What Dowino does

Dowino is a Lyon-based (Villeurbanne) French studio founded in 2015 and structured as a SCOP (Société Coopérative et Participative — employee-owned cooperative), specializing in serious games, mobile/web applications, escape games, pedagogical films, board games, digital learning modules, and VR/mixed reality experiences for social impact. The studio translates sensitive or low-engagement topics — health, disability awareness, environmental sustainability, RSE/DEI, civic education — into gamified formats for institutional and enterprise clients, with co-development partnerships that embed domain experts (e.g., CNRS, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France Culture, AGEFIPH, Cancéropôle CLARA) into the design process. The portfolio spans 60+ completed projects with named clients including Roche (Wikiboop, Prix Galien 2021), Sanofi, Merck, Air Liquide, EDF, ADECCO, SNCF, Banque Centrale du Maroc, and multiple French universities and ministerial agencies.

Dowino's business model is primarily project-based bespoke development with quote-based pricing and 4–10 month production cycles, complemented by an emerging off-the-shelf product line (notably The Impact Agency RSE series, Drop Odyssey, CLEPSYDRA) sold directly via the website, App Store/Google Play, and dedicated product sites. Distribution combines direct B2B sales (website contact form, trade show presence at SANTEXPO, Learning Technologies, Salon Produrable), print & play physical kits, and consumer-facing app stores. Self-produced IP is also financed via Ulule crowdfunding (Smokitten raised €25,500 in 2016). The company operates from a single headquarters in Villeurbanne with a team of 1–10, has no disclosed external institutional funding, and reports over 2,000 newsletter subscribers and a cumulative impact of hundreds of thousands of users across flagship products (A Blind Legend, Smokitten).

Name

Dowino

Legal name

DOWINO SARL

Website

https://dowino.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dowino is a Lyon-based cooperative (SCOP) studio that designs serious games, mobile apps, escape games, films, and VR experiences for health, disability, environmental, RSE, and education clients including Roche, Sanofi, Merck, SNCF, and CNRS-affiliated universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Villeurbanne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom/Bespoke Serious Game Development: Dowino designs and develops custom serious games, applications, escape games, films, and gamified learning tools on a per-project basis for corporate, institutional, and healthcare clients. Projects are commissioned with specific learning objectives, target audiences, and delivery timelines.
2. Off-the-Shelf / Clé en Main Products: Dowino produces and commercializes pre-built, ready-to-deploy serious game series (e.g., The Impact Agency series: burn-out prevention, equality, digital responsibility; Clepsydra; Drop Odyssey). These products are sold to multiple clients, creating recurring revenue opportunities.
3. Crowdfunding (Self-Production Projects): Dowino uses crowdfunding (donation-reward model via Ulule) to finance self-produced projects such as A Blind Legend and Smokitten. Backers receive game keys and exclusive content, providing seed funding for original IP development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Dowino is a Lyon-based serious-game and digital learning studio that designs, develops, and delivers bespoke serious games, mobile and web applications, escape games, pedagogical films, physical games, digital learning modules, and VR/mixed reality experiences. Its work targets health, disability, sustainability, RSE, and solidarity themes, serving enterprises, public institutions, healthcare bodies, and NGOs. It also sells off-the-shelf reusable products (The Impact Agency series, Smokitten, A Blind Legend, Drop Odyssey, CLEPSYDRA) directly via its website and app stores.

Product overview

DOWiNO is a Lyon-based studio specializing in serious games, applications, and educational films. The company operates a multi-format portfolio centered on gamification for social impact. Core offerings include Serious Games (digital educational games), Applications Mobiles et Web (mobile/web apps), Escape Games (team puzzle experiences), Films Pédagogiques (motion design and animation), Jeux Physiques (board and card games), Digital Learning (e-learning modules), VR/Réalité Mixte (virtual reality), and Créations sur Mesure (custom solutions). Key named products include The Impact Agency series (RSE-focused detective fiction games covering burnout, diversity, gender equality, and digital responsibility), Drop Odyssey (water treatment education), CLEPSYDRA (groundwater awareness), Smokitten (smoking cessation), Wikiboop (cancer screening - Prix Galien 2021 winner), A Blind Legend (visual impairment awareness), Sensivise (VR disability simulation), and MFM-Play (motor function assessment gamification). Products serve health, disability, sustainability, RSE, and social solidarity sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Serious Game Development Bespoke design and development of serious games for healthcare organizations, enterprises, public institutions, and NGOs targeting health, RSE, disability, sustainability, and solidarity themes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000 cigarettes not smoked within 9 months of Smokitten release
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers67 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

56 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• Pôle de Compétitivité Aqua-Valley / IRDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Selected by the European Interreg Euro-Med CLEPSYDRA project (represented in France by Aqua-Valley and IRD) to design a digital serious game on groundwater awareness. The 9-partner European consortium includes organizations from France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Portugal, with Dowino responsible for game design and development.
• Association Hospitalière Bourgogne Franche-Comté / ARS Bourgogne Franche-ComtékeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Development of RELIANCE, an application on the psycho-traumatism of migrants, funded by ARS Bourgogne Franche-Comté.
• Aix Marseille UniversitéminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Development of an escape game on responsible management awareness for Aix Marseille Université.
• NicomakkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for The Impact Agency — Diversité et Inclusion episode. Nicomak contributed diversity and inclusion consulting expertise to ensure the game's scenarios and learning objectives addressed discrimination, stereotypes, and inclusive workplace culture.
• Institut Européen des Membranes (Université de Montpellier)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Development of Drop Odyssey, a digital serious game on water treatment for schools and the general public. The Institut provided scientific content on water potabilization and sanitation processes, ensuring educational accuracy.
• Banque Centrale du MarockeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Development of Escape Game Stress Hydrique, an in-person team escape game on water scarcity for bank employees, as part of the institution's internal training and RSE program.
• SANOFIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Development of Escape Game ETP Diabète, an in-person escape game for diabetes patient education (type 1 and 2), for use in Maisons de Santé Pluriprofessionnelles (MSP) and CPTS.
• GROUPE ISPAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Development of Polymar, a serious game on plastic pollution awareness, funded by GROUPE ISPA.
• INCUBATEUR 21 (Croix Rouge) / IRFSSLkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Development of a school bullying awareness escape game for the INCUBATEUR 21 (Croix Rouge) / IRFSSL.
• Métropole d'AmiensminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Development of an escape game on digital archiving awareness for Métropole d'Amiens.
• Université Paris Descartes / i-LumenscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Multiple collaborations: (1) Orthoptist Simulator — clinical training simulation for orthoptist students with LMS integration (2021); (2) Effic'Asthme — asthma management training (2018); (3) Transfugame — transfusion procedure simulation (2018). i-Lumens provided pedagogical expertise and validated clinical accuracy.
• Fondation OVEkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Development of Léa et ses réseaux, an investigation game on social media dangers for vulnerable youth accompanied by Fondation OVE establishments, with facilitator guide for animators.
• SAURkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Development of an escape game on water conservation for adolescents and families, as a print-and-play kit for use at public events (e.g., Salon des Maires, Fête de l'eau).
• digital4betterkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for The Impact Agency — Numérique Responsable (digital responsibility episode). Digital4better contributed RSE and digital sobriety expertise to ensure the game's educational content on environmental/social impacts of digital technology was scientifically accurate.
• Coop'EgalkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for The Impact Agency — Egalité Professionnelle (professional equality episode). Coop'Egal provided gender equality expertise to ensure the game's content accurately addressed workplace sexism, unconscious bias, and professional equality dynamics.
• Aftec / OPCO AtlaskeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Development of Midnight Campus, a point-and-click disability awareness game for AFTEC students, funded by OPCO Atlas.
• Office de Tourisme Sisteron-BüechminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Development of Découverte Virtuelle de Sisteron, a gamified virtual tourism experience for the Sisteron-Büech region.
• OPP BTPkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Development of Novices, a mobile obstacle-course game on construction site risk awareness for BTP apprentices, available on iOS and Android app stores.
• FORMA'SUP / OPCO ATLAScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Two projects: (1) MAP IN BLACK — point-and-click adventure for apprenticeship supervisor training (2022); (2) Skills protocol — action-adventure soft skills game for apprentices (2024). OPCO ATLAS provided funding and pedagogical validation.
• Institut AnalgesiaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Development of Apaisia, an application for chronic pain management and therapeutic patient education.
• Hospices Civils de Lyon / Hôpital Femme Mère EnfantcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-development of MFM-Play, a gamified interactive comic app for measuring motor function in children with neuromuscular diseases. Clinical teams at Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant provided the MFM scale protocol and validated the gamified assessment methodology.
• AGEFIPHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Two projects: (1) Handipoursuite — collaborative board game on disability in the workplace (2018); (2) Activ'Game — gamified self-assessment on disability engagement at work (2021). AGEFIPH funded and co-designed both projects as part of its '#activateurdeprogrès' program.
• ATALANminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaboration on Activ'Game (AGEFIPH project) — ATALAN contributed to the gamification design and development alongside Dowino.
• MerckkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Development of Les Mots des Maux, a digitalized therapeutic board game on multiple sclerosis (MS) for patient education. Merck funded the project and contributed to content validation as part of its broader MS patient education program.
• Défiscience / Hospices Civils de LyoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Co-development of Défi Game, a serious game for healthcare professionals on neurodevelopmental disorders. Clinical experts from Défiscience and medical staff from Hospices Civils de Lyon contributed real patient cases and medical guidelines.
• Université de Tours / CNRS / Université d'Orléans / Université de BourgognekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Co-development of OkeGame — a VR rehabilitation game for patients, produced in collaboration with four French universities and CNRS.
• Udapei 74minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Development of Quiz Santé, a cancer prevention quiz in FALC (Easy to Read) format for people with intellectual disabilities, with content validated by CRCDC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, CPAM74, IREPS 74, and Unapei ARA.
• Institut Public OcenscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Co-development of Sensivise, a VR series for visual impairment awareness. Institut Public Ocens provided domain expertise on visual disability and accessibility requirements, contributing to the realism and educational impact of the simulated visual impairment experiences.
• SATT Paris SaclaykeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Development of Arrow Hololens, a mixed reality gait rehabilitation game, in partnership with SATT Paris Saclay (technology transfer office). The project leverages academic research on rehabilitation into a commercial VR/mixed reality product.
• La Lune RousseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Co-development partner for Gare à toi, a mobile prevention game for the SNCF. La Lune Rousse provided creative direction and youth engagement expertise.
• CCCA-BTPkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Co-design of C Ki l'Boss, a management simulation on entrepreneurship in the construction trades, with the CCCA-BTP providing pedagogical content and vocational training expertise.
• Centre HYGEE (Cancéropôle CLARA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Development partnership for Smokitten, a mobile game for smoking cessation. Centre HYGEE provided medical and public health expertise on smoking cessation and addiction, contributing to the scientific validity and credibility of the game's content and approach.
• France Assos SantécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Long-term partnership for the Take Care series — interactive story games informing young adults about health rights. Season 1 (2018, 2 episodes) and Season 2 (2021, 4 episodes) were developed in close collaboration with France Assos Santé's editorial and policy team.
• Médecins du MondekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Development of Lost In Care, an interactive fiction game on humanitarian medical aid and donation awareness, produced from a humanitarian hackathon concept.
• LADAPTkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Development of Cobra Zero, a serious game on disability and professional integration, commissioned by LADAPT.
• CGSCOP + European Partners (ERASMUS+)keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Co-development of PlayCoop, a multiplayer cooperative game on cooperative values, within an ERASMUS+ European project framework. The game was developed in 4 languages and accompanied by pedagogical materials.
• CNRS / Musée de l'Orient et de la MéditerranéekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Co-development of PVAA (Portrait Virtuel de l'Archéologue Amateur), a gamified app for amateur archaeology enthusiasts. CNRS and participating museums provided archaeological content and validated the gamification methodology.
• Centre HygéekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Development of Hygée, a gamified mobile app for augmented exhibition visits on cancer prevention for middle school students, with analytics back-office for the center.
• Goods to knowminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Development of Handiscover, a web app on workplace disability awareness through global innovations, with a custom back-office for the client.
• Da Viking CodekeyTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016External development studio contracted to develop Smokitten. Following their collaboration on A Blind Legend, Da Viking Code (Aymeric Lamboley and Thomas Lefèvre) was selected as the core development partner for the mobile game.
• Jocelyn MilletkeyTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016Freelance concept artist providing visual art direction and digital painting for Smokitten's game world. Jocelyn contributed to the island environment, character design, vegetation, and overall atmospheric rendering.
• UlulekeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2016Ulule crowdfunding platform used for financing self-produced projects (A Blind Legend, Smokitten). The platform served as the primary distribution channel for crowdfunding campaigns, reaching Ulule's community of impact-focused backers.
• Pôle PIXEL (Lyon)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Pôle PIXEL became Official User for the Smokitten Ulule campaign, matching every euro contributed by backers 1:1 during the crowdfunding campaign, effectively doubling the impact of each contribution.
• MT Cultures / FNATHkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Two projects: (1) Europe et Handicap — mobile app on disability voting rights; (2) Handicap & Travail — mobile app on disability in the workplace. FNATH (France ADOM disability association) provided expertise on disability rights and workplace challenges.
• SEDIF / ArgonauteskeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Development of SOS Mission Eau, a water treatment and distribution awareness game for 7–11 year olds, embedded in the SEDIF pedagogical platform.
• KLESIAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Development of Les Klés de ma Santé, a runner-style mobile game on complementary health insurance benefits for KLESIA's insured members.
• CapscienceskeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Development of Luminopolis DV, a mobile app enabling visually impaired visitors to participate in a light exhibition escape game at Capsciences (Bordeaux).
• Maison de la DansekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Development of My Dance Company, a management simulation game for discovering dance and show production, available in French and English on Numeridanse.tv.
• CRIJ (Centres Régionaux de l'Information Jeunesse)keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Development of Passe World, a humorous serious game on international travel preparation for 16–30 year olds, embedded in CRIJ's youth information services.
• France CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Co-production of A Blind Legend, an audio-only mobile adventure game for visual impairment awareness. France Culture provided editorial content, broadcasting support, and cultural legitimacy, while Dowino handled game design and development. The game achieved international reach and media coverage.
• Streetlab / Institut de la VisioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Co-production of Auxivision, a mobile app for visually impaired people and their caregivers. Streetlab (a subsidiary of Institut de la Vision) provided domain expertise on visual impairment and research infrastructure, while Dowino handled game design and development.
• CN2R (Centre National de Ressources et de Résilience)keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Development of three pedagogical animated films on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for CN2R. The center provided clinical expertise and validated the educational content for accuracy and sensitivity.
• ADECCOkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Development of Planete EXE, a space-western adventure game showcasing all ADECCO Group professions for recruitment and employer branding purposes.
• EFFIA Synergies / KeolisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Development of Risques environnementaux, a multiplayer quiz game for in-person environmental risk training, delivered during training sessions with a trainer-controlled interface.
• IVM VEDECOMminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Development of En Route, a mobility-focused serious game for social reintegration, with trainer-led sessions and player analytics back-office.
• Air LiquidekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Development of Glucozor, a serious game for diabetes management support, commissioned by Air Liquide.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• B2B Gamers (formerly B2B International / gamification division): European emerging players focused on gamification and learning games for B2B engagement. Adjacent to Dowino's corporate RSE and training practice, though typically narrower in format.
• TinyTap (by Jam City): Creator-led educational content platform for kids and schools with gamified learning activities. Tangentially comparable as a game-based learning content platform, though targeting younger audiences than Dowino's typical enterprise/healthcare clientele.

Direct peers

• Immersive Factory: Paris-based serious game studio specializing in safety, prevention, and CSR training for large enterprises. Direct competitor in the gamified RSE/health/safety training segment that Dowino targets with its Impact Agency series.
• Roundtable Learning: US-based immersive learning studio delivering VR, gamified, and simulation-based training for enterprise and public-sector clients. Comparable in custom VR/serious game development and corporate training focus.
• KTM Advance: French serious game and immersive simulation studio serving healthcare, industry, and education clients with bespoke digital learning tools. Closest geographic and category peer to Dowino, with comparable project-based B2B model.
• Gamelearn: Spain-based vendor of serious games for corporate soft-skills and compliance training (e.g., Pacific, Triskelion). Comparable in delivering gamified training content to enterprise L&D buyers, though more SaaS-product-led than Dowino's bespoke model.
• SweetRush: US-based learning experience design agency producing custom gamified learning, simulations, and VR content for Fortune 500 L&D buyers. Comparable bespoke serious-game delivery model for healthcare, pharma, and corporate training.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte Digital (Deloitte): Global professional services firm with immersive experience, VR, and serious game capabilities (Deloitte Digital Studios). Competes for large enterprise digital learning and transformation mandates.
• Kahoot!: Publicly listed learning engagement platform with gamified quizzes, courses, and study tools used by schools and enterprises. Adjacent product-led player that competes for some of the same corporate training and education budgets as Dowino's off-the-shelf products.
• BearingPoint: Global management and technology consultancy with established gamification and serious game practices serving large enterprise transformation programs. Competes with Dowino at the high end of corporate training RFPs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Dowino_o
• Facebookfacebook.com/dowino.o
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dowino
• Instagraminstagram.com/dowino_o

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 Dowino