Arborus

What Arborus does

Arborus is a Paris-based French fonds de dotation (nonprofit endowment fund) founded in 1995 by Cristina Lunghi, operating the GEEIS (Gender Equality European and International Standard) certification framework. The organization has built a portfolio of certification standards including GEEIS, GEEIS AI, GEEIS SDG, GEEIS Diversity, and GEEIS Event, addressing gender equality, inclusion in artificial intelligence, and broader ESG dimensions. In April 2020, Arborus co-developed the International Charter for Inclusive AI with Orange, which has grown into a multilateral coalition — the Club de la Charte pour une IA Inclusive — with over 130 signatories and active working commissions on Smart City and Smart Building topics.

The organization serves enterprises seeking certification of gender equality and AI inclusivity practices, with named customers spanning telecommunications (Orange, Sonepar), banking (Banque de France), retail and consumer goods (INDITEX, Danone, L'Oréal, Sodexo), logistics (GEODIS), and professional services (EY Tunisia, Bureau Veritas). Arborus's business model derives revenue from certification fees, donations to its endowment fund, and auditor training programs, with delivery increasingly channeled through partnerships with Bureau Veritas (new reference system launched January 2024) and TÜV Rheinland (auditor training expansion March 2025). The organization has expanded geographically into Mediterranean and North African markets, evidenced by the November 2025 Forum Méditerranéen de l'IA in Tunis, and has marked its 30th anniversary in June 2025 while pursuing policy engagement to position GEEIS as a quasi-regulatory benchmark for AI audits.

Name

Arborus

Legal name

Association Arborus

Website

https://arborus.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arborus is a Paris-based nonprofit operating the GEEIS certification framework for gender equality and inclusive AI, serving enterprises across telecom, banking, retail, and consumer goods with certification, auditor training, and the multi-stakeholder Charter for Inclusive AI.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workplace Equality and Diversity Certification

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights (BPADAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Labor, Social Protection & Occupational Safety Standards Cooperation (BPADANAM), Bias, Fairness & Non-Discrimination Testing (HDAAAMAC), Harassment Prevention, EEO & Workplace Conduct Compliance (EDABADAE)

Keywords

• Gender equality certification
• Diversity and inclusion
• Workplace equality standards
• Inclusive AI certification
• Corporate D&I certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. GEEIS Certification Services: Arborus generates revenue through certification fees for the GEEIS label and its variants (GEEIS AI, GEEIS Diversity, GEEIS SDG, GEEIS Event). Organizations pay for initial certification audits and periodic renewal audits conducted with certification partners like Bureau Veritas Certification.
2. Endowment Fund Donations: As a public interest organization (Fonds de dotation), Arborus receives donations from corporate patrons and mecène companies. Donations benefit from 60% tax reduction under Article 795 of the French General Tax Code.
3. Training and Auditors Formation: Revenue from training certification auditors for TÜV Rheinland and other partners on the GEEIS assessment methodology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Arborus operates the GEEIS (Gender Equality European and International Standard) certification framework and its variants (GEEIS AI, GEEIS Diversity, GEEIS SDG, GEEIS Event), awarding these labels to organizations after independent audits conducted with certification partners Bureau Veritas Certification and TÜV Rheinland. The organization also co-developed the International Charter for Inclusive AI with Orange and offers educational mentoring (La Courte Échelle), publications, and policy advocacy for gender equality in the workplace.

Product overview

Arborus is a public interest endowment fund (fonds de dotation) founded in 1995 dedicated to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in the professional world. The organization's core product portfolio centers on the GEEIS (Gender Equality European and International Standard) family of certifications, which includes GEEIS (core label), GEEIS AI (artificial intelligence-specific), GEEIS SDG (sustainable development goals-aligned), GEEIS DIVERSITY, and GEEIS EVENT. The organization co-developed with Orange the International Charter for an Inclusive AI (Charte Internationale pour une IA Inclusive), the first European and international charter promoting ethical and inclusive AI with over 130 signatories. Additionally, Arborus operates La Courte Échelle (since 2004), an educational mentoring program for young girls. The organization publishes research guides including the International Guide to Inclusive Parenthood and Global Parenting Barometer, and organizes the annual GEEIS Trophy Awards ceremony. Arborus provides certification audits through partnership with Bureau Veritas Certification and TÜV Rheinland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GEEIS (Gender Equality European and International Standard) The primary certification label awarded to companies and organizations demonstrating excellence in gender equality, diversity, and inclusion policies and practices, awarded following independent audits.
• GEEIS AI Specialized certification extension of GEEIS for artificial intelligence systems, evaluating AI processes for inclusivity, bias prevention, and compliance with the International Charter for Inclusive AI.
• GEEIS SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) GEEIS variant aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, awarded to companies demonstrating commitment to gender equality and sustainable development objectives.
• GEEIS DIVERSITY Certification focused on diversity management within organizations, recognizing excellence in promoting diverse and inclusive workplaces.
• GEEIS EVENT Certification for events, evaluating the inclusion and diversity practices of event organization and execution.
• International Charter for an Inclusive AI The first European and international charter promoting inclusive, ethical, and non-discriminatory artificial intelligence, with over 130 signatories.
• La Courte Échelle Educational mentoring program pairing young girls from diverse backgrounds with professional women role models (godmothers) to encourage academic success and mixity in STEM careers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 130+ organizations signed the International Charter for Inclusive AI
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• TÜV RheinlandcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 4 March 2025TÜV Rheinland trained an international pool of GEEIS auditors starting March 4, 2025. New female auditors joined the program to expand certification capacity. Arborus and TÜV Rheinland collaborate on auditor training for GEEIS certification delivery.
• Bureau Veritas CertificationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 January 2024Bureau Veritas Certification is the primary certification partner for GEEIS audits. On January 3, 2024, they launched the new GEEIS reference system together with Arborus. The partnership operates internationally including in Tunisia where Bureau Veritas Tunisia hosts GEEIS events.
• Lise Bachmann / WomAcceleratorcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 February 2023Lise Bachmann initiated the collective tribune in Les Echos on inclusive AI and proposed a Grenelle for Inclusive AI. WomAccelerator partners with Arborus for events including Master Classes at EPITECH on inclusive AI topics.
• OrangeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2020Orange is the co-developer of the International Charter for Inclusive AI with Arborus, launched April 21, 2020 under high patronage of Cedric O, Secretary of State for Digital. Orange holds GEEIS AI certification and is a key strategic partner in the Club de la Charte pour une IA Inclusive. The partnership has grown to 130+ signatories.
• Marie Claire Think & Do Tank 'Agir pour l'Égalité'flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerArborus is a partner in the Marie Claire Think & Do Tank focused on gender equality. Cristina Lunghi contributed to the Livre Blanc 2025 with 109 proposals, including Measure 73 on mandatory AI audits. The white paper was presented to the French Constitutional Council in January 2026.
• Human Hall - University of Milan StateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArborus collaborates with Human Hall, the research department of the University of Milan State, to develop a semantic dictionary for large language models. The goal is to propose a more just and respectful learning framework for AI systems.
• Isabelle RomeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsabelle Rome, former French Minister for Equality and Human Rights Ambassador, took presidency of the Club de la Charte pour une IA Inclusive on October 14, 2024. She is a member of honor of the Charter and key advocate for mandatory AI audits.
• Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations de TunisieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting partner for the Forum Méditerranéen de l'IA in Tunis (November 2025), organized under the auspices of the Tunisian Ministry of Communication Technologies and French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
• Fondation Anna LindhminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer of the Forum Méditerranéen de l'IA, bringing Euro-Mediterranean civil society perspective to AI governance discussions.
• GEODIScoreOthersCorporate patron (mécène) of Arborus endowment fund. Active participant in GEEIS program with dedicated women's professional networks. Hosted D&I events for Arborus community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• UN Women: UN Women is the UN entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Arborus's UN-level advocacy (CEDAW, Human Rights Council) overlaps with UN Women's policy mandate, and UN Women's WEPs framework competes for the same corporate D&I attention and budget.
• SGS: SGS is one of the world's largest testing, inspection, and certification companies and a structural comparable to Bureau Veritas and TÜV Rheinland. As a peer auditor/certifier, SGS represents the same channel-partner risk and is a candidate alternative partner for GEEIS audit delivery.
• Fairtrade International: Fairtrade International operates a comparable nonprofit certification model (standards development, third-party audit, label licensing, corporate partnerships) for ethical sourcing rather than workplace gender equality. Same architectural business model as Arborus, different subject matter.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is both Arborus's primary certification partner for GEEIS audits and a competing global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) incumbent. It could in principle launch in-house gender/D&I certification that competes with GEEIS, representing both opportunity and channel risk.
• TÜV Rheinland: TÜV Rheinland is Arborus's other Tier-1 audit partner and a global TIC player. Similar dual role to Bureau Veritas: enabling Arborus distribution today while being a credible substitute certifier should the partnership end.

Broad incumbents

• EcoVadis: EcoVadis is a larger sustainability ratings platform that issues scores (and increasingly badge-like certifications) across environment, labor & human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. It competes for the same corporate CSR/D&I budget as Arborus but at much broader scope and scale.
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO): ISO is the dominant international standards body. Its ISO 26000 (social responsibility) and emerging AI/bias standards (ISO/IEC 42001) are natural substitutes for GEEIS and GEEIS AI in regulated procurement contexts, and ISO recognition materially outranks Arborus's.

Direct peers

• B Lab: B Lab administers the B Corp certification, a third-party verified standard for companies meeting social and environmental performance criteria. It shares the same business model as Arborus (nonprofit certification body, audit-driven, annual fee, global reach).
• WEConnect International: WEConnect International is a global nonprofit that certifies women-owned businesses and connects them with corporate buyers. Like Arborus, it is a nonprofit running a certification framework with regional affiliate models and corporate partnerships (mécène-style sponsors).
• EDGE Move Foundation: EDGE (Economic Dividages for Gender Equality) is the most direct comparable certification, offering third-party assessment and certification of workplace gender equality for corporations globally. Like Arborus/GEEIS, EDGE evaluates pay, hiring pipeline, leadership, and inclusive culture against a standardized methodology and issues a certification mark.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ArborusGeeis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FMIATunisia
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArborusGeeis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fonds-de-dotation-arborus

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 Arborus