L'Odyssée
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What L'Odyssée does
L'Odyssée is a non-profit cultural festival and event organization operating under French Association loi 1901 law, carried by La Guinguette Pirate in close partnership with Petit Bain (SCIC). Founded in 2019 and headquartered at 7 Port de la Gare in Paris's 13th arrondissement, the organization produces an annual festival celebrating the Seine and the canals of Île-de-France, with the fifth edition held June 22-23, 2024 at Place de la Pointe, Pantin. The core offering combines participatory boat-building workshops (chantiers navals) producing PRAM wooden sailing dinghies designed by architect Youri Guedj (BOW agency), nautical regattas and parades, concerts, and discussion forums under formats including RadiOdyssée (audio documentary), Assemblée du Fleuve (River Assembly discussions), and Course en Solidaire (a solidarity-oriented nautical challenge with social-inclusion elements).
The organization's underlying platform is a community-led methodology rather than software: each PRAM is constructed over five weeks by amateur builders in partnership with neighborhood associations, then artistically decorated to reflect its host community. A fleet of 12+ PRAMs operates across the Seine, Canal Saint-Denis, and Canal de l'Ourcq, supported by a network of 12+ cultural venue partners including 6b (Saint-Denis), Théâtre des Habitants / La Poudrerie (Sevran), Barboteur, Metaxu, and Dock B (Pantin). The 2024 edition was labeled as an official event of the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad.
The business model is grant-and-donation funded rather than commercial: institutional revenue comes from public bodies including Paris 2024, Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis, Ville de Paris, and DRAC Île-de-France (Ministry of Culture), supplemented by public donations via HelloAsso and a partnership with the Fonds de Dotation Artutti. Core events are free and open-access, with nominal fees (~10€) on certain evening programming; pricing is effectively a freemium model. Customer/beneficiary segments are Île-de-France residents and visitors attending events, alongside social-integration organizations that use the shipyards as professional insertion pathways. With approximately 132 people listed in the organization's network and no disclosed revenue, L'Odyssée functions as a publicly subsidized cultural and social-impact platform rather than a revenue-generating enterprise.
L'Odyssée firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- L'Odyssée
- Legal name
- Association Loi 1901 LA GUINGUETTE PIRATE
- Website
- https://odysseeseine.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
L'Odyssée industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cultural Events and Community Festivals
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Coastal Tours (THAAAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Open Water Swimming Events (OWS Races, Swim Challenges) (MPAKAIAF)
Keywords
Where L'Odyssée is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
L'Odyssée business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Public Funding and Grants: L'Odyssée receives institutional support from Paris 2024, the Department of Seine-Saint-Denis, the City of Paris, and DRAC Île-de-France (Ministry of Culture). This funding supports the annual festival programming and participatory activities.
- Donations and Fundraising: The organization runs an annual donation campaign (appel à dons) through platforms like HelloAsso, inviting public contributions to support shipyard expansion, new Course en Solidaire events, professional insertion programs, and public capacity development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One-time | Free public events |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
L'Odyssée product offering
Product offeringCore offering
L'Odyssée is a French non-profit association (Association Loi 1901) operated by La Guinguette Pirate that organizes an annual cultural festival on the Seine and Parisian canals. Its activities include hands-on PRAM boat-building workshops, community gatherings (Assemblée du Fleuve), and a companion audio program (RadiOdyssée), with the festival concept originating in 2018 and formally launched in 2019.
Product overview
L'Odyssée is a cultural festival and event organization (Association loi 1901) operated by La Guinguette Pirate in collaboration with Petit Bain (SCIC). Rather than a unified software product, the organization offers a portfolio of interconnected cultural and nautical programs: the PRAM sailboats and participatory shipyard workshops form the core identity; annual festivals (temps forts) serve as the main public-facing events featuring parades, concerts, nautical races, and the OFNI floating objects; RadiOdyssée provides audio documentary content; Assemblée du Fleuve facilitates discussions and knowledge-sharing; and the Course en Solidaire and La TraverSeine offer competitive and recreational nautical activities. All offerings center on reclaiming the Seine and Paris-region canals as shared public spaces.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Annual Odyssée Festival on the Seine
- PRAM Boat Building Workshops
- Assemblée du Fleuve
- RadiOdyssée Podcast
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 300 participants involved in the 2023 Sevran parade construction
Companies that use L'Odyssée
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
L'Odyssée technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
L'Odyssée partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, flagship and minor.
- La Guinguette PiratecoreAssociation loi 1901 that carries L'Odyssée as its main cultural project. Provides organizational framework, leadership (Director Ricardo Esteban), and operational support for the festival and participatory shipyard programs.
- Petit Bain (SCIC)coreSCIC (cooperative company of collective interest) working in close partnership with La Guinguette Pirate. Hosts events at Port de la Gare, Paris 13. Director Ricardo Esteban also serves as direction.
- 6b (Saint-Denis)majorCultural venue in Saint-Denis that hosts participatory boat-building workshops and the annual Guinguette de l'Odyssée event on Canal Saint-Denis.
- Théâtre des Habitants / La Poudrerie (Sevran)majorTheater in Sevran that hosts annual L'Odyssée programming as part of its season, including the parade and boat construction activities along Canal de l'Ourcq.
- Paris 2024 / Olympiade CulturelleflagshipOfficial partner of the Cultural Olympiad leading to Paris 2024 Olympic Games. L'Odyssée is recognized as an official cultural event of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
- Ars LongamajorAssociation that runs Harbor project (New European Bauhaus initiative) in partnership with L'Odyssée. Organizes Assemblée du Fleuve (River Assembly) discussions and workshops.
- Eau dans la ville (CD93)minorDepartmental organization in Seine-Saint-Denis focused on urban water issues. Partner for Assemblée du Fleuve health and wellbeing conversations.
- Water FamilyminorAssociation focused on water education and awareness. Partner for workshops including Le Jeu du Grand Cycle de l'Eau at Assemblée du Fleuve.
- Atelier 21minorAssociation proposing Paléo H2O project: collective intelligence archive of water-related inventions. Co-facilitates Assemblée du Fleuve workshops.
- Véronique RuggiaminorComedian, theater director, filmmaker, and troupe leader who creates collective water history workshops for children (6-12 years) at Assemblée du Fleuve.
- Agence Vraiment VraimentminorDesign agency facilitating citizen engagement and democracy conversations at Assemblée du Fleuve.
- Les Gardien·ne·s de la SeineminorActivist organization defending river ecosystems. Partner for citizenship and democracy conversation at Assemblée du Fleuve.
- Fluctuation / Relais Culture EuropeminorCultural organizations partnering for art and culture conversations at Assemblée du Fleuve, focused on the river as a cultural scene.
- Eau de ParisminorParis water utility. Partner for heritage and innovation conversations about water at Assemblée du Fleuve.
- Eau Île-de-FranceminorRegional water authority. Partner for heritage conversations about water innovation and legacy at Assemblée du Fleuve.
- Wild LegalminorLegal organization advocating for river representation and rights. Partner for citizenship conversation at Assemblée du Fleuve.
- Collectif GammaresminorCollective creating tarot card designs inspired by Tarot de Marseille for Le Tarot du Ruisseau workshop at Assemblée du Fleuve.
- Vera IconicaminorTarot reader facilitating Le Tarot du Ruisseau (Tarot of the Stream) workshops at Assemblée du Fleuve and Le Cabinet de Vera Iconica.
- BarboteurmajorCultural venue in Pantin providing performance space and stage for L'Odyssée nautical festival events including DJ sets, concerts, and Le Bal des Sirènes.
- MetaxumajorCultural venue (barge) in Pantin hosting concerts and events during L'Odyssée festival including nocturnal programming.
- Dock BmajorCultural venue in Pantin hosting performances, concerts, and the Assemblée du Fleuve during L'Odyssée festival.
- Ourcq Can'Ohé Club (Sevran)minorWater sports club in Sevran specializing in canoeing and kayaking, participating in L'Odyssée activities along Canal de l'Ourcq.
- Direction Jeunesse et Sport de la Ville de ParisminorParis municipal department for youth and sports providing partnership for nautical activities and ephemeral nautical base at Paris Plages.
- Le Musée des ÉgoutsminorParis Sewer Museum participating in Nuit Fleuve 2023 with 24-hour non-stop programming across 12 partner sites.
- L'Urban BoatminorUrban boat project participating in Nuit Fleuve 2023, offering musical performances and river experiences.
- La TraverseineminorOrganization coordinating the annual Traverseine paddle/kayak event from Paris to Sèvres, participating in Nuit Fleuve 2023.
- L'AdamantminorBarge venue hosting surprise artistic performances during Nuit Fleuve 2023 as part of the 24-hour continuous programming.
- Les AmarresminorThird-place venue (tiers-lieu) at 24 quai d'Austerlitz hosting Nuit Fleuve 2023 programming.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
L'Odyssée competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Solidays: Major French annual music and solidarity festival (Hippodrome de Longchamp). Comparable as a large-scale French cultural festival with strong social mission and donor/partnership funding; bigger in scale and budget.
- Festival d'Avignon: France's premier annual performing arts festival. Comparable as a destination cultural festival with public-institution backing and free/public programming components, but at a far larger scale and longer history.
- Fête de la Musique: National free cultural celebration organized across France every June 21. Comparable as a France-wide, free, public-institutional cultural event with a similar June timing to L'Odyssée's festival.
Regional players
- Le Voyage à Bordeaux (Bordeaux River Festival): Bordeaux's seasonal riverfront cultural and sporting programming along the Garonne. Comparable as a waterway-centered cultural/sports activation, but in a different French region.
Direct peers
- Voyage à Nantes: Annual cultural summer festival run as a Société Publique Locale that activates an entire city through tours, art installations, and events. Highly comparable to L'Odyssée's city-wide Seine/waterway activation model and community-engagement ethos.
- Carnaval de Paris: Annual Paris parade and street carnival featuring floats, music, and community participation. Comparable in free public parade format, community co-construction (floats), and Parisian cultural positioning.
- Les Tombées de la Nuit: Annual cultural festival in Rennes combining urban interventions, parades, and free public programming. Comparable in scale, free-event model, and reliance on municipal and institutional funding.
- Paris Plages: The City of Paris's annual summer activation of the Seine and Canal de l'Ourcq with beaches, sports, and cultural programming. Directly comparable to L'Odyssée in geography, free public-event model, and Seine/canal activation mandate.
Others
- Naval groups / Glénans (Les Glénans): Major French non-profit sailing school with a fleet of training boats and a mission to democratize access to sailing. Comparable in non-profit nautical training/co-construction ethos, though focused on sailing instruction rather than cultural festivals.
Emerging players
- Nuit Blanche Paris: Annual all-night contemporary art event in Paris with free installations across the city. Comparable in its free, overnight, multi-site curatorial approach (cf. L'Odyssée's 24-hour Nuit Fleuve 2023).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
L'Odyssée social profiles
Digital presenceL'Odyssée financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
L'Odyssée leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
L'Odyssée funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
L'Odyssée 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 L'Odyssée
What does L'Odyssée do?
L'Odyssée is a French non-profit association (Association Loi 1901) operated by La Guinguette Pirate that organizes an annual cultural festival on the Seine and Parisian canals. Its activities include hands-on PRAM boat-building workshops, community gatherings (Assemblée du Fleuve), and a companion audio program (RadiOdyssée), with the festival concept originating in 2018 and formally launched in 2019.
Is L'Odyssée a public or private company?
L'Odyssée is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was L'Odyssée founded?
L'Odyssée was founded in 2019. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is L'Odyssée based?
L'Odyssée is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does L'Odyssée make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Public Funding and Grants are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising.
Who are L'Odyssée's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Solidays, Festival d'Avignon and Fête de la Musique. Le Voyage à Bordeaux (Bordeaux River Festival) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Voyage à Nantes, Carnaval de Paris, Les Tombées de la Nuit and Paris Plages. Naval groups / Glénans (Les Glénans) is listed as an others. Nuit Blanche Paris is listed as an emerging player.
Does L'Odyssée have an API?
No public API is recorded for L'Odyssée.
What industry is L'Odyssée in?
L'Odyssée's product category is Cultural Events and Community Festivals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAIAF, Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Coastal Tours, with a secondary code of MPAKAIAF, Open Water Swimming Events (OWS Races, Swim Challenges). Its NAICS code is 561920 and its SIC code is 7900.