What Silver Valley does

Silver Valley is a French non-profit innovation cluster operating as an association loi 1901 under the legal entity Soliage, headquartered in Ivry-sur-Seine, Île-de-France. Founded in 2013 and employing 19 people, the organization positions itself as the first French innovation pole dedicated to demographic transition (the Silver Economy), serving a membership of 4,500+ affiliated innovators including startups, very small to large enterprises, public institutions, schools, and universities. Its mission is to contribute practical solutions for seniors and the societies shaped by aging demographics, targeting a French population where 30% (20 million) will be over 60 by 2030.

The cluster operates a portfolio of programs and event formats built around senior-inclusive innovation. The Dispositif Open Lab is the flagship, connecting entrepreneurs with a community of 9,000+ seniors for co-creation, testing, and validation of products and services. Complementary programs include Être Entrepreneur (startup support), Scale Up Lab® (scaling diagnostic and support), and Diagnostic Scale Up Lab (online maturity assessment). Event-driven activity includes over 25 events per year — Mercredi Entrepreneur sessions, Jeudis Concept Crash pitches, Silver Awards and Prix Silver Valley competitions, Silver Week, Festival Silver Eco, My Silver Valley, IDEA'DOM, and Silver Hub. Research output is channeled through the Observatoire de la Société de la Longévité. Underlying technology is minimal: Silver Valley is a facilitation platform rather than a technology product company, with no proprietary AI, models, or disclosed integrations.

The business model is membership-based and non-commercial. Revenue derives primarily from annual membership fees (Cotisations) published yearly, supplemented by strategic partnerships with public and para-public entities — notably Région Île-de-France, CNAV/Assurance Retraite, AG2R La Mondiale, and Banque des Territoires (Caisse des Dépôts). The organization runs on an annual budget of approximately 900 K€ and reports no venture funding, M&A activity, or equity ownership structure. Geographic scope is regional (Île-de-France), with no documented national or international expansion. Leadership is anchored by Director General Romain Ganneau.

Name

Silver Valley

Legal name

Soliage (Association loi 1901)

Website

https://silvervalley.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Silver Valley is a French non-profit innovation cluster (association loi 1901, legal entity Soliage) that connects 4,500+ companies, public institutions, and universities with a 9,000+ senior community to co-create, test, and scale Silver Economy solutions in Île-de-France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Silver Economy Innovation Cluster Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Product & Innovation Summits (Roadmap, Launch Readiness, Innovation Days) (THAHAMAG), Lifelong Learning Institutes (Osher/OLLI-style) & Senior Academies (EDAAAMAA), Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG)

Keywords

• Innovation cluster
• Silver economy
• Demographic transition
• Senior co-creation
• Startup support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ivry-sur-Seine

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees (Cotisations): Silver Valley operates as a non-profit association (Loi 1901) funded primarily through annual membership fees from companies, institutions, and other organizations. Members pay annual dues to join the cluster and access its network, services, and community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Silver Valley is a French innovation cluster (association loi 1901 under Soliage) that runs an ecosystem of programs and events to help entrepreneurs develop products and services for seniors. Its core offerings include the Open Lab co-creation community with 9,000+ seniors, the Être Entrepreneur startup support program, the Scale Up Lab® growth diagnostic program, and recurring events such as Silver Awards, Prix Silver Valley, and Silver Week.

Product overview

Silver Valley is an innovation cluster dedicated to the demographic transition (Silver Economy), operating as an ecosystem of services for healthy aging and longevity. The organization offers a portfolio of programs including the Open Lab (co-creation platform with seniors), the Être Entrepreneur program (startup support), and the Scale Up Lab® with its diagnostic tool (business growth acceleration). Complementing these core innovation services, Silver Valley organizes major events including Silver Awards, Prix Silver Valley, Silver Week, and Festival Silver Eco. The cluster also maintains an Observatory producing research on seniors and longevity. Silver Valley is structured as an association (Loi 1901) serving approximately 4,500 affiliated innovators including startups, SMEs, large companies, public institutions, and universities across the Île-de-France region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Open Lab: A community platform where seniors and entrepreneurs co-create innovations, test and experiment with products and services.
• Scale Up Lab
• Prix Silver Valley
• Silver Week
• Silver Awards

Products and services

• Dispositif Open Lab A collaborative platform where entrepreneurs and seniors co-create, test, and experiment with innovations for longevity and the silver economy, supported by a community of over 9,000 seniors.
• Programme Être Entrepreneur An entrepreneurship support program providing mentorship and development resources to help startups and innovators build projects in the silver economy sector.
• Scale Up Lab® A diagnostic and support program to help businesses scale up in the silver economy, including an online diagnostic tool to assess readiness for growth.
• Silver Awards An annual innovation challenge and competition rewarding the most promising solutions for healthy aging and the silver economy, with prizes and visibility for winners.
• Prix Silver Valley An annual prize recognizing innovation and entrepreneurship in the silver economy sector, with editions including regional partnerships.
• Silver Week A week-long series of events and conferences dedicated to the silver economy, bringing together innovators, seniors, and industry stakeholders.
• Festival Silver Eco A festival dedicated to well-being in aging and the silver economy, featuring conferences, workshops, and networking opportunities for the longevity innovation ecosystem.
• Jeudis Concept Crash Monthly pitch and feedback sessions where entrepreneurs present their projects to potential users to validate interest, challenge benefits, and improve their pitch.
• Observatoire de la Société de la Longévité A research observatory producing studies, infographics, and barometers on seniors, longevity, and the silver economy to inform innovation and policy in the demographic transition sector.
• My Silver Valley An event program within the Silver Valley ecosystem focused on innovation and networking for the silver economy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 million French people over 60 by 2030 (30% of population) - representing the addressable market for members

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Région Île-de-FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government partner supporting the Silver Valley innovation cluster. Provides funding and ecosystem support for demographic transition initiatives in the Ile-de-France region.
• CNAV (Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Retraite) / Assurance RetraitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational retirement insurance fund partner supporting senior-focused innovations and actions. Continues outreach to seniors through prevention programs and support devices.
• AG2R La MondialecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance and social protection group focused on well-aging (bien-vieillir). Mobilized for the Silver Valley ecosystem with a service hub referencing offers from partners in the well-aging sector.
• Happy VisiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline conference and workshop platform that partnered with Silver Valley for the senior morale barometer during the COVID-19 crisis. Provides interactive activities for seniors.
• Pleine VieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior lifestyle media partner collaborating with Silver Valley on the senior morale barometer during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Banque des TerritoirescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaisse des Dépôts group entity focused on territorial development. Adrien de Crombrugghe, Director of the Grand Age et Autonomie pole at Banque des Territoires, is featured as a Silver Valley partner in the '3 questions à...' series.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• EIT Health: European Institute of Innovation and Technology network focused on health innovation, including healthy aging. Comparable in its role of convening startups, corporates, and researchers around aging and health; broader geographic scope (pan-European) and well-funded institutional mandate.
• France Digitale: Leading French tech startup association representing digital entrepreneurs and investors. Comparable as a French innovation ecosystem convener; broader tech/digital scope rather than silver-economy specialization.
• Impact Hub Network: Global network of innovation hubs and entrepreneurship communities. Comparable as a community-led innovation platform supporting startups and impact entrepreneurs; broader scope across multiple verticals rather than silver economy specialization.
• Nesta: UK-based innovation foundation running programs on aging, health, and longevity economy. Comparable as an established innovation intermediary producing research, running events, and supporting ventures in the longevity/aging space; UK-focused with broader innovation mandate.

Direct peers

• Cluster Longevity: French innovation cluster (formerly Medicen) focused on healthy longevity, gerontechnology, and senior care solutions. Closely comparable as a French innovation cluster serving startups and corporates in the silver economy, competing for member affiliations and ecosystem visibility.
• France Silver Eco: National French association promoting the silver economy and organizing flagship events such as the Silver Eco Festival. Directly comparable to Silver Valley as a French ecosystem convener focused on aging-related innovation, though with a broader national scope rather than Île-de-France cluster positioning.
• Aging2.0 (now Longevity Network): Global innovation platform and community connecting startups, investors, and senior care providers. Comparable as an aging-focused innovation community with events, chapters, and senior user engagement; broader international scope but similar ecosystem-builder model.

Emerging players

• Le French Impact: National French label/ecosystem for social innovation and impact ventures, supported by the French government. Comparable as an innovation cluster/ecosystem organization that connects entrepreneurs, public institutions, and impact stakeholders; broader social innovation scope rather than aging-specific.
• Gerontechnology Network (ISG): International Society for Gerontechnology and its French chapter promoting technology for aging. Comparable as a community/ecosystem organization promoting innovation for older adults through events, research, and networking.

Regional players

• Eurobiomed: French healthcare and life sciences innovation cluster covering the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Occitanie regions. Comparable as a French cluster organization serving healthcare and aging-related innovation, but with a regional rather than Île-de-France focus and broader life sciences mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SilverValley_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/silver-valley

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Silver Valley