What Connectwave does

Connectwave is a French professional non-profit association (Association CONNECTWAVE, SIREN 508 821 592) founded in 2009 and headquartered in Rousset, France. It operates as a federation of IoT and RFID solution providers, technology manufacturers, and qualified professionals in the connected objects and digital identity space, supporting traceability applications across the product lifecycle. The organization claims a network of 10,000 companies and 8,000 qualified professionals, with regional poles in Île-de-France, AURA, and PACA, and coverage across sectors including retail, healthcare, packaging, aeronautics, automobile, smart city, agriculture, and energy.

Connectwave's technology focus centers on IoT, RFID, NFC, QR code, and barcode technologies, but it does not develop proprietary products. Instead, it functions as a neutral industry intermediary offering project guidance, market insights, qualified business networking, preferential access to major industry events (Global Industrie, SITL, Expoprotection, SupplyChain Event, IBS, Tech for Retail, NRF Big Show Europe), and visibility services through webinars, newsletters, social media, and video content.

The business model is membership-based, with annual fees tiered by company size ranging from 350 EUR (startups) to 5,895 EUR (enterprises >250 employees), plus a 3,000 EUR association tier. Early Bird pricing and 3-month free options are available. Supplemental revenue is generated through one-time communication services (social media, web page, and newsletter placements at 75-150 EUR). The organization is led by President Sophie TRON and operates with 1-10 employees.

Name

Connectwave

Legal name

Association CONNECTWAVE

Website

https://connectwave.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Connectwave is a French non-profit association founded in 2009 that federates 10,000 companies and 8,000 qualified professionals in IoT and RFID, providing membership-based networking, event access, and visibility services across sectors including retail, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rousset

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees from companies ranging from startups (350 EUR) to large enterprises (>250 employees, 5,895 EUR). Association membership at 3,000 EUR. Includes Early Bird pricing with significant discounts.
2. Event and communication services: One-time communication packages including social media promotion (75 EUR), web page visibility (75 EUR), newsletter placement (75 EUR), and combo packages up to 150 EUR. Participation fees for events with preferential rates for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Connectwave is a French professional association (Association des professionnels de l'IoT et de la RFID) that federates IoT, RFID, NFC, QR code, and barcode technology solution providers and manufacturers. It supports SMEs, startups, and large enterprises in implementing digital solutions for traceability and digital identity of connected objects across their lifecycle, through project guidance, market insights, qualified business networking, preferential access to industry events, and visibility services such as webinars, newsletters, and social media promotion.

Product overview

Connectwave is a professional association (L'Association des professionnels de l'IoT et de la RFID) rather than a product company. It provides networking services, industry expertise, and visibility support for IoT and RFID solution providers and manufacturers. The organization connects over 10,000 companies and professionals through events, webinars, partnerships, and a directory of members. Connectwave does not offer a discrete commercial product portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Startup Membership
• Micro Company Membership (0–5 employees)
• Small Company Membership (6–20 employees)
• Mid-size Company Membership (21–100 employees)
• Large Company Membership (101–250 employees)
• Enterprise Membership (>250 employees)
• Association Membership
• Social Media Promotion

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CHR DayscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with CHR Days (hotel, restaurant, café industry event) for networking and business development opportunities. Connectwave members benefit from preferential pricing and direct access to buyers and award winners.
• GS1 FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with GS1 France for standards in product traceability and digital identity. Featured at the International Agriculture Show 2026 to showcase GS1 standards for supply chain transparency.
• Zebra TechnologiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership for promoting RFID, IoT, and AI solutions. Joint activities include events like NRF 2025, GITEX 2025, and RSE-focused day with Too Good To Go. Zebra offers sustainability certification programs.
• Too Good To GominorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst company to obtain Zebra Sustainability Partner certification. Participated in joint RSE event with Connectwave and Zebra focusing on corporate social responsibility and CSRD directive.
• CIPAMcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing member and partner specializing in RFID traceability solutions. CIPAM offers tunnel RFID systems reducing processing times by up to 98%, and has partnered with InVirtus Technologies for indoor/outdoor geolocation solutions.
• Checkpoint SystemscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured partner for supply chain RFID solutions including FlexPortal modular RFID antenna system with 99.9% reading accuracy and Chinook inlay for reusable food packaging.
• STidcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured partner for high-security access control solutions including CORE Start plug & play system and BE.WEAPON asset tracking. STid solutions feature ANSSI CSPN security certification.
• Etik OuestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured member specializing in eco-responsible labeling solutions including FSC and Ecovadis certified products, solar panel installations, and custom labels for pharmaceutical blister packs.
• SPAC AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on physical and logical security events including the APS (International Public Safety) show. Features member companies like ASSA ABLOY, COMMEND, HANWHA VISION, MILESTONE SYSTEMS, SORHEA, STid, TRAKA.
• Bpifrance UniversitéminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Bpifrance University offering over 500 online training programs for business skill development. Connectwave selects and promotes relevant training courses to members.
• FEST IAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival dedicated to technological innovation including AI for workplace safety and prevention. Connectwave members receive promotional codes and partnership benefits for participation.
• Tech for RetailminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual retail technology event in Paris (November). Connectwave offers members preferential exhibition and attendance rates at the show.
• CIPAM - Groupe TephraOneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint event organization for Digital Product Passport (DPP) awareness. Event held at Turing 22 in Clermont-Ferrand addressing European regulatory obligations and RFID/IoT solutions for product traceability.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• GS1 France: French national organization for product identification and traceability standards. Connectwave partners with GS1 France on DPP and supply-chain transparency, and both federate actors around connected objects and digital identity in France.
• AIM Global: International industry association for automatic identification and mobility technologies (barcode, RFID, NFC, IoT). Closely mirrors Connectwave's mandate around AIDC technologies and traceability, at a global scale.
• RAIN Alliance: Global industry alliance promoting UHF RFID adoption across verticals. Directly comparable as an industry alliance focused on RFID ecosystem building, although at a global rather than French geographic scope.
• LoRa Alliance: Global alliance promoting LoRaWAN for IoT. Connectwave is an active local partner hosting LoRaWAN Meet Ups in Paris, making it a directly comparable IoT-focused ecosystem federation.

Broad incumbents

• France Digitale: French tech startup and investor association. Comparable as an industry federation driving networking, events, and policy advocacy, although tilted toward venture-backed software startups rather than IoT hardware players.
• FIEEC: Fédération des Industries Électriques, Électroniques et de Communication — a larger French industry federation covering electrical and electronic equipment. Connects many of the same enterprise members but at a broader industrial scope than Connectwave's IoT/RFID niche.
• ACSIEL: Alliance pour la Communication et les Semi-conducteurs en France — French electronic components and semiconductor industry association. Adjacent in the connected-device value chain (RFID components, semiconductors) but with a different primary scope.
• Syntec Numérique: French professional federation for digital services and software companies. Comparable as a membership-based industry association in France's digital ecosystem, though focused on services rather than hardware/IoT.
• AFNUM: Alliance Française des Industries du Numérique — French federation for digital technology vendors including connected objects. Overlaps with Connectwave's mandate around IoT solution providers but with a broader digital-industry remit.

Regional players

• RFID Journal: US-rooted media and events platform focused on RFID and IoT. Comparable in serving as an industry convener for RFID buyers and vendors via events and content, but US-headquartered and not a French membership association.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@connectwave/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connectwave
• Xx.com/Connectwave
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Connectwave