ÉCHOBAT
ÉCHOBAT is a French non-profit association founded in 2010 that federates a network of 526 eco-construction professionals across 33 local groups in France and overseas territories, combining bio-sourced construction training, social insertion, and territorial accompaniment services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersNantes, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ÉCHOBAT does
ÉCHOBAT is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) operating in the social and solidarity economy (ESS) sector, founded in 2010 in Loire-Atlantique and headquartered in Nantes. The organization federates a network of 526 member professionals (adhérents) organized into 33 local professional groups across metropolitan France (Pays de la Loire, Bretagne, Centre-Val de Loire, Île-de-France) and overseas territories (La Réunion, Martinique). It brings together the full eco-construction value chain — tradespeople, architects, engineering firms, suppliers, and retailers of bio-sourced and geo-sourced materials (straw, cellulose wadding, wood fiber, cork, hemp, recycled cotton, raw earth) — to support building owners (individuals, businesses, local authorities) in eco-construction and energy renovation projects.
The organization operates through four interlocking product lines: the core ÉCHOBAT Réseau (membership network and territorial support, including the Accompagnement des territoires service for local authorities), ÉCHOBAT Développement (practical training division offering PROPAILLE-aligned straw-bale and on-site construction courses), the ÉCHOBAT Incubateur (support for eco-construction entrepreneurs), and event programming including the Salon de l'écoconstruction solidaire. Cumulative track record includes 442 eco-construction projects completed and 18,150 hours of social insertion for people distant from employment, integrating the network with French insertion par l'activité économique (IAE) frameworks.
ÉCHOBAT is funded through a mix of member subscriptions, training fees, and public-sector grants from regional councils (Régions Bretagne, Centre-Val de Loire, Pays de la Loire), Nantes Métropole, ADEME, ANCT, EU/Interreg, and foundations (BTP+, MACIF). The GTM is community-led, relying on local groups, six regional animation/development officers, content marketing via echobat.fr, and event participation. The organization employs approximately 20 people, of whom 16 form the technical team including six regional animation and development officers.
ÉCHOBAT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ÉCHOBAT
- Legal name
- ÉCHOBAT
- Website
- https://echobat.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ÉCHOBAT is a French non-profit association founded in 2010 that federates a network of 526 eco-construction professionals across 33 local groups in France and overseas territories, combining bio-sourced construction training, social insertion, and territorial accompaniment services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ÉCHOBAT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Eco-construction Network Services
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Remote/Hybrid Work Readiness & Digital Collaboration (EDAAAKAL), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)
Keywords
Where ÉCHOBAT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nantes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
ÉCHOBAT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership subscriptions: ÉCHOBAT operates as a non-profit association (statuts ESS) that collects membership fees (adhérents) from its network of professionals. Revenue comes from member subscriptions and potentially training services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
ÉCHOBAT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ÉCHOBAT federates a national network of eco-construction professionals through membership subscriptions, delivers practical training programs (including PROPAILLE straw-bale certification), supports an incubator for sustainable-construction entrepreneurs, and provides territorial accompaniment services to local authorities. The organization simultaneously operates a social inclusion program that integrates people distant from employment into eco-construction work via economic activity.
Product overview
ÉCHOBAT is a non-profit association network (created in 2010) that federates and animates a network of economic actors involved in solidarity-based eco-construction across French territories. The network operates as a platform combining: the core ÉCHOBAT Réseau membership program connecting 526 members across 33 local professional groups; the ÉCHOBAT Développement training division offering practical eco-construction courses; the ÉCHOBAT Incubateur for entrepreneurial projects; and territorial support services. The organization also runs event programs including the Salon de l'écoconstruction solidaire. The network focuses on biosourced and geosourced materials (straw, wood fiber, hemp, cellulose wadding, raw earth) for energy-efficient construction and renovation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ÉCHOBAT Développement: ÉCHOBAT Développement provides training services for the network, organizing practical training complementary to PROPAILLE certification, including on-site training during construction projects.
Products and services
- ÉCHOBAT Réseau (Membership Network) A federating network that brings together eco-construction actors, social inclusion through economic activity, and training professionals across French territories, comprising 526 members across 33 local professional groups. It is targeted at building-sector professionals (tradespeople, architects, engineering firms, eco-material suppliers).
- ÉCHOBAT Développement (Training Programs) Training arm of the network providing practical eco-construction training programs including straw-bale construction training, PROPAILLE certification preparation, and on-site training during live construction projects, for professionals and apprentices.
- ÉCHOBAT Incubateur Incubator program supporting entrepreneurs and projects related to eco-construction and sustainable building practices, for project founders and social entrepreneurs in the sustainable construction sector.
- Accompagnement des territoires (Territorial Accompaniment) Territorial support service helping local authorities, regional councils, and communities develop eco-construction initiatives, structure local sustainable building sectors, and run social-insertion programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 526 members across 33 local professional groups
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ÉCHOBAT
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ÉCHOBAT technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
ÉCHOBAT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Région BretagnecoreRegional council providing support for eco-construction development initiatives in Brittany
- Région Centre-Val de LoirecoreRegional council supporting eco-construction sector development in Centre-Val de Loire
- Région Pays de la LoirecoreRegional council supporting eco-construction initiatives in Pays de la Loire
- ADEME Pays de la LoirecoreEnvironmental and energy management agency supporting sustainable construction programs
- Nantes MétropolecoreMetropolitan area supporting local eco-construction development
- ANCT (Agence Nationale de la Cohésion des Territoires)coreNational agency supporting territorial cohesion and development projects
- Centre National de la Construction PaillecoreNational center for straw bale construction promoting and standardizing straw building techniques
- Collectif Biosourcé Pays de la LoirecoreCollective of bio-sourced material sectors in Pays de la Loire promoting sustainable construction materials
- Cité des Métiers de Saint-Pierre (La Réunion)corePartnership for organizing the Salon de l'écoconstruction solidaire in La Réunion
- PTCE (Pôle de Compétitivité Territoriale)coreTerritorial competitiveness cluster supporting local economic development
- Département de la VendéeminorDepartmental council supporting regional development projects
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ÉCHOBAT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Oïkos: French eco-construction resource centre providing training, documentation and advisory services for professionals and individuals. Comparable training-and-resource offering, though smaller and less member-network oriented than ÉCHOBAT.
- Pôle Fibres-Energivie: Competitiveness cluster focused on bio-based materials and energy in construction in eastern France. Comparable in promoting bio-sourced materials to professionals and territories, though structured as a cluster rather than a membership association.
- Union Nationale des Acteurs de l'Insertion par l'Activité Économique (UNAI): National federation of work-integration social enterprises in France. Comparable to ÉCHOBAT's insertion par l'activité économique dimension and its federated/network governance model, though focused on insertion across all sectors rather than eco-construction specifically.
Direct peers
- AKTÉA (formerly Pôle Éco-conception): French network supporting sustainable building and eco-renovation professionals, including training, labelling and territorial projects. Comparable member-based structure and eco-construction focus to ÉCHOBAT.
- Envirobat Grand Est: Regional centre for eco-construction professionals in the Grand Est region, providing training, technical advice, and networking for sustainable building. Operates the same member-network-and-training model as ÉCHOBAT, just at a regional rather than national scale.
- Centre National de la Construction Paille (CNCP): National technical centre for straw-bale construction, training and standardisation (PROPAILLE). Already a strategic partner of ÉCHOBAT but also a peer in offering straw-construction training and credentialing to professionals.
- Réseau Écobâtir: French federated network of eco-construction professionals offering training, technical resources and project support. Directly comparable to ÉCHOBAT in mission (promoting bio-sourced construction) and federated/membership model, though with a different historical footprint and regional anchoring.
- Construire en Chanvre: Inter-professional organisation promoting hemp-based construction in France, providing technical rules, training and member services. Comparable as a single-material professional network serving similar tradespeople and building owners.
- Envirobat Occitanie: Eco-construction resource centre and professional network for the Occitanie region, offering training, technical documentation and member services. Closely comparable to ÉCHOBAT's structure and value proposition in a different French region.
- Collectif Biosourcé: National collective of bio-sourced material sectors in France. Already a strategic partner of ÉCHOBAT; comparable as a federating body that brings together eco-construction material industries and promotes their use.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ÉCHOBAT social profiles
Digital presenceÉCHOBAT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ÉCHOBAT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
ÉCHOBAT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ÉCHOBAT 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 ÉCHOBAT
What does ÉCHOBAT do?
ÉCHOBAT federates a national network of eco-construction professionals through membership subscriptions, delivers practical training programs (including PROPAILLE straw-bale certification), supports an incubator for sustainable-construction entrepreneurs, and provides territorial accompaniment services to local authorities. The organization simultaneously operates a social inclusion program that integrates people distant from employment into eco-construction work via economic activity.
Is ÉCHOBAT a public or private company?
ÉCHOBAT is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ÉCHOBAT founded?
ÉCHOBAT was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ÉCHOBAT based?
ÉCHOBAT is headquartered in Nantes, France, in the Europe region.
How does ÉCHOBAT make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership subscriptions.
Who are ÉCHOBAT's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Oïkos, Pôle Fibres-Energivie and Union Nationale des Acteurs de l'Insertion par l'Activité Économique (UNAI). Direct peers are AKTÉA (formerly Pôle Éco-conception), Envirobat Grand Est, Centre National de la Construction Paille (CNCP), Réseau Écobâtir, Construire en Chanvre, Envirobat Occitanie and Collectif Biosourcé.
Does ÉCHOBAT have an API?
No public API is recorded for ÉCHOBAT.
What industry is ÉCHOBAT in?
ÉCHOBAT's product category is Eco-construction Network Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAG, Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type), with a secondary code of EDAAAKAL, Remote/Hybrid Work Readiness & Digital Collaboration. Its SIC code is 8600.