What Elao does

Elao is a privately held French custom web and mobile application development agency headquartered at 34 rue Jean Broquin, Lyon, founded in 2005 and operating as an SAS with €36,000 share capital. The firm employs 16 senior practitioners (average tenure 7 years, average age 35) and has completed more than 200 projects over 21 years of continuous operation, serving French mid-market and enterprise clients including ENGIE, SEB, Onisep, MyJobCompany, Ansara Pharmacare, Panneau Pocket, and RIGBY Capital. Its revenue model is project-based professional services — bespoke application design, development, integration, deployment, and ongoing optimization — with no public pricing and engagements scoped through collaborative workshops. The GTM motion combines direct enterprise sales, inbound inquiries, client referrals, and a recently formalized outbound prospection function operated jointly with partner ReCom.

Elao's core technology stack is centered on the Symfony PHP framework paired with React and React Native for front-end delivery, supplemented by Vue.js, Next.js, TypeScript, GraphQL, Docker, and GitHub Actions for CI/CD. Notable proprietary artifacts include a customized environment-branching Git workflow (replacing standard gitflow for parallel staging environments) and the open-source Stenope static site generator. Methodology is iterative and adaptive, with structured UX/functional/technical workshops, systematic code review, and continuous delivery. Elao also maintains tight operational coupling with sister company Rix (hosting/infrastructure, spun out under parent Treelogie), enabling joint productized offerings such as Cockpit 360 for asset-contract management.

The company generates revenue through custom development and integration engagements, supplemented by hosting, monitoring, and maintenance services. Its customer base is diversified across energy, consumer goods, pharmaceutical, government, HR technology, and finance verticals, with no individual customer disclosed as dominant. Elao invests in technical brand-building via conference participation (AFUP Day, Forum PHP, Mix-IT), an active technical blog, and open-source contributions, and signals modest expansion intent through 2024–2025 hires in communications, business development, and engineering, plus a packaged AI/chatbot/automation service line. No external funding rounds or M&A activity are evidenced, and ownership remains founder-controlled under Xavier Gorse and Guewen Faivre.

Name

Elao

Legal name

Elao SAS

Website

https://elao.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Elao is a Lyon-based, founder-owned French agency founded in 2005 that designs and develops bespoke web and mobile applications using Symfony, React, and React Native for mid-market and enterprise clients across energy, consumer goods, pharma, government, and finance verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Application Development: End-to-end design and development of bespoke web and mobile applications tailored to client needs, from project framing and architecture through to deployment and ongoing optimization.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Elao is a French web and mobile application agency that designs and develops bespoke web and mobile applications for clients using primarily Symfony, React, and React Native. They offer end-to-end services including project scoping, collaborative workshops, technical architecture, custom development, system integration, deployment, hosting, monitoring, and ongoing maintenance. They also integrate innovative solutions such as AI, chatbots, and automation, and contribute to open-source tools like Stenope.

Product overview

Elao is a French web and mobile application agency headquartered in Lyon, founded in 2005, with approximately 16 expert team members and 21 years of experience across more than 200 projects. The company offers a portfolio of services centered on custom web and mobile application design and development, using primarily Symfony (PHP), React, and React Native as core technology stacks. Elao's service offering encompasses project consulting and management (scoping, workshops, architecture, roadmap), custom development and integration, hosting and infrastructure management, and ongoing optimization and maintenance. In addition to client services, the company maintains an open-source practice, notably through Stenope, a static site generator, reflecting their commitment to transparent, community-driven development. The company is structured under parent company Treelogie and maintains close operational ties with Rix (DevOps and infrastructure).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Web Application Development
• Custom Mobile Application Development
• Consulting & Project Management
• Hosting & Infrastructure
• AI & Innovation Services
• Stenope Open source static site generator initiated by Elao, available with a starter kit to help developers build static websites.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ projects completed over 21 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIX is a structure specialized in hosting and infrastructure, historically linked to Elao. Part of Treelogie parent company, sharing the same premises and collaborating regularly on client projects. Formerly part of Elao before becoming a separate entity.
• DawanminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining organization that Elao staff used to consolidate knowledge and acquire effective tools for improving intern/trainee mentoring processes.
• AFUPcoreOthersFrench PHP user association (Association Française des Utilisateurs de PHP). Elao actively participates in AFUP events including AFUP Day, Forum PHP, and PHP Tour conferences.
• Mix-ITcoreOthersAnnual tech conference held at CPE Lyon. Elao has participated as sponsor and exhibitor, including hosting Curvytron game demos at their booth.
• Digital LeagueminorOthersRegional tech/business cluster organization in Lyon region. Elao listed as a partner/trusted client.
• ReComminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal B2B sales service that provides training and tools for business development. Elao partners with ReCom for sales prospecting support through an intern who splits time between both companies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Webnet: Lyon-area digital agency offering custom web and mobile development. Regional peer that overlaps with Elao's geography (Lyon/Rhône-Alpes) and competes for similar local enterprise and mid-market projects.

Direct peers

• Theodo: Paris-based digital agency building bespoke web and mobile applications with Symfony, React, and React Native. Closest direct peer: same tech stack, similar custom-development agency model, comparable enterprise client targeting across France.
• Smile (Smile Open Source): French open-source digital agency offering custom web and mobile development, with strong PHP/Symfony capability. Comparable as a French custom development agency with overlapping technology stack and enterprise customer profile.
• Clever Age: French digital services firm providing custom web/mobile development, integration, and consulting to enterprise clients. Comparable as a French full-service custom development agency competing for similar mid-market and enterprise engagements.
• Sensiolabs: Creator of the Symfony framework and a French web development agency specializing in Symfony/PHP consulting and custom application delivery. Direct peer because of overlapping Symfony expertise, similar service portfolio, and shared enterprise client base in France.
• Agence Dn'D: French digital agency specialized in e-commerce and bespoke web platforms, with strong PHP/Symfony and React expertise. Direct peer in the French custom Symfony/React agency segment serving enterprise clients.
• Atecna: French web and mobile application development agency with Symfony and modern front-end capabilities. Comparable as a French custom development shop targeting enterprise and mid-market digital transformation projects.
• Zenika: French IT consultancy and custom software agency with offices in Lyon and Paris, offering agile web/mobile development across multiple stacks. Comparable as a French custom development firm with shared geography and similar enterprise clientele.
• Kaliop: French digital agency specialized in eZ Publish / Symfony-based CMS and custom web platforms. Direct peer in the French Symfony custom-development market with similar agency economics and enterprise focus.
• TheTribe: French web development collective building bespoke digital products with React and modern back-end stacks. Comparable as a French boutique custom web/mobile development agency with similar size and value-based positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/elao
• GitHubgithub.com/elao
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elao

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 Elao