Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement

What Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement does

Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement is the official economic development agency for the Nantes and Saint-Nazaire metropolitan territory in western France, structured as a non-profit association under the French Law of July 1, 1901 (SIREN 418 167 557). Founded in 2015 by Nantes Métropole, Saint-Nazaire Agglomération, and the Nantes Saint-Nazaire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the agency supports companies seeking to establish, develop, or transform operations in the region. Core services include business establishment support (site selection, regulatory navigation, network introductions), business development assistance (funding access, partnership formation), ecosystem transformation programs across six priority sectors (decarbonated industry and energy, maritime economy, circular economy, global health, creative industries, and business tourism), and eco-responsible event organization. The agency also operates the Réseau des Audacieux, a 220+ member ambassador network spanning Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, Hamburg, and Montreal, and maintains a digital coworking map covering 100+ flexible workspaces across the metropolitan area.

The agency's revenue model is entirely public-funded, with no commercial pricing or products; services are delivered free of charge to businesses, supported by budget allocations from founding public partners and an expanded governance of 16+ organizations that, as of June 2024, includes Nantes Université, CHU de Nantes, Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port, Pôle EMC2, La French Tech networks, Neopolia, Les Ecossolies, and Institut Meet 2050. In January 2024, the agency became the first mission-driven economic development agency in France, legally embedding social and environmental objectives into its operating purpose. Operational scale is meaningful for an association of 11-50 employees: since 2015, the agency reports having supported more than 780 companies, contributed to the creation or preservation of over 10,000 jobs, and directly supported 15 companies linked to the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm alongside approximately 580 new positions in the broader new-energy cluster since 2019.

Technology and proprietary capability are minimal by design; the agency operates no APIs, SDKs, or AI systems, and its primary digital assets are an eco-designed website hosted by SCOP Boscop and an interactive coworking map. The leadership team is led by Directeur général Fabrice Joubert, supported by directors covering communication, conventions, international and networks, impact and governance, and sector managers in health and real estate, circular economy, and industry and energy. International development is anchored by the April 2024 Hamburg partnership covering maritime decarbonation, renewable energy, health, and higher education, alongside ongoing Nantes-Québec and Nantes-Montreal cooperation frameworks.

Name

Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement

Legal name

Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement

Website

https://nantes-saintnazaire.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement is a publicly funded French economic development agency that supports business establishment, growth, and sector transformation across the Nantes-Saint-Nazaire metropolitan territory, serving as France's first mission-driven agency in this space and coordinating a 16+ organization governance structure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Growth, Livelihoods & Private Sector Development (BPADAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA), Institutional Capacity Building & Training (Workforce/Systems Strengthening) (BPADAEAC), Real Estate Development Asset Management (Project/Construction-to-Stabilization) (BPAJAMAL)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business attraction advisory
• Site selection consulting
• Ecosystem transformation programs
• Professional event organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Nantes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: The agency is funded by public partners including Nantes Métropole, Saint-Nazaire Agglomération, and the Nantes Saint-Nazaire Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This constitutes the primary revenue source as an association under French law of July 1, 1901.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement is a public economic development agency that provides free advisory and support services to companies seeking to establish, develop, or transform operations within the Nantes Saint-Nazaire territory. Its offerings span business establishment support, site and real-estate search, networking and connection to local ecosystems, ecosystem transformation programs across priority sectors, eco-responsible event organization, international development assistance, and access to incubators, accelerators, and funding sources.

Product overview

Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement is an economic development agency offering a comprehensive suite of business support services rather than a traditional product portfolio. Core offerings include business establishment support, ecosystem transformation programs, and professional networking platforms. The agency manages sector-specific initiatives across industry/decarbonization, maritime economy, renewable marine energies, global health, circular economy, and creative industries. Key service products include a coworking map platform, eco-responsible event organization services, incubator/accelerator access, funding assistance, international development support, and the 'Réseau des Audacieux' ambassador network with 220+ members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Establishment Support

Quantifiable outcome

• 780 companies supported since 2015
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Nantes MétropolecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Founding member and primary funder of the agency. Mayor Johanna Rolland serves as President of both Nantes Métropole and Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement Agency.
• Saint-Nazaire AgglomérationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Founding member and primary funder of the agency. Mayor David Samzun serves as President of Saint-Nazaire Agglomération.
• CCI Nantes Saint-Nazaire (Chamber of Commerce and Industry)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Founding member and primary funder of the agency. President Yann Trichard represents the chamber.
• CMA Loire-Atlantique (Chamber of Trades and Crafts)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Associate member representing artisan and trades businesses in the region.
• Pays de la Loire RegionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Regional government associate member providing funding and policy support for economic development initiatives.
• Nantes UniversitémajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Academic partner joined governance in June 2024 to strengthen research and higher education connections for economic development.
• CHU de NantesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024University hospital center joined governance in June 2024 to support healthcare sector development.
• Nantes Saint-Nazaire PortmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Major port authority joined governance in June 2024 to support maritime economy and logistics development.
• Pôle EMC2majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Competitiveness cluster joined governance in June 2024 for industry and innovation collaboration.
• La French Tech NantesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Tech startup ecosystem network joined governance in June 2024.
• La French Tech Saint-Nazaire La Baule PornicmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Tech startup ecosystem network for Saint-Nazaire area joined governance in June 2024.
• NeopoliamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Industrial network joined governance in June 2024 representing marine and manufacturing sectors.
• Les EcossoliesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Social and solidarity economy network joined governance in June 2024.
• Institut Meet 2050majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Maritime economic and environmental transition institute joined governance in June 2024.
• Institut Supérieur d'Economie Maritime (ISEMAR)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Maritime economics higher education institute joined governance in June 2024.
• Dirigeants Responsables de Nantes-AtlantiquemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Responsible business leaders network joined governance in June 2024.
• City of HamburgmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Strategic partnership signed April 2024 between Nantes Métropole and Hamburg covering 7 themes: economy and innovation, health, higher education, vocational training, cultural industries, culture, and memory policy. Focus on maritime decarbonation and renewable energy cooperation.
• Maritime Cluster Nord-Deutschland (MCN)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Northern German maritime cluster cooperating with Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique as part of the Hamburg partnership.
• DLR (German Aerospace Center)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024DLR Institute for Maritime Energy Systems in Hamburg studying defossilization solutions for maritime transport, cooperating with MEET2050 initiative.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Business France: National French agency supporting international business expansion, FDI attraction and export development. Broader incumbent peer: national scope versus NSND's regional scope, but directly comparable in business establishment and international development mandate.
• CCI France (CCI France Réseau): National network of French Chambers of Commerce and Industry, of which CCI Nantes Saint-Nazaire is a local member. Broader incumbent peer: overlaps in business advisory, establishment support, and international development services at national scale.

Direct peers

• Euroméditerranée (EPAEM): Public development authority for the Marseille Euroméditerranée urban renewal and economic development zone. Direct peer: public-sector economic development operator with site/real estate development and business attraction mandate, focused on a defined territorial perimeter.
• Invest in Toulouse: Toulouse metropolitan economic development agency promoting business establishment and ecosystem growth. Direct peer: comparable territorial remit, business attraction services, and sector specialisation in aerospace and industry.
• Bordeaux Invest: Bordeaux metropolitan economic development agency. Direct peer: similar territorial scale, public funding model, focus on business attraction and ecosystem development in southwestern France.
• OnlyLyon (ADERLY): Lyon metropolitan economic development agency attracting businesses and supporting company establishment in the Lyon region. Closest direct peer in size and structure: similar territorial scope, public-private governance model, and business attraction focus.
• Choose Paris Region: Paris regional economic development agency promoting FDI, business establishment and ecosystem development in the Île-de-France region. Direct functional peer: similar business attraction mandate, public funding model, and sector programme structure, but operating at materially larger scale.
• Rennes Saint-Malo Développement: Economic development agency for the Rennes metropolitan area in Brittany. Direct peer: comparable scope, public-private governance, and business attraction focus in a French metropolitan territory of similar scale.

Others

• Bpifrance: French public investment bank supporting business creation, financing and innovation. Adjacent ecosystem participant: not a direct competitor but works alongside NSND in funding assistance and startup support pathways for Nantes Saint-Nazaire businesses.
• La French Tech: French national startup and tech ecosystem network with local chapters (La French Tech Nantes and La French Tech Saint-Nazaire La Baule Pornic are NSND governance members). Adjacent ecosystem peer: complementary rather than competing, sharing startup support and ecosystem development mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/NANTESSAINTNAZAIREDEVELOPPEMENT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nantes-saint-nazaire-developpement

Compliance1 record

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 Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement