Respe

What Respe does

Respe (RESPE – Réseau d'Epidémio-Surveillance en Pathologie Équine) is a French non-profit association (Association Loi 1901) founded in 1999 and headquartered in Saint-Contest, Calvados, that operates the first European epidemiological surveillance network for equine diseases. The organization runs a network of more than 1,107 volunteer Sentinel Veterinarians distributed across all 96 French metropolitan departments, who report suspected disease cases, collect samples, and submit standardized declarations. Since inception, RESPE has recorded 17,139 declarations covering 16,041 suspect equids and 14,703 laboratory samples, while publishing more than 10,000 real-time alerts.

The core technology stack combines a web-based veterinary declaration portal (declaration.respe.net), an interactive geographic risk-mapping platform (VigiRESPE) covering departments and 50+ countries, a centralized data warehouse of 15 specialized databases, and PCR-based diagnostics performed by laboratory partner LABEO Frank Duncombe with confirmatory testing at ANSES. Additional products include the ToxiPL@NT AI-powered plant toxicity identification tool (built on PL@ntNet's image recognition database), a public dashboard (dashboard.respe.net), training programs (formations), and ancillary educational merchandise such as the "Qui RESPE'ra le dernier?" card game.

RESPE is funded through a heterogeneous mix of sources rather than a unitary revenue model: membership and subscription contributions from equine industry organizations (FNCH, France Galop, Le Trot, FFE, IFCE, SHF, Fonds EPERON), public grants from the French Ministry of Agriculture (DGAl) and departmental councils (Calvados, Manche, Orne), partial cost coverage subsidies for laboratory analyses (50–100% depending on syndrome), donations from the public (tax-deductible at 66%), and modest training and merchandise sales. Go-to-market is community-led, driven by the Sentinel Veterinarian charter, email alert subscriptions, social media, and event sponsorships in the equine sector.

Name

Respe

Legal name

RESPE – Réseau d'Epidémio-Surveillance en Pathologie Équine

Website

https://respe.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Respe is a French non-profit association that operates Europe's first equine disease surveillance network, coordinating over 1,100 volunteer Sentinel Veterinarians to report suspected cases, deliver real-time alerts via VigiRESPE, and subsidize laboratory diagnostics for France's equine industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Epidemiological Surveillance

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Telemedicine & Virtual Care Platforms (HLAMAMAC)

Keywords

• Equine disease surveillance
• Epidemiological monitoring
• Veterinary sentinel network
• Animal health alerts
• Disease risk mapping

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-contest

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees and subscriptions: The association relies on member contributions from the equine industry (veterinarians, breeders, racing bodies, equestrian federations) and public donors. No explicit membership fee structure is detailed.
2. Donations: RESPE accepts donations from the public. Donations are tax-deductible at 66% in France. The donation page describes fund allocation: 60% for disease surveillance, 20% for sector sensitization, 15% for knowledge improvement, 5% for management costs.
3. Laboratory analysis subsidies: RESPE partially subsidizes laboratory analysis costs (50–100% depending on syndrome) for cases declared by Sentinel Veterinarians, funded through public grants and partner contributions.
4. Training and product sales: RESPE offers paid training sessions (webinars, in-person workshops on biosecurity, disease prevention) and sells merchandise (educational games, biosafety kits) through its boutique.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RESPE operates the first European epidemiological surveillance network for equine diseases, relying on a network of over 1,100 volunteer Sentinel Veterinarians who report suspected cases. The association provides real-time disease alerts, geographic risk mapping via VigiRESPE, subsidized laboratory analyses, AI-powered toxic plant identification via ToxiPL@NT, and training programs to veterinarians, horse owners, and the French equine industry.

Product overview

RESPE operates as an equine epidemiological surveillance network offering a unified platform of interconnected tools and services. The core offering centers on VigiRESPE (interactive risk mapping), the Sentinel Veterinarian Declaration Platform, and the real-time Alert System. Supporting services include ToxiPL@NT (AI-powered toxic plant identification), the Dashboard for surveillance statistics, Training Programs, and Disease Prevention Resources. The portfolio also includes consumer products like the "Qui RESPE'ra le dernier?" educational card game and sanitary prevention kits distributed at equestrian events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VigiRESPE Interactive geographic risk-mapping web tool that displays real-time equine disease risk levels by French department, combining data from Sentinel Veterinarian declarations, laboratory confirmations, and anonymous public reports to inform veterinarians, horse owners, and industry stakeholders of health risks.
• ToxiPL@NT Free AI-powered web application using image recognition (via PL@ntNet) to help equestrian professionals and horse owners identify plants that are toxic to horses, providing toxicity levels and prevention guidance.
• RESPE Alert System Real-time disease alert notification service that disseminates confirmed equine disease cases across France and internationally to subscribers via email, categorized by department, country, and disease type.
• Sentinel Veterinarian Network (Vétérinaires Sentinelles) Network of over 1,100 volunteer practicing veterinarians across France who report suspicious equine disease cases, collect samples, and transmit epidemiological data to the RESPE surveillance system in exchange for partial laboratory analysis cost coverage.
• RESPE Surveillance Declaration Platform Web-based platform enabling Sentinel Veterinarians to submit disease declarations and suspected equine health cases for laboratory analysis and alert dissemination.
• RESPE Training Programs (Formations)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 17,000 disease declarations and 14,700+ samples collected since network inception
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• LABEO Frank DuncombecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2008The primary laboratory partner of RESPE for all diagnostic analyses. Receives and processes samples (blood, swabs, tissue) collected by Sentinel Veterinarians. Performs PCR-based testing for viruses and bacteria. LABEO is part of the GIP Labéo group.
• DGAl (Direction Générale de l'Alimentation) — Ministry of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRESPE is an official partner of the French Ministry of Agriculture for managing regulated equine diseases (equine infectious anemia, West Nile fever, etc.). Acts as a relay for DGAl communications and contributes to national sanitary policy.
• FFE (Fédération Française d'Équitation)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with RESPE and Zoetis for the 2026 Championnats de France d'Équitation to distribute 1,000 biosafety kits and promote sanitary prevention. FFE enables direct reach to thousands of riders and horse owners at a major national event.
• ZoetisflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAnimal health company co-sponsoring biosafety kit distribution at the 2026 French Equestrian Championships together with RESPE and FFE. Provides financial support for prevention outreach materials.
• IFCE (Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Équitation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partner and co-funder. Collaborates on genetic anomaly surveillance (PSSM, HWSD), official breeding monitoring (SIRE database), and publishes joint educational content on equine health.
• ANSES (Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe ANSES laboratory at Maisons-Alfort serves as the National and European Reference Laboratory (LNR-LRUE) for West Nile fever and exotic equine encephalitides. Also handles confirmatory testing for regulated diseases reported by RESPE.
• Veterinary Schools (ENVA, ENVT, ONIRIS, VetAgro Sup)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour French national veterinary schools are association members, contributing scientific expertise, research collaboration, and access to graduate veterinary talent.
• CAPAE-Ouest and CNITV (Anti-Poison Veterinary Centers)minorOthersNational anti-poison centers for veterinary emergencies. Referenced as resources for plant intoxication cases. CAPAE-Ouest (Nantes) and CNITV (Lyon/VetAgro Sup).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ANSES (Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire): French national reference laboratory for animal health including equine diseases. Functions as RESPE's reference lab partner for regulated diseases; arguably a broader public-incumbent counterpart in the surveillance chain.
• IDEXX Laboratories: Global veterinary diagnostics company providing PCR and laboratory testing services comparable to the type RESPE subsidizes through LABEO. Serves veterinary practices with diagnostic infrastructure analogous to RESPE's lab partnerships.
• Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI): International equestrian federation governing Olympic equestrian sports. Comparable in serving the equine industry with health and welfare mandates, though at international scope rather than disease surveillance alone.
• APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency): UK government agency responsible for animal health including equine disease surveillance. Comparable in providing surveillance infrastructure and reference lab services for regulated diseases, though broader scope than RESPE.

Direct peers

• LABEO Frank Duncombe: French veterinary diagnostic laboratory and RESPE's primary diagnostic partner. Performs PCR-based testing for equine samples, making it a functional peer in the equine disease detection workflow.
• Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC): US-based equine disease alert and information network. Closest functional analog to RESPE in North America, providing disease alerts and information dissemination for the equine industry. Comparable surveillance mission with veterinarians as the reporting backbone.
• GD Animal Health: Dutch animal health surveillance organization operating sentinel veterinary networks for livestock disease monitoring. Comparable Sentinel Veterinarian model and regional disease surveillance infrastructure, primarily serving the Netherlands.
• BEVA (British Equine Veterinary Association): UK professional veterinary association for equine practitioners. Operates disease surveillance and reporting activities for UK equine veterinarians, comparable to RESPE's Sentinel Veterinarian network and member-driven model.

Others

• AVEF (Association Vétérinaire Equine Française): French equine veterinary professional association that originally created RESPE in 1999. Closely affiliated, serving as the veterinary professional backbone and scientific committee for RESPE.

Emerging players

• Zoetis: Global animal health pharmaceutical company and RESPE partner. Comparable in addressing equine disease prevention through products, vaccines, and now biosafety campaigns; broader commercial scope than RESPE.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/respe_network
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RespeFrance
• Facebookfr-fr.facebook.com/respe.net
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/respe
• Instagraminstagram.com/respe_net

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Respe