What Surface+Utile does

Surface+Utile is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in 2023 and headquartered in Paris. Its mission is to convene Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) actors, real estate professionals, and public decision-makers to address the dual phenomenon of commercial and tertiary real-estate vacancy and obsolescence in France, while channeling those underutilized spaces toward 'economic spaces of the transition' for general-interest activities such as associations, cooperatives, foundations, and social enterprises. The organization frames the ESS sector as representing approximately 10% of French GDP and 14% of private-sector employment yet being structurally constrained by disproportionate real-estate costs and limited profitability.

The association operates as a membership and partnership-based convening body rather than a technology product company. Its core 'product' consists of thematic working groups (e.g., 'Defining, making visible, and giving social utility to real estate vacancy'), a monthly curated newsletter ('Lecture + Utile'), national webinars targeting newly elected municipal teams, downloadable strategy decks, and in-person restitution events held at venues such as the Académie du Climat. There is no proprietary technology platform, no disclosed AI/data systems, and no software product; the underlying infrastructure is conventional: a WordPress-hosted website (surfaceplusutile.com), a LinkedIn presence, and standard email/phone contact channels.

Surface+Utile does not publish pricing, membership fees, or revenue figures. Its business model relies on partnership support from approximately 25 named institutional backers spanning major French banks (BNP Paribas), public land and development agencies (La Banque des Territoires, EPFIF, GPA, RIVP, SGP), metropolitan public establishments (Est Ensemble, Grand Orly Seine Bièvre, Euratlantique), and a constellation of ESS operators (Fondation Logement Défavorisés, Réseau Recycleries, Envie, ETIC, Legicoop, Make Ici). Operating scope has expanded from an initial Île-de-France anchor toward a national French footprint, timed to leverage the post-2026 municipal election cycle.

Name

Surface+Utile

Legal name

Association Surface + Utile

Website

https://surfaceplusutile.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Surface+Utile is a Paris-based French non-profit association, founded in 2023, that convenes Social and Solidarity Economy actors, real estate professionals, and public decision-makers to convert vacant commercial real estate into affordable spaces for general-interest activities across France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Surface+Utile is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) that convenes Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) actors, real estate professionals, and public decision-makers to develop "economic spaces of the transition" — accessible, thermally-renovated real estate assets dedicated to general-interest activities. Its primary deliverables are thematic working groups, a monthly curated reading selection ("Lecture + Utile"), webinars for local authorities, in-person restitution events, and a downloadable strategic presentation on developing accessible real estate for ESS actors.

Product overview

Surface+Utile is a non-profit association operating as a single unified offering rather than a platform architecture. The association serves as a convening body and knowledge hub that aggregates ESS actors, real estate stakeholders, and public officials to address the dual challenge of commercial real estate vacancy and the need for affordable spaces for general interest activities. Its activities include organizing thematic working groups (such as 'Defining, making visible, and giving social utility to real estate vacancy'), publishing a monthly 'Lecture + Utile' newsletter curating three articles on relevant topics, hosting webinars for municipalities on solidarity real estate, and producing downloadable presentations on its approach to developing accessible real estate for ESS actors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Surface+Utile Membership and Partnership Program A non-profit association service for French Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) actors, real estate professionals, and public decision-makers; members join to access the association's working groups, monthly Lecture + Utile reading selections, webinars, restitution events, and strategic deck, and to participate in coordinated advocacy for "economic spaces of the transition" addressing vacant and obsolete tertiary/commercial real estate.
• DECK-Présentation Surface+Utile (Strategic Deck) A downloadable strategic presentation (PDF) published by Surface+Utile, articulating its approach to developing an accessible real estate stock for actors of general interest, including the diagnostic of structural real estate vacancy and the proposed mobilization framework.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• La Banque des TerritoirescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA public establishment supporting local and regional development projects, appearing as a supporter of Surface+Utile's mission to develop real estate dedicated to general interest actors in the transition economy.
• BNP ParibascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French banking institution supporting the association's initiatives to mobilize real estate for solidarity and transition economy purposes.
• EuratlantiqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban development operator in the Bordeaux metropolitan area, supporting the association's work on real estate vacancy and transition spaces.
• Est EnsembleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan public establishment for territorial cohesion in Seine-Saint-Denis, supporting the association's initiatives.
• SPL (Société d'Économie Mixte Marne)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMixed-economy company of the Marne department supporting the association's real estate and transition economy initiatives.
• EPFIF (Établissement Public Foncier d'Île-de-France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic land establishment for Île-de-France, supporting the association's efforts to mobilize real estate for general interest purposes.
• Paris Sud AménagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban development agency for southern Paris metropolitan area, supporting the association's mission.
• GPA (Grand Paris Aménagement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor public urban development operator for the Greater Paris area, supporting the association's transition economy spaces initiative.
• RIVP (Régie Immobilière de la Ville de Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParis municipal real estate management company, supporting the association's efforts to develop spaces for general interest actors.
• SogarisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogistics and urban development operator, supporting the association's real estate mobilization initiatives.
• Grand Orly Seine BièvreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan territorial public institution, supporting the association's work in the southern Paris metropolitan area.
• Transitions 2050minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on transition planning and sustainability, aligned with the association's post-carbon economy objectives.
• Fondation Logement DéfavoriséscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation dedicated to housing for disadvantaged populations, supporting the association's mission to provide real estate for general interest activities.
• SGP (Société des Grands Projets)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic entity responsible for major infrastructure and urban development projects in the Greater Paris area.
• Make IciminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation and manufacturing space operator, supporting the association's ecosystem for transition economy activities.
• ETICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting socially responsible companies in France, aligned with the association's ESS-focused mission.
• EnvieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of enterprises specializing in electrical and electronic equipment reuse and recycling, supporting circular economy objectives.
• Réseau RecycleriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of recycling centers and social economy enterprises, supporting circular economy and social inclusion objectives.
• SolikominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting social and solidarity economy initiatives, aligned with the association's mission.
• LegicoopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative legal and organizational support organization, providing expertise to ESS actors.
• KawaaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting innovative projects in the social and solidarity economy sector.
• CeetrusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate and retail development company, supporting the association's initiatives to convert commercial spaces.
• RomainvilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality working on urban development and territorial transition projects.
• L'AclefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting cultural and creative economy initiatives, aligned with transition objectives.
• Vi Factory / Village FactoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation and entrepreneurship hub supporting the association's ecosystem development.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• BNP Paribas Real Estate: Major French commercial real estate services firm covering transactions, consulting, and property management. Listed as a core-tier partner of Surface+Utile and represents the broader private real-estate incumbent space the association engages.
• La Banque des Territoires: Public subsidiary of Caisse des Dépôts financing and supporting local/regional development projects including real estate. Listed as a core-tier partner of Surface+Utile and represents the larger institutional ecosystem in which the association operates.

Direct peers

• France Active: French network financing and supporting social enterprises and ESS entrepreneurs. Comparable as an ESS ecosystem-builder whose beneficiaries overlap with Surface+Utile's ESS actor constituency.
• Yes We Camp: French organization that develops temporary and permanent cultural/social spaces in vacant buildings, combining citizen participation with urban revitalization. Closely comparable to Surface+Utile's vacant-to-useful-space thesis and named as a partner.
• Foncière Chênelet: French social enterprise developing very affordable and inclusive housing through innovative real estate models. Shares Surface+Utile's orientation toward general-interest uses of real estate and the same broad public-interest sponsorship pattern.
• Habitat et Humanisme: Major French association developing and managing solidarity-oriented housing and real estate for disadvantaged populations. Comparable as a solidarity real estate operator pursuing general-interest outcomes, in the same vein as Surface+Utile.
• Avise: National French resource center supporting the development of social economy (ESS) actors through expertise, studies, and program management. Operates in the same ESS ecosystem-building space as Surface+Utile.
• Make Ici: French operator of maker and innovation spaces in urban areas, hosting entrepreneurs, artisans, and ESS initiatives. Directly comparable to Surface+Utile's 'transition economy spaces' concept and listed as a Surface+Utile partner.
• ETIC: French cooperative network that develops and manages real estate (notably coworking spaces) for socially responsible companies. Mirrors Surface+Utile's mission of providing dedicated space to ESS actors and is listed as one of its minor-tier partners.

Emerging players

• France Ville Durable: French platform/networking organization supporting sustainable urban development projects across French cities. Adjacent to Surface+Utile's mission of leveraging real estate for ecological and social transition outcomes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surface-utile

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Surface+Utile