21st by CentraleSupélec
21st by CentraleSupélec is the deeptech and AI startup accelerator of France's CentraleSupélec engineering school, running Maturation, Incubation, Acceleration, and Sprint programs for researchers, students, and founders, and supporting a 1,270+ alumni startup ecosystem that includes 11 unicorns.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersVillebon-sur-yvette, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What 21st by CentraleSupélec does
21st by CentraleSupélec is the deeptech and AI startup accelerator operated by CentraleSupélec, a French public engineering school within the Université Paris-Saclay ecosystem. It delivers a three-stage pipeline — Maturation (for researchers and PhDs commercializing scientific work), Incubation (for student entrepreneurs), and Acceleration (for growth-stage Tech and Deeptech startups, whether from CentraleSupélec or external) — complemented by a new 4-month Sprint program launched in April 2026 and academic entrepreneurship tracks (1A/2A, Tech Year gap year, 3A specialization, and the joint MSc with ESSEC Business School). The program's technical offering is the accelerator infrastructure itself: access to research laboratories (EM2C/CNRS, LGPM), 100+ mentors and experts, exclusive STATION F facilities, and a network of 1,270+ alumni-founded startups including 11 unicorns with a combined €82 billion valuation. Portfolio startups raised €100 million in 2025 across Climate/Cleantech (Spark Cleantech, Edonia, Entalpic), Health/AI (Raidium, RainPath, Highcast), Future of Industry (Exwayz, NcodiN), DeFi (Morpho), and phytoextraction biotech (Genomines, $45M Series A).
As a program within a public institution under the French Ministry of Higher Education, 21st is funded through institutional partners (Bpifrance, EU, French Tech, French government programs such as I-Lab and i-Demo) and co-investment vehicles including CentraleSupélec Venture; it does not charge participants and has no commercial revenue stream. Programs are accessed via Typeform applications and promoted through a community-led GTM anchored by events (Deeptech Night at McKinsey France, VC Talks with Daphni/PLURAL/360 Capital, Mix & Match with ESSEC, Visionaries Club, Pitch 'n Burger, Startup Week) plus a multi-channel presence on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and newsletter. The accelerator is headquartered at Gif-sur-Yvette with a Paris office at STATION F.
21st by CentraleSupélec firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 21st by CentraleSupélec
- Legal name
- CentraleSupélec
- Website
- https://21st.centralesupelec.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- 21st by CentraleSupélec is the deeptech and AI startup accelerator of France's CentraleSupélec engineering school, running Maturation, Incubation, Acceleration, and Sprint programs for researchers, students, and founders, and supporting a 1,270+ alumni startup ecosystem that includes 11 unicorns.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
21st by CentraleSupélec industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Accelerator
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus (EDAHAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)
Keywords
Where 21st by CentraleSupélec is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Villebon-sur-yvette
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
21st by CentraleSupélec business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Acceleration Program Services: 21st by CentraleSupélec is an accelerator program operated by CentraleSupélec, a public institution. It provides support services to startups including mentorship, access to facilities at STATION F, laboratory access, and networking with investors. The program appears to be publicly funded through partnerships with Bpifrance, France Deeptech, and other institutional partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Free programs for CentraleSupélec ecosystem members |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels12 records
21st by CentraleSupélec product offering
Product offeringCore offering
21st by CentraleSupélec is a deeptech startup accelerator that supports entrepreneurs through a three-stage pipeline: Maturation (for researchers and PhDs to transform scientific technology into entrepreneurial projects), Incubation (for student entrepreneurs with personalized support to launch startups), and Acceleration (for Tech/Deeptech founders to accelerate growth), complemented by the 4-month Sprint program and academic training pathways. The accelerator provides mentorship from 100+ experts, access to CentraleSupélec research labs, exclusive STATION F facilities, investor networking, and a 20+ year alumni ecosystem of 1,270+ startups founded by alumni.
Product overview
21st by CentraleSupélec is a deeptech startup accelerator offering a comprehensive ecosystem supporting entrepreneurs from idea to impact. The organization provides three core programmatic stages: Maturation (for researchers/PhDs), Incubation (for student entrepreneurs), and Acceleration (for growth-stage startups). Complementary offerings include training pathways (Entrepreneur Program 1A/2A, Entrepreneur Tech Year gap year, Entrepreneur Track 3A, MSc with ESSEC), specialized programs (Sprint 4-month intensive, Deeptech+ for researchers), and community events (Deeptech Night, Visionaries Club, VC Talks, Mix & Match). Located at Gif-sur-Yvette headquarters and Station F in Paris, the accelerator supports startups across climate/biodiversity, health/care, and future of industry innovation areas.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Maturation Program Program for researchers and PhDs from CentraleSupélec to transform a scientific technology into an entrepreneurial project, with access to research laboratories (EM2C/CNRS, LGPM) and scientific expertise.
- Incubation Program Personalized support program for CentraleSupélec student entrepreneurs to launch their startup, with mentorship, resources, and ecosystem access.
- Acceleration Program Growth acceleration program for Tech or Deeptech startups, open to entrepreneurs whether or not from CentraleSupélec, with exclusive access to STATION F, expert mentorship, investor networking, and research lab collaboration.
- Sprint Program 4-month intensive acceleration program for advanced student projects ready to shift into high gear, with focus on execution, market validation, product structuring, and exclusive access to 21st spaces at STATION F.
- Entrepreneur Program (1A/2A) Entrepreneurship pathway for first and second-year engineering students at CentraleSupélec, sensitizing them to entrepreneurship from the beginning of their studies.
- Entrepreneur Tech Year (gap year) Gap year program allowing CentraleSupélec students to dedicate 6 months fully to their entrepreneurial project during their studies (césure).
- Entrepreneur Track (3A) Third-year specialization track for students completing their engineering degree with a focus on entrepreneurship, run for 20+ years and producing 150+ companies created by students.
- MSc CentraleSupélec—ESSEC Entrepreneurs Joint Master's program with ESSEC Business School designed to train tech entrepreneurs capable of creating, launching, and developing innovative technology startups in complex, uncertain, and international environments.
- Deeptech + Program Startup creation program for external researchers to commercialize their scientific innovations, delivered through CentraleSupélec Executive Education.
- Deeptech Night Annual flagship event bringing together the deeptech ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry partners, held at McKinsey France to showcase startups and connect with the ecosystem.
- Visionaries Club Networking event series for CentraleSupélec alumni entrepreneurs to discuss technology and innovation topics such as electrification and technological independence.
- Mix & Match Event co-organized with ESSEC Business School bringing together business and engineering students to foster connections and startup co-founder matching.
- VC Talks Series of online talks with venture capital partners (Daphni, PLURAL, 360 Capital) discussing investment topics including cap tables and equity.
- Bourses Entrepreneuriat Entrepreneurship fellowships awarding funding to student entrepreneurial projects through competitive finals.
- Startup Week Week-long annual innovation competition for students with awards for jury prize, public prize, and deeptech prize.
Quantifiable outcome
- 11 unicorns co-founded by alumni with €82 billion total valuation
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use 21st by CentraleSupélec
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
21st by CentraleSupélec technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
21st by CentraleSupélec partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- France DeeptechcoreFrance Deeptech partnered with CentraleSupélec and Bpifrance to conduct the Deeptech Dynamics 2026 study, analyzing 242 French deeptech startups to understand growth dynamics.
- ESSEC Business SchoolcoreJoint programs including MSc CentraleSupélec-ESSEC Entrepreneurs and co-organization of Mix & Match events bringing together business and engineering students for startup matching.
- McGill UniversitycoreInternational collaboration fostering student exchanges and accelerating emergence of high-impact innovative projects at intersection of science, innovation, and business.
- AgroParisTechcoreCollaboration on climate and biodiversity innovation domain, with joint call for projects for 2026 cohort targeting GreenTech, ClimateTech, Foodtech, and AgriTech entrepreneurs.
- Future4careminorPartner in Health and Care innovation domain, supporting health tech startup ecosystem.
- Ramsay Health CareminorPartner in Health and Care innovation domain.
- McKinsey & CompanycoreStrategic partner hosting Deeptech Night events at McKinsey France office and providing expertise for ecosystem development.
- French TechcorePartnership supporting French deeptech ecosystem with 19 CentraleSupélec alumni companies selected for French Tech Next 40/120.
- DATAIAminorDataIA Paris-Saclay Institute partner supporting AI and data science innovation ecosystem.
- STATION FcoreEurope's largest startup campus hosts 21st by CentraleSupélec acceleration program. Sprint participants receive exclusive access to 21st spaces at STATION F.
- Jaguar Land RoverminorProof-of-concept partner for Genomines' nickel phytoextraction technology.
- Electric Mobility Materials Europe (EMME)minorCommercial partner working with Genomines on nickel supply chain development.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
21st by CentraleSupélec competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Imperial College Enterprise Lab: UK technical university's entrepreneurship hub supporting students, researchers, and alumni founders across science and engineering ventures. Comparable as a top-tier European engineering school running multi-stage founder support with industry partnerships.
- Agoranov: Paris-based deeptech incubator supporting science-based startups from French universities and research institutions. Directly comparable focus on translating academic research into commercial deeptech ventures, with similar Paris-Saclay ecosystem ties.
- EPFL Innovation Park: Swiss technical university's startup park supporting deeptech and science-based ventures through lab access, mentoring, and investor networks. Comparable as a European technical university hub running structured incubation/acceleration programs for technology-intensive founders.
- INRIA Startup Studio: French national research institute's program helping researchers spin out deeptech startups with technical and entrepreneurial support. Directly comparable as a French public research-to-startup pipeline with focus on AI, robotics, and computational sciences.
- HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute: French elite business school's entrepreneurship center running incubator and accelerator programs for student and external founders. Directly comparable as a competing French university-affiliated accelerator targeting similar deeptech and high-growth founder profiles.
- Centech (Polytechnique Montréal): Canadian technical university's deeptech accelerator with a Maturation–Incubation–Acceleration pipeline similar to 21st's three-stage model. Strong comparable for technical-university-affiliated deeptech acceleration with structured program design.
Emerging players
- Wilco: Paris-based startup accelerator and early-stage investor with focus on French tech founders. Comparable as a French accelerator ecosystem participant supporting early-stage startups with community and capital, though not university-affiliated.
Broad incumbents
- Entrepreneur First: Global talent-first deeptech investor and accelerator operating across multiple geographies including Paris. Comparable as a competing deeptech accelerator with structured cohort model and strong investor backing, though privately funded.
- Station F: Europe's largest startup campus hosting dozens of accelerator and incubator programs including 21st by CentraleSupélec. Comparable as the broader ecosystem platform within which 21st operates; a partner-distributor rather than direct competitor.
Regional players
- KTH Innovation (Royal Institute of Technology): Sweden's leading technical university's innovation office supporting researcher and student founders in deeptech and science-based ventures. Comparable as a Northern European technical university hub running comparable Maturation-to-Acceleration pathways.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
21st by CentraleSupélec social profiles
Digital presence21st by CentraleSupélec financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
21st by CentraleSupélec leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
21st by CentraleSupélec funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
21st by CentraleSupélec M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 21st by CentraleSupélec
What does 21st by CentraleSupélec do?
21st by CentraleSupélec is a deeptech startup accelerator that supports entrepreneurs through a three-stage pipeline: Maturation (for researchers and PhDs to transform scientific technology into entrepreneurial projects), Incubation (for student entrepreneurs with personalized support to launch startups), and Acceleration (for Tech/Deeptech founders to accelerate growth), complemented by the 4-month Sprint program and academic training pathways. The accelerator provides mentorship from 100+ experts, access to CentraleSupélec research labs, exclusive STATION F facilities, investor networking, and a 20+ year alumni ecosystem of 1,270+ startups founded by alumni.
Is 21st by CentraleSupélec a public or private company?
21st by CentraleSupélec is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was 21st by CentraleSupélec founded?
21st by CentraleSupélec was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is 21st by CentraleSupélec based?
21st by CentraleSupélec is headquartered in Villebon-sur-yvette, France, in the Europe region.
How does 21st by CentraleSupélec make money?
One revenue line is on record: acceleration Program Services.
Who are 21st by CentraleSupélec's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Imperial College Enterprise Lab, Agoranov, EPFL Innovation Park, INRIA Startup Studio, HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute and Centech (Polytechnique Montréal). Wilco is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Entrepreneur First and Station F. KTH Innovation (Royal Institute of Technology) is listed as a regional player.
Does 21st by CentraleSupélec have an API?
No public API is recorded for 21st by CentraleSupélec.
What industry is 21st by CentraleSupélec in?
21st by CentraleSupélec's product category is Startup Accelerator. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAEAH, Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus, with a secondary code of EDAHAHAH, Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers. Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8742.