Les Érudits
Les Érudits is a France-based professional training organization (founded 2021, sister of Smart Formation) delivering language, IT, soft-skills, and coaching programs to corporate clients and individual professionals through a digital ecosystem spanning the Alice platform, Super Brian mobile app, podcasts, and community clubs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersMontigny-le-Bretonneux, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Les Érudits does
Les Érudits is a French professional training organization (SAS, founded 2021) operating as the digital-focused sister company of Smart Formation (founded 1987 by Fiona Smart). Headquartered in Montigny-le-Bretonneux with a 19-person core team supplemented by a 30+ trainer network, it delivers a four-vertical training portfolio: 10 language courses, 15 IT and digital-skills courses, 11 soft-skills courses, and 4 coaching programs, totaling 40 offerings. The company serves two principal customer segments — corporate enterprises (e.g., Id verde, John Cockerill Sud Est, Agence Cartel, TMSS) for B2B team training, and individual professionals for B2C personal development — financed through French public channels (CPF, OPCO, FAGE, Pôle Emploi) as well as direct company funding. Revenue is generated primarily through professional services fees (quote-based, not publicly disclosed) under customized multi-year corporate contracts.
The company's technology layer is a digital learning ecosystem rather than a single platform: the 'Alice' community platform centralizes learner resources and events; the 'Super Brian' mobile app (Google Play and Apple App Store) delivers English vocabulary training; two podcasts ('News of the World' and 'Légendes de France') are published on Spotify, Amazon Music, and other outlets; and the 'Smart Quiz' weekly live session plus quarterly community clubs (English Club, French Club, Italian Cooking Class) form a content engine for learner engagement and top-of-funnel demand generation. Marketing relies on organic channels (LinkedIn, blog 'Cabinet de curiosités', bi-weekly newsletter 'Pour les curieux', webinaires) with no disclosed paid acquisition spend.
Commercially, Les Érudits holds two Qualiopi certifications — mandatory for French training organizations seeking access to public funding — and reports operational performance metrics including 1,000+ learners trained in 2023, a 95% overall satisfaction rate, a 96% coaching satisfaction rate in 2024, and 100% coaching attendance in 2024. CEO Mayel Oueld, a former professional golfer and self-taught entrepreneur, leads the company; founder Fiona Smart remains active. The company is privately held (€1,000 share capital), has no disclosed external funding, and operates exclusively in the France-domestic market.
Les Érudits firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Les Érudits
- Legal name
- Les Érudits
- Website
- https://leserudits.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Les Érudits is a France-based professional training organization (founded 2021, sister of Smart Formation) delivering language, IT, soft-skills, and coaching programs to corporate clients and individual professionals through a digital ecosystem spanning the Alice platform, Super Brian mobile app, podcasts, and community clubs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Les Érudits industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Training Services
- NAICS
- Computer Training (611420), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical & Digital Skills Training (BPACANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching) (BPAEANAN), Enterprise Applications & ERP/CRM (SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, Workday) (EDABAFAJ)
Keywords
Where Les Érudits is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montigny-le-Bretonneux
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Les Érudits business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Training Services: B2B and B2C training services across four verticals: languages (10 courses), IT/computing (15 courses), soft skills (11 courses), and coaching (4 programs). Training delivered in-person, remotely, or in hybrid format. Revenue generated through course fees financed via CPF, OPCO, FAGE, Pôle Emploi, or company/individual funding.
- Coaching Services: Individual, team, managerial, and executive coaching services with structured accompaniment typically spanning 3-6 months. Includes co-development programs for teams.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Customized corporate training packages for teams |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Les Érudits product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Les Érudits delivers professional training services across four verticals — languages (10 courses in German, English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian), IT/digital skills (15 courses including Office 365, Adobe Creative Suite, Power BI, and AI/Automation), soft skills (11 courses in time/stress management, communication, public speaking, and leadership), and coaching (individual, team, managerial, executive). Training is delivered in-company, at the Montigny-le-Bretonneux training center, or remotely via video conference, and is supported by an integrated digital ecosystem (Alice platform, Super Brian mobile app, podcasts, Smart Quiz, community clubs).
Product overview
Les Érudits is a French professional training organization offering a four-vertical portfolio: Languages (10 languages including English, French, German, Chinese, and Japanese), IT/Computing (office tools, graphic design, data/BI, SEO, and AI & Automation), Soft Skills (organizational, relational, oratory, and managerial skills), and Coaching (individual, team, executive, and manager coaching). The company operates its own digital ecosystem including the 'Alice' community platform, a mobile app 'Super Brian' for English vocabulary training (available on Google Play and App Store), podcasts 'News of the World' and 'Légendes de France' published across Spotify, Amazon Music and other platforms, a weekly 'Smart Quiz' session, and community clubs (English Club, French Club, Italian Cooking Class). A dedicated 'Intelligence Artificielle et Automatisation' training module covers AI and automation tools under the IT vertical. The overall offering is positioned as a learner-centric, multimodal training ecosystem combining face-to-face, virtual, and digital delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Language Training (Formations en Langues) Training across 10 languages (German, English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian) using the 'Targeted Skills' pedagogical approach, focused on situational and communicative competencies for professional and personal contexts. Delivered in-company, at the training center, or remotely, with certifications available (TOEIC, CLOE, TOSA, LILATE, ENI).
- IT Training (Formations en Informatique) IT and digital skills training covering office productivity (Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Office 365, Excel VBA), graphic design (Canva, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop), data and BI tools (Power BI, Power Pivot, Power Query), SEO, and AI and automation. For professionals and corporate teams seeking certified digital competencies.
- Soft Skills Training (Formations Soft Skills) Behavioral and interpersonal skills training organized in four tracks: Organizational (time management, stress management, priority tools), Relational (agility, assertive communication), Oratory (public speaking, speech construction), and Managerial (leadership dimensions, effective management). For employees, managers, and teams seeking to develop interpersonal and leadership capabilities.
- Coaching Services Individual, team, managerial, and executive coaching services delivered by expert practitioner-coaches. Structured accompaniment typically spanning 3–6 months, with a matching protocol to align coach and coachee. Includes co-development programs for teams. Reported 96% coaching satisfaction and 100% attendance in 2024.
- Super Brian Mobile App Standalone mobile application for English vocabulary learning with a digitized vocabulary notebook, integrated translator, and interactive exercises. Available on Google Play and Apple App Store, designed for self-directed vocabulary practice and learning reinforcement.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1000+ learners trained in 2023
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Les Érudits
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Les Érudits technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
Les Érudits partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation)coreFrench government-funded personal training account system that allows employees to finance professional training. Les Érudits training programs are eligible for CPF coverage.
- OPCO (Opérateurs de Compétences)coreFrench skills operators that manage vocational training funds for companies by sector. Les Érudits accepts OPCO financing for corporate training programs.
- Smart FormationcoreParent company founded in 1987 by Fiona Smart. Les Érudits was created in 2021 as a digital-focused sister company while Smart Formation continues operations. Shared expertise and heritage of 35+ years in professional training.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Les Érudits competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Berlitz: Global language and intercultural training provider with corporate and consumer offerings across many languages. Directly comparable to Les Érudits' language vertical (10 languages) but with international reach Les Érudits lacks.
- Skillsoft: Global corporate learning platform offering content across IT, leadership, and business skills via subscription. Comparable in vertical mix and B2B model but at vastly larger scale, with a heavier tech/digital delivery model.
- Global Knowledge: Worldwide IT and digital skills training provider with a particularly strong vendor-authorized certification offering (AWS, Microsoft, Cisco). Comparable to Les Érudits on the IT training vertical but at materially larger scale and global footprint.
- LinkedIn Learning: Global online learning library embedded in LinkedIn covering business, tech, and creative skills. Comparable on IT and soft skills course topics, but competes on price/scale rather than on the personalized trainer-led experience that anchors Les Érudits.
Direct peers
- ENI Service: French IT training subsidiary of Editions ENI focused on office productivity, web, and developer tooling for professionals. Directly overlaps with Les Érudits' Office 365, Excel, Power BI, and graphic design courses for individuals and enterprises.
- Wall Street English: International language training chain specializing in English for adults, blending in-person coaching with digital tools. Comparable to Les Érudits on the Languages vertical and the blended digital + trainer delivery model.
- Cegos: France-headquartered corporate training leader offering multilingual, multi-vertical professional development (leadership, project management, soft skills, digital) to enterprises globally. Closest comparable to Les Érudits in B2B model, Qualiopi-style certification, and broad course catalogue.
- Demos: Major French professional training organization with a wide catalogue spanning management, IT, languages, and personal development. Comparable to Les Érudits in vertical mix (especially soft skills and languages) and enterprise-targeted delivery model.
- ORSYS: French IT and professional training specialist delivering on-site and remote courses across office productivity, data, project management, and emerging tech. Directly comparable on IT vertical (Excel, Power BI, Office 365) and French B2B training GTM.
Regional players
- OpenClassrooms: France-based online education platform offering diploma and certification programs in tech, IT, and digital skills. Comparable on French-market IT/digital upskilling, but with a primarily self-serve/SaaS model versus Les Érudits' coach-led delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Les Érudits social profiles
Digital presenceLes Érudits compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Les Érudits financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Les Érudits leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Les Érudits funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Les Érudits 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 Les Érudits
What does Les Érudits do?
Les Érudits delivers professional training services across four verticals — languages (10 courses in German, English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian), IT/digital skills (15 courses including Office 365, Adobe Creative Suite, Power BI, and AI/Automation), soft skills (11 courses in time/stress management, communication, public speaking, and leadership), and coaching (individual, team, managerial, executive). Training is delivered in-company, at the Montigny-le-Bretonneux training center, or remotely via video conference, and is supported by an integrated digital ecosystem (Alice platform, Super Brian mobile app, podcasts, Smart Quiz, community clubs).
Is Les Érudits a public or private company?
Les Érudits is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Les Érudits founded?
Les Érudits was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Les Érudits based?
Les Érudits is headquartered in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France, in the Europe region.
How does Les Érudits make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Professional Training Services are the primary driver. The others are coaching Services.
Who are Les Érudits's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Berlitz, Skillsoft, Global Knowledge and LinkedIn Learning. Direct peers are ENI Service, Wall Street English, Cegos, Demos and ORSYS. OpenClassrooms is listed as a regional player.
Does Les Érudits have an API?
No public API is recorded for Les Érudits.
What industry is Les Érudits in?
Les Érudits's product category is Professional Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACANAB, Technical & Digital Skills Training, with a secondary code of BPAEANAN, Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching). Its NAICS code is 611420 and its SIC code is 8200.