Le Labo de l'ESS
Le Labo de l'ESS is a Paris-based non-profit think tank founded in 2010 that produces research, publications, events, and the Masterclass Autonomia to inform policy and practice across France's social and solidarity economy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Le Labo de l'ESS does
Le Labo de l'ESS is a French non-profit association (Association loi 1901) founded in 2010 and headquartered at 5 rue Las Cases in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, operating as the reference think tank for the social and solidarity economy (Économie Sociale et Solidaire, ESS) in France and Europe. With 21 employees, a Direction Committee, an Orientation Council, and a network of thematic referents, the organisation produces research publications, strategic notes, event proceedings, monographs, and briefing documents on ESS themes including just ecological transition, energy sobriety, territorial cooperation (PTCE), cooperative models (SCIC/SCOP), mutualisations, popular education, and AI's implications for the ESS sector. It also curates Le Mag' blog content, a Spotify-distributed podcast, a glossary of ESS terminology, and the recurring Masterclass Autonomia educational program.
The organisation is governed by a recently refreshed leadership team - Fatima Bellaredj as President (elected June 2025), Bastien Sibille as Vice-President, and Marie Vernier as Delegate General - and operates a multi-channel engagement model spanning website publications, newsletter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Bluesky, podcast, press releases, and in-person conferences and regional transition days. Its primary customer segments are ESS field operators and practitioners, local decision-makers and territorial collectivities, and ESS funders/investors; delivery occurs through free downloads, events, and the recurring Masterclass.
Revenue is generated principally through membership fees collected via the HelloAsso platform (subscription/recurring) and through institutional and corporate partnerships with actors such as Banque des Territoires, ADEME, the Ministère de l'Économie, CG Scop, Biocoop, MAIF, Crédit Coopératif, Aéma Groupe, Groupe Vyv, Up Coop, Enedis, and Novaxia. Le Labo de l'ESS has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no disclosed funding rounds, no patents, no certifications, and no deployed technology product; its core 'technology' is research methodology (field observation, documentary analysis, study-action, working groups) and a growing content distribution footprint rather than a software platform.
Le Labo de l'ESS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Le Labo de l'ESS
- Legal name
- Le Labo de l'ESS
- Website
- https://lelabo-ess.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Le Labo de l'ESS is a Paris-based non-profit think tank founded in 2010 that produces research, publications, events, and the Masterclass Autonomia to inform policy and practice across France's social and solidarity economy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Le Labo de l'ESS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Le Labo de l'ESS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership fees (Adhésions): The organization generates revenue through membership fees from individuals, associations, and other ESS structures who support the think tank's mission. Members can join through the HelloAsso platform with annual membership tiers.
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels9 records
Le Labo de l'ESS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Le Labo de l'ESS is an independent French think tank that produces research publications, studies, monographs, and strategic notes on the social and solidarity economy (ESS), with thematic focus on just ecological transition, territorial cooperation (PTCE), mutualizations, cooperative models, work and employment, and AI. It complements its research with an online magazine (Le Mag'), a podcast on Spotify, public events, working groups, and the Masterclass Autonomia educational program, and is sustained by individual and organizational memberships managed through the HelloAsso platform.
Product overview
Le Labo de l'ESS is a think tank (associative research organization) dedicated to the social and solidarity economy (ESS) in France and Europe. The organization does not offer a software product or technology platform. Its offerings consist of: research publications and studies on ESS topics (transition écologique juste, mutualisations, territories, AI and ESS), the Le Mag' blog/magazine section featuring tribunes and initiatives, event organization including the Masterclass Autonomia, a podcast distributed via Spotify, a glossary of ESS terminology, press releases, and membership/support opportunities via HelloAsso. The organization serves as a documentation, analysis, and debate facilitation body rather than a product company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Adhésion au Labo de l'ESS (Membership)
Companies that use Le Labo de l'ESS
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Le Labo de l'ESS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Le Labo de l'ESS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ministère de l'économie, des finances et de la souveraineté industrielle et numériquecoreFrench government ministry supporting ESS policy. Listed as institutional partner with logo placement on website footer.
- BiocoopminorOrganic grocery cooperative network. Listed as partner supporting the think tank's work on ESS and sustainable consumption.
- NovaxiaminorReal estate investment company focused on urban transformation. Listed as partner on website footer.
- Que Vol'TerreminorESS actor in environmental transition. Listed as partner with logo on website footer.
- Groupe VyvminorMutual benefit group operating in health, social protection, and insurance. Listed as partner on website footer.
- Up CoopminorCooperative group specializing in employee benefits and meal vouchers. Listed as partner on website footer.
- Energie partagéeminorCitizen energy network. Co-launched EnRciT financing tool with Labo de l'ESS involvement.
- CG ScopcoreConfédération Générale des SCOP et des SCIC (General Confederation of Cooperative Enterprises). Key partner for cooperative studies including SCIC socio-economic model research.
- Collectif pour une Transition CitoyenneminorCollective for Citizen Transition. Partner organization for municipal 2026 elections analysis work.
- e-graineminorESS actor in popular education. Co-published study-action on popular education and ecological transition.
- La Fabrique des transitionsminorTransition support organization. Co-published study-action on popular education and ecological transition.
- Institut pour la Recherche de la Caisse des DépôtsminorResearch institute of Caisse des Dépôts. Co-research partner in mutualizations study dossier.
- EnedisminorElectricity distribution network operator. Supporter of Labo de l'ESS study on self-consumption and energy transition.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Le Labo de l'ESS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Le Mouvement Associatif: National umbrella representing associative life in France, producing research, policy briefs, and advocacy on the place of associations in the economy. Comparable as a national reference body producing research and policy analysis for a related but adjacent non-profit stakeholder segment.
- France Active: National network financing and supporting ESS and social entrepreneurship in France, including research and impact studies. Comparable as a major, established ESS institution with overlapping research and policy advocacy functions, though more focused on financing than pure think-tank work.
Direct peers
- ESS France: National umbrella organization representing the French social and solidarity economy, producing studies, position papers, and policy advocacy on ESS. Highly comparable as a national reference body producing research and policy analysis for ESS practitioners, funders, and public authorities.
- Observatoire national de l'ESS: National observatory producing statistical analyses, indicators, and periodic reports on the French social and solidarity economy. Comparable as a research and data-publishing body serving ESS decision-makers, funders, and public authorities.
- Avise: French agency dedicated to the development of the social and solidarity economy, producing research, toolkits, and supporting ESS structures. Like Le Labo de l'ESS, Avise is a national reference body operating in the same ESS research-and-advisory space and serves overlapping practitioner and policymaker audiences.
- Fonda: French think tank dedicated to associative life and the social economy, publishing analyses, studies, and forward-looking notes on associations and civil society. Directly comparable as a think tank producing research on social-economy themes for practitioners and policymakers.
Emerging players
- Territoires Conseils: Public-interest advisory service supporting local authorities on economic and social policy, including ESS and ecological transition. Comparable as a research and advisory body serving French municipalities and territorial collectivities — one of the Labo's primary customer segments.
- Institut Godin: French research and training institute focused on social and solidarity economy and cooperative models. Comparable as a specialized ESS research body producing publications and analyses for the same practitioner and policymaker community.
Regional players
- Social Economy Europe: European-level umbrella representing the social economy at EU institutions, producing position papers and policy analyses. Comparable as a peer in the ESS research-and-advocacy space, but serves a pan-European constituency rather than a national one.
- RIPESS: Intercontinental network of organizations promoting the social and solidarity economy through research, advocacy, and practitioner exchange. Comparable as a peer operating in the same ESS research and policy-advocacy space but at a multi-continental rather than national scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Customer concentration
Le Labo de l'ESS social profiles
Digital presenceLe Labo de l'ESS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Le Labo de l'ESS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Le Labo de l'ESS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Le Labo de l'ESS 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 Le Labo de l'ESS
What does Le Labo de l'ESS do?
Le Labo de l'ESS is an independent French think tank that produces research publications, studies, monographs, and strategic notes on the social and solidarity economy (ESS), with thematic focus on just ecological transition, territorial cooperation (PTCE), mutualizations, cooperative models, work and employment, and AI. It complements its research with an online magazine (Le Mag'), a podcast on Spotify, public events, working groups, and the Masterclass Autonomia educational program, and is sustained by individual and organizational memberships managed through the HelloAsso platform.
Is Le Labo de l'ESS a public or private company?
Le Labo de l'ESS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Le Labo de l'ESS founded?
Le Labo de l'ESS was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Le Labo de l'ESS based?
Le Labo de l'ESS is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Le Labo de l'ESS make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership fees (Adhésions).
Who are Le Labo de l'ESS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Le Mouvement Associatif and France Active. Direct peers are ESS France, Observatoire national de l'ESS, Avise and Fonda. Emerging players are Territoires Conseils and Institut Godin. Regional players are Social Economy Europe and RIPESS.
Does Le Labo de l'ESS have an API?
No public API is recorded for Le Labo de l'ESS.