The Wind Tunnel
La Soufflerie is a publicly funded French performing arts venue (EPCC) in Rezé operating three venues (Auditorium, Barakason, Le Théâtre) with theater, dance, music, and circus programming, serving general audiences, 2,500+ students per season, vulnerable populations, and external event organizers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersRezé, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Wind Tunnel does
La Soufflerie (marketed in English as "The Wind Tunnel") is a publicly funded French performing arts venue located in Rezé, Loire-Atlantique, near Nantes. Established in 2016 as an EPCC (Établissement Public de Coopération Culturelle), it operates three physical venues in Rezé: L'Auditorium (274 seated + 7 PMR spaces, designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti and inaugurated 2016), La Barakason (a former MJC created in 1998, co-managed by La Soufflerie, with 411 standing capacity), and Le Théâtre. The venue is recognized as a "scène conventionnée d'intérêt national, mention Art et création" by the French State's Ministry of Culture (DRAC), funding it alongside the Ville de Rezé and the Département de Loire-Atlantique. It serves the general public, schools (over 2,500 students per season), vulnerable populations through healthcare/social partnerships, seniors, and external event organizers.
The venue's core products are ticketed performing arts programming across theater, dance, music, and circus; a year-round educational and participatory program (workshops, school projects, the Le K amateur choir of 80-85 singers, circus workshops, cooking and sewing ateliers); the annual "Soufflée du bocal" membership card offering ticket discounts and fee exemptions; and venue rental services for external organizers. Technologically, La Soufflerie runs a modest digital stack: the DIGITICK online ticketing platform, PAYBOX payment processing, and COLT server hosting. No proprietary technology, mobile app, or AI-driven features are present.
The business model is a hybrid of public subsidy and earned revenue. Public funding comes from the Ville de Rezé, the Département de Loire-Atlantique, and the French State (DRAC). Earned revenue is generated across three streams: ticket sales (€18-€33 per ticket, with €0.50 online processing fee), the Soufflée du bocal membership card (annual subscription, available in full and reduced-rate tiers), and venue space rental (Auditorium and Barakason to external event organizers). Pricing is tiered to maximize access: full adult rate, reduced rates for under-26, students, job seekers, RSA recipients, and disability cardholders, group rates (8+), partner organization rates, a solidarity rate for Rezé residents with low family quotient, and children's/youth mini tariffs. Some events are free (Allez Viens outdoor series, season opening). The marketing approach is direct-to-consumer via website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, email newsletter, and press kits for professionals.
The Wind Tunnel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Wind Tunnel
- Legal name
- La Soufflerie
- Website
- https://lasoufflerie.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- La Soufflerie is a publicly funded French performing arts venue (EPCC) in Rezé operating three venues (Auditorium, Barakason, Le Théâtre) with theater, dance, music, and circus programming, serving general audiences, 2,500+ students per season, vulnerable populations, and external event organizers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Wind Tunnel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts Venue
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)
Keywords
Where The Wind Tunnel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rezé
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Wind Tunnel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Ticket sales: Revenue from selling tickets to performances across all venues (Auditorium, Barakason, Le Théâtre). Online sales via credit card with 0.50€ processing fee per ticket; cardholders exempt from fees.
- Soufflé·e du bocal membership card: Annual membership card providing discounted ticket prices and fee exemptions. Valid for 1 year from purchase date.
- Venue space rental: Rental of Auditorium (274 seated places) and Barakason (411 standing capacity) venues for external events, conferences, and performances. Includes technical equipment and general technician presence.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Full price for adults 26+ |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Reduced price tickets |
| Subscription | Annual | Soufflé·e du bocal full |
| Subscription | Annual | Soufflé·e du bocal reduced |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Solidarity rate |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Mini tariff (children/youth) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Partner organizations rate |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free events |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Wind Tunnel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
La Soufflerie is a publicly funded performing arts venue operating the L'Auditorium (274 seats) and La Barakason (411 standing) venues in Rezé, France. It produces and presents a seasonal program of concerts, theater, dance, and circus performances, complemented by educational programming for schools, participatory workshops, and venue rental services for external organizers.
Product overview
La Soufflerie is a scène conventionnée d'intérêt national (national conventioned stage) and EPCC (Établissement Public de Coopération Culturelle) offering performing arts programming through two main venues: L'Auditorium (274-seat seated configuration) and La Barakason (411-person standing configuration). The venue provides space rental services for external organizers, a membership program (Carte Soufflé·e du Bocal) offering fee exemptions and discounts, and educational programming for schools reaching over 2,500 students annually. The venue is co-funded by the City of Rezé and Loire-Atlantique Department, with support from the French Ministry of Culture (DRAC).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- L'Auditorium Main performance venue with 274 seats plus 7 wheelchair-accessible spaces, a 12m x 9.20m stage, lobby with bar, dressing rooms for 49 people, and full technical infrastructure for hosting concerts, theater, and dance performances
- La Barakason Music venue in standing configuration with 411-person main hall capacity, club area with bar (120 persons), dressing rooms, kitchen, and multipurpose spaces suited to amplified concerts and informal events
- Space Rental Services Rental of L'Auditorium and La Barakason venues for external event organizers, artists, and companies, including technical equipment per technical sheets, presence of a general stage manager, and optional add-on equipment such as projectors and pianos
- Carte Soufflé·e du Bocal Annual membership card providing discounted ticket prices, exemption from online booking fees (€0.50 per ticket), and exchange privileges up to 48 hours before performances; available in full and reduced-rate versions for students, job seekers, and disabled cardholders, valid 1 year from purchase
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2,500 students served per season through school programming
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Wind Tunnel
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Wind Tunnel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
The Wind Tunnel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Collectif La voie est librecoreCo-organizer of the season opening event on September 20, 2026. Collaborative partner for community cultural events on the Esplanade Rosa Parks.
- La Petite Gare (librairie)coreCo-organizer with Collectif La voie est libre and La Soufflerie for the season opening 26-27. Bookshop partner for literary events and book-related programming.
- Médiathèque DiderotminorLibrary partner for literary projects and reading workshops (Pani performance based on Jørn Riel book; reading workshops for families).
- CSC ChâteauminorPartner for the Allez Viens #4 outdoor event on July 8, 2026. Cultural and social center collaborating on community programming.
- SOS MéditerranéeminorHumanitarian organization. Post-show exchange organized after Esquif performance to discuss migration and sea rescue themes.
- La Bouche d'AirminorCo-presentation partner for Songs from the North Country performance (Rosemary Standley and Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien) at their venue.
- Cinema St-Paul de RezéminorJoint project with Makiz'art for stop motion animation workshops around Antichambre performance. Includes school workshops.
- Le Piano'cktailminorCo-presentation partner for Narcisse (Marion Motin) performance. Venue hosting the show.
- CSC Jaunais-BlordièreminorCo-presentation partner for Le Bal Magnétique (Massimo Fusco) as part of Festival Trajectoires. Venue hosting the show.
- Festival Petits et GrandsminorCo-production partner for Pani performance. Theater festival specializing in young audience productions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
The Wind Tunnel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Le Grand T: Nantes théâtre public and CDN presenting a broader regional theater season. Larger and broader-scoped incumbent in the same Loire-Atlantique performing-arts ecosystem.
- Le Lieu Unique: Nantes cultural center (former LU factory) programming contemporary performing arts, exhibitions, and residencies. Comparable multidisciplinary public-mission venue in the same regional ecosystem.
- Stereolux: Nantes SMAC dedicated to current music and digital arts with venue capacity comparable to La Barakason. Peer in the Loire-Atlantique live-music ecosystem with shared audience segments.
Regional players
- Le Quai CDN: Angers-based Centre Dramatique National programming theater, dance, and music in a similar public-mission CDN/scène conventionnée model. Comparable scale and programming breadth in a neighboring Pays de la Loire market.
- Centre Chorégraphique National de Nantes: Nantes-based national choreographic center producing and presenting contemporary dance. Peer in the regional dance programming ecosystem with overlapping audiences and touring circuits.
- La Passerelle: Saint-Nazaire scène nationale programming multidisciplinary performing arts with similar capacity profile. Comparable public-mission venue in a neighboring Loire-Atlantique / Pays de la Loire market.
Emerging players
- Festival Petits et Grands: Regional young-audience theater festival co-producing with La Soufflerie (Pani). Comparable niche specialization within the broader regional performing-arts ecosystem.
- Festival Trajectoires: Regional performing arts festival co-presenting with La Soufflerie (e.g., Le Bal Magnétique). Comparable curatorial focus on contemporary multidisciplinary performance, operating at smaller scale and on a festival cadence.
Direct peers
- La Bouche d'Air: Nantes-based performing arts venue and SMAC programming chanson, world music, and contemporary performance. Direct peer in geographic and artistic scope; La Soufflerie is already a co-presentation partner. (referenced as partner)
- Le Piano'cktail: Bouguenais-based scène conventionnée of comparable scale in Loire-Atlantique; La Soufflerie is already a co-presentation partner. Both venues program multidisciplinary contemporary performing arts (theater, dance, music, circus) and operate similar public-mission models. (referenced as partner)
Market position
Strengths2 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Wind Tunnel social profiles
Digital presenceThe Wind Tunnel compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Wind Tunnel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Wind Tunnel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Wind Tunnel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Wind Tunnel M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Wind Tunnel
What does The Wind Tunnel do?
La Soufflerie is a publicly funded performing arts venue operating the L'Auditorium (274 seats) and La Barakason (411 standing) venues in Rezé, France. It produces and presents a seasonal program of concerts, theater, dance, and circus performances, complemented by educational programming for schools, participatory workshops, and venue rental services for external organizers.
Is The Wind Tunnel a public or private company?
The Wind Tunnel is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was The Wind Tunnel founded?
The Wind Tunnel was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Wind Tunnel based?
The Wind Tunnel is headquartered in Rezé, France, in the Europe region.
How does The Wind Tunnel make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ticket sales are the primary driver. The others are soufflé·e du bocal membership card and venue space rental.
Who are The Wind Tunnel's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Le Grand T, Le Lieu Unique and Stereolux. Regional players are Le Quai CDN, Centre Chorégraphique National de Nantes and La Passerelle. Emerging players are Festival Petits et Grands and Festival Trajectoires. Direct peers are La Bouche d'Air and Le Piano'cktail.
Does The Wind Tunnel have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Wind Tunnel.
What industry is The Wind Tunnel in?
The Wind Tunnel's product category is Performing Arts Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAM, Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking), with a secondary code of MPAGALAC, Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues). Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 7900.