a French consultancy specializing in citizen consultation and deliberative democracy, founded by Yves Mathieu. It is the closest direct competitor to Res publica, running citizen conventions and large-scale public consultations for French institutions with a comparable methodological approach.
• Décider Ensemble: Décider Ensemble is a French association and consultancy promoting participatory democracy in public decision-making. It overlaps directly with Res publica on citizen convention methodology and public-sector engagement projects across French municipalities and national institutions.
• BL Évolution: BL Évolution is a French consultancy specializing in sustainable development and ecological transition strategy with strong participatory methodology. It competes with Res publica for CSR and ecological transition mandates from large private-sector clients and public institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rpconcertation
• LinkedInfr.linkedin.com/company/res-publica-concertation-dialogue-collaboratif

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Res Publica