Fondation INFA
Fondation INFA is a French non-profit vocational training foundation with 788 employees and 20+ training centers across France, delivering apprenticeships, skills assessments, and certifications in hospitality, tourism, social-health, guidance, and arts-digital sectors to job seekers, employees, and employers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1945
- HeadquartersFontenay-sous-Bois, Île-de-France, France
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Fondation INFA does
Fondation INFA is a French non-profit foundation headquartered in Fontenay-sous-Bois, Île-de-France, founded in 1945 as the Centre de Culture Ouvrière and recognized as a foundation of public utility since 2015. The organization delivers vocational training across five sectors — Hospitality-Restoration, Tourism-Events, Social-Health-Animation, Guidance-Orientation, and Arts-Digital — through a national network of more than 20 training centers serving multiple French regions, with 788 employees. Its service catalog spans short-format devices (DAQ 2.0 pre-qualification, Bilan de Compétences, VAE experience validation), apprenticeship tracks (CAP Pâtissier, CAP AEPE, Cuisinier, Serveur en Restauration, Barman, Employé Polyvalent en Restauration), and blended-learning formats combining in-person instruction with web conferences, forums, and an e-learning platform.
The foundation operates a hybrid revenue model anchored in publicly funded vocational training: tuition-equivalent hours priced at roughly €10–€15 per apprenticeship hour, fixed-fee programs (Bilan de Compétences at €1,920–€2,160; VAE at €1,680), and flows from OPCOs, regional councils, France Travail, the European Social Fund, CPF individual training accounts, and government subsidies. Customer segments include job seekers, employees seeking reskilling, young people entering the labor market, people with disabilities, and employers — including named partners such as Accor, Air France, Belambra, Parc Astérix, VVF Villages, and Les Agapes Hôtes. The foundation holds Qualiopi certification across all four training domains, which is a gating requirement for accessing French public training funds and a structural barrier to entry for new competitors.
Operationally, the foundation blends traditional classroom vocational training with applied-learning formats such as the restaurant éphémère at INFA Besançon, and has been deepening employer ties through initiatives like the 2024 national convention with UMIH and chef Thierry Marx. Geographic expansion continues, exemplified by the new CFA in Pau planned for 2026. No proprietary AI/ML capabilities, digital products, or technology platform differentiators are evident in the input — the business is fundamentally a content, certification, and placement operation delivered through a distributed physical network.
Fondation INFA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fondation INFA
- Legal name
- Fondation INFA
- Website
- https://infa-formation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1945
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Fondation INFA is a French non-profit vocational training foundation with 788 employees and 20+ training centers across France, delivering apprenticeships, skills assessments, and certifications in hospitality, tourism, social-health, guidance, and arts-digital sectors to job seekers, employees, and employers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fondation INFA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Training and Vocational Education
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Apprenticeship Training (611513)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hospitality & Food Service (EDABALAO)
Keywords
Where Fondation INFA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fontenay-sous-Bois, Île-de-France
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices20 records
Markets served
Fondation INFA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Professional Training Services: INFA provides professional training courses across 5 sectors (hospitality-restoration, tourism-events, social-health-animation, accompaniment-orientation, arts-digital) funded through multiple mechanisms including OPCO funding, regional council funding, European Social Fund, CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation), and government subsidies for job seekers.
- Skills Assessment (Bilan de Compétences): 24-hour skills assessment program offered at 1920€ (distance) or 2160€ (in-person), providing personalized career guidance and professional project development.
- VAE Accompaniment: 24-hour VAE validation of prior experience accompaniment service at 1680€, guiding candidates through eligibility, dossier preparation, and jury examination.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Bilan de Compétences - Distance format |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Bilan de Compétences - In-person format |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VAE Accompaniment |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | CAP Pâtissier - Apprenticeship |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | CAP AEPE - Individual format Strasbourg |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | CAP AEPE - Contract of Professionalization Strasbourg |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | CAP AEPE - Conventionné Strasbourg |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
Fondation INFA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fondation INFA delivers vocational training programs across five professional sectors (Hôtellerie-Restauration, Tourisme-Loisirs-Événementiel, Social-Santé-Animation, Arts Numériques, and Accompagnement-Orientation) through 20+ training centers across France. It also provides foundational career services including DAQ 2.0 pre-qualification, Bilan de Compétences skills assessment, and VAE experience validation. Training is delivered via multiple modalities (apprenticeship, professionalization contracts, conventionné subsidized training, and individual pathways) and financed through OPCOs, regional councils, CPF, and the European Social Fund.
Product overview
Fondation INFA is a professional training foundation recognized as being of public utility since 2015, offering a portfolio of interconnected training programs and career development services. The core offering consists of five sector-specific training streams (Hôtellerie-Restauration, Social-Santé-Animation, Tourisme-Loisirs-Événementiel, Arts Numériques, and Accompagnement-Orientation) complemented by foundational career support services including DAQ 2.0 for pre-qualification, Bilan de Compétences for skills assessment, and VAE for experience validation. Training is delivered through multiple modalities: apprenticeship (alternance), professionalization contracts, conventionné programs, and individual pathways, with support services including CPF financing integration, OPCO partnerships, and France VAE platform connectivity. The foundation operates 20+ training centers across France, serving job seekers, employees, and employers seeking professional qualification and insertion.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DAQ 2.0 (Dispositif en Amont de la Qualification)
Quantifiable outcome
- 95%+ client satisfaction rate in 2024
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Fondation INFA
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fondation INFA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature4 records
Fondation INFA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Région Nouvelle-AquitainecoreRegional council providing funding and support for INFA training programs in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine territory.
- Région OccitaniecoreRegional council partner supporting INFA training initiatives in the Occitanie region.
- Région Auvergne-Rhône-AlpescoreRegional council providing strategic support for INFA training programs in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
- Région Bourgogne-Franche-ComtécoreRegional council supporting DAQ 2.0 program and other INFA training initiatives in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
- Région Hauts-de-FrancecoreRegional council partner for INFA training programs in Hauts-de-France.
- Région Île-de-FrancecoreRegional council partner supporting INFA activities in the Île-de-France region.
- Région Grand-EstcoreKey regional partner supporting multiple INFA projects including CAP AEPE for fragile publics and EPR training for people with disabilities, co-funding with European Social Fund.
- OPCO AFDAScoreProfessional training fund operator supporting INFA training in culture, communication, and media sectors.
- OPCO OCAPIATcoreOPCO partner for agriculture, food, and hospitality sectors, funding apprenticeship and professionalization contracts.
- OPCO AKTOcoreOPCO supporting INFA training in services sectors including commerce, hospitality, and tourism.
- France Travail (formerly Pôle Emploi)coreNational employment agency referring job seekers to INFA training programs and co-funding conventionné training.
- Mission LocalecoreLocal mission organizations supporting young people (16-25) in their professional integration, referring to INFA programs.
- Cap EmploicoreOrganization supporting people with disabilities in employment, partnering with INFA for adapted training programs.
- UMIH (Union des Métiers et des Industries de l'Hôtellerie)coreNational hospitality industry union partnering with INFA under national convention signed with Thierry Marx in 2024, supporting restaurant éphémère events and CFA development.
- Air FranceminorAirline partner supporting INFA training, potentially for aviation catering or hospitality services.
- Accor HotelsminorMajor hospitality group providing apprenticeship and employment opportunities for INFA graduates.
- BelambraminorHoliday village operator partnering with INFA for tourism and hospitality training.
- Parc AstérixminorTheme park providing training and employment opportunities in hospitality and services.
- VVF VillagesminorHoliday village operator partnering with INFA for tourism sector training and work placements.
- Thierry MarxcoreCelebrity chef supporting INFA through national convention signed in 2024, promoting hospitality training and restaurant éphémère events.
- Communauté d'agglomération Pau Béarn PyrénéescoreLocal government authority supporting the new CFA hospitality-restaurant center in Pau, co-developing training with local employers.
- ADAPEI Papillons BlancsminorAssociation supporting people with disabilities, partnering with INFA for EPR restaurant training for RQTH holders.
- Ecole de la Deuxième Chance (E2C)minorSecond Chance School network participating in INFA restaurant éphémère events for immersive career discovery.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fondation INFA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AFTRAL: Leading French apprenticeship and vocational training provider, with a comparable model of combining CFA-accredited programs, OPCO funding, and employer partnerships. AFTRAL focuses on transport/logistics but operates the same apprenticeship + public-funder model as INFA.
- AFPA: France's national adult vocational training agency (formerly Association pour la Formation Professionnelle des Adultes), directly comparable to INFA in mission, public-funder dependence, multi-sector training portfolio, and regional center network. AFPA is the closest direct competitor in the French vocational training ecosystem.
- GRETA: National network of GRETA (Groupements d'Établissements) provides adult continuing-education training through the French national education system. Directly comparable to INFA's vocational training and skills-assessment mission, though with school-system rather than foundation governance.
- Réseau E2C (École de la Deuxième Chance): National network of Second Chance Schools focused on NEET inclusion through training — INFA is a documented partner (E2C participates in INFA's restaurant éphémère events) and shares INFA's mission of training for vulnerable populations and job-seeker insertion.
Emerging players
- OpenClassrooms: France-based online vocational training platform specializing in digital/tech and professional certifications. Comparable to INFA as a French vocational training provider, but with a digital-first delivery model that contrasts INFA's center-based approach — a key emerging competitive pressure.
Broad incumbents
- Cegos: Major international corporate training and professional development provider, comparable to INFA's professional/management training and Bilan de Compétences offerings, though operating as a broader for-profit incumbent serving corporate clients across industries.
- CCI France (Chambers of Commerce – Formation): The national network of French Chambers of Commerce operates extensive vocational training (CCI Formation) across hospitality, tourism, and services — overlapping directly with INFA's hospitality and tourism streams, but with broader mandate and larger footprint as an institutional player.
Regional players
- ADRAR Formation: Regional vocational training provider based in northern France (Occitanie-adjacent), offering multi-sector apprenticeship and continuing-education programs comparable to INFA's portfolio but with a more regionalized footprint.
- Compétences et Développement (AKTO network): Regional training providers within the AKTO OPCO network (services, hospitality, commerce) — comparable to INFA in scope and funding model, but operating at regional scale and tied to a single OPCO funder.
Others
- APEC: French executive employment agency providing career management, training, and skills-assessment services to managers — comparable to INFA's Bilan de Compétences offering, but focused on executive segment and operating as a partner/funder-type ecosystem participant.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fondation INFA social profiles
Digital presenceFondation INFA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Fondation INFA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fondation INFA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Fondation INFA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fondation INFA 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 Fondation INFA
What does Fondation INFA do?
Fondation INFA delivers vocational training programs across five professional sectors (Hôtellerie-Restauration, Tourisme-Loisirs-Événementiel, Social-Santé-Animation, Arts Numériques, and Accompagnement-Orientation) through 20+ training centers across France. It also provides foundational career services including DAQ 2.0 pre-qualification, Bilan de Compétences skills assessment, and VAE experience validation. Training is delivered via multiple modalities (apprenticeship, professionalization contracts, conventionné subsidized training, and individual pathways) and financed through OPCOs, regional councils, CPF, and the European Social Fund.
Is Fondation INFA a public or private company?
Fondation INFA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fondation INFA founded?
Fondation INFA was founded in 1945. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Fondation INFA based?
Fondation INFA is headquartered in Fontenay-sous-Bois, Île-de-France, France, in the Europe region.
How does Fondation INFA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Professional Training Services are the primary driver. The others are skills Assessment (Bilan de Compétences) and VAE Accompaniment.
Who are Fondation INFA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AFTRAL, AFPA, GRETA and Réseau E2C (École de la Deuxième Chance). OpenClassrooms is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Cegos and CCI France (Chambers of Commerce – Formation). Regional players are ADRAR Formation and Compétences et Développement (AKTO network). APEC is listed as an others.
Does Fondation INFA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fondation INFA.
What industry is Fondation INFA in?
Fondation INFA's product category is Professional Training and Vocational Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABALAO, Hospitality & Food Service. Its NAICS code is 61151 and its SIC code is 8200.