Kaena

What Kaena does

Kaena is a French geotechnical engineering firm founded in 2009 and headquartered in Saint-Vincent-de-Mercuze (Isère). It delivers integrated geotechnical services across the asset lifecycle: engineering consulting across G1 through G5 missions (per French standard NF P 94-500), in-situ drilling and surveying — including the only AMAPSOL 220 kN static penetrometer in France — and accredited laboratory testing. The firm operates four regional offices (Saint-Vincent-de-Mercuze, Rumilly, Saint Priest, Orange) and serves enterprise clients in construction (Bouygues, Eiffage, Vinci), energy (EDF, Air Liquide), highway operators (ASF, ATMB), public collectivities, real estate promoters, industrial firms, engineering consultancies, insurers, and individuals.

The company is structured as a Société par Actions Simplifiée (SAS) with €98,350 of capital and currently employs 75 people, up from 48 in 2022. Revenue is generated through project-based geotechnical engineering contracts tied to construction and infrastructure programmes. Kaena is a member of USG (Union Syndicale Géotechnique) and CFMS (Comité Français de Mécanique des Sols et de Géotechnique). It is privately held by its three co-founders — Benjamin Gardavaud (President), Philippe Faure (Technical Director R&D), and Laurent Belorgey (Technical Director) — and has not raised external capital. Recent investment has gone into geographic footprint expansion (Rhône et Saône office 2023, new Rumilly building 2024), an in-house accredited laboratory, and additional specialist equipment (SCPTU electric cone, Pagani TG 63-150 rig).

Name

Kaena

Legal name

KAENA SAS

Website

https://kaena.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Kaena is a French geotechnical engineering firm that delivers integrated consulting, drilling, and laboratory testing services — including France's only AMAPSOL 220 kN penetrometer — to construction, infrastructure, energy, and public-sector clients through four regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geotechnical Engineering Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotechnical Design, Engineering & Consulting (Analysis, Design, Peer Review) (IMAFAOAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Geotechnical Investigation & Site Characterization (Boreholes, In-situ Testing, Lab Testing) (IMAFAOAG), Geotechnical Instrumentation & Monitoring (Settlement, Inclinometers, Piezometers) (IMAFAOAH)

Keywords

• Geotechnical engineering services
• Soil mechanics testing
• Construction site investigation
• Geotechnical drilling services
• Foundation engineering consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-vincent-de-mercuze

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Geotechnical Engineering Consulting: Professional engineering services for construction projects including mission types G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 according to NF P 94 500 standard, risk assessment, natural hazard management
2. Field Investigation Services: In-situ geotechnical investigation including drilling, penetration testing, and site characterization
3. Laboratory Testing Services: Soil and rock mechanics testing, aggregate analysis, concrete testing, instrumentation and geotechnical monitoring

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kaena provides geotechnical engineering services covering the full lifecycle of construction projects: G1–G5 missions per NF P 94-500 (preliminary studies through execution monitoring), in-situ drilling and penetration testing (static, dynamic, piezocone, pressiometric), laboratory soil and rock mechanics testing, hydrogeological studies, and natural hazard diagnostics. The firm also operates an AIPR training and examination center at its headquarters. Services are delivered by approximately 75 staff across four regional offices in southeastern France.

Product overview

Kaena is a geotechnical engineering company offering an integrated suite of services consisting of three core product lines: Ingénierie géotechnique (Geotechnical Engineering) providing all G1-G5 mission types per NF P 94-500, Sondage géotechnique (Geotechnical Drilling/Surveying) encompassing penetration testing and site investigations, and Laboratoire géotechnique (Geotechnical Laboratory) for soil/rock mechanics testing. The company also operates specialized equipment including the unique-in-France AMAPSOL 220 kN static penetrometer, SCPTU electric static cones, and Pagani penetrometers. Services are delivered across four regional agencies in southeastern France (Dauphiné, Pays de Savoie, Rhône et Saône, and Porte de Provence) to diverse clients including local authorities, construction firms, promoters, industrial operators, highway operators, engineering firms, insurers, and private individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ingénierie géotechnique (Geotechnical Engineering) Comprehensive geotechnical engineering services covering all G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5 missions defined by French standard NF P 94-500, including preliminary studies, design, execution studies, supervision, and monitoring. Also includes natural risk assessment, hydrogeological studies for stormwater and wastewater management, and geotechnical diagnostics. Targeted at construction companies, public authorities, developers, industrial operators, highway operators, and engineering consultancies.
• Sondage géotechnique (Geotechnical Drilling & Investigation) In-situ geotechnical drilling and penetration testing services using static penetrometers, dynamic penetrometers, electric cone penetration tests (piezocone with seismic measurement), pressiometric tests, and large-scale investigation campaigns, including deployment in difficult environments such as mountain terrain via custom helicoportable rigs. Targeted at construction, infrastructure, and public-sector projects.
• Laboratoire géotechnique (Geotechnical Laboratory) Soil and rock mechanics laboratory services at the Saint-Vincent-de-Mercuze facility, including identification tests, mechanical testing, aggregate analysis, concrete testing, and geotechnical instrumentation and auscultation (monitoring). Backed by a 109 m² laboratory with dedicated mechanical soil testing room, core storage, and sample reception zone.
• Formation AIPR (AIPR Training and Examination) AIPR (Autorisation d'Intervention à Proximité des Réseaux) training and certification program delivered at the Kaena headquarters in Saint-Vincent-de-Mercuze. Targets construction and infrastructure professionals requiring certification to work near underground networks.

Named customers11 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles9 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Michel Petit Maire (SIC INFRA / AMAP'SOL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Co-founder and supporter of Kaena's creation in 2009. Provided support for development of the innovative AMAPSOL 220 kN penetrometer, operational in 2011.
• Union Syndicale Géotechnique (USG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional membership organization for geotechnical engineering. Benjamin Gardavaud is a member. Company participates in USG activities and commissions.
• Comité Français des Mécaniques des Sols (CFMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench committee for soil mechanics. Philippe Faure participates in CFMS commissions. Company contributes to technical and regulatory discussions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Egis: Major French engineering group offering geotechnical, civil, and infrastructure engineering services. Competes with Kaena on larger infrastructure projects and framework contracts while operating across a much wider service portfolio.
• SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with geotechnical and construction materials testing labs in France. Overlaps with Kaena's laboratory testing and quality control services at a much larger scale.
• Bureau Veritas: International TIC firm with French construction materials testing and geotechnical capabilities. Comparable in soil, concrete, and aggregate testing services; competes for both regulator and industrial clients.
• Fugro: Global leader in geotechnical and geological data services, including site characterization and cone penetration testing. Matches Kaena's core activity (in-situ testing, geotechnical investigations) but at much larger scale and international scope.
• Antea Group: International engineering and environmental consulting firm with significant French geotechnical and site investigation capabilities. Substantially larger and broader than Kaena, but operates in the same upstream engineering services space.

Direct peers

• Fondasol: Major French geotechnical engineering company providing soil studies, foundation design, and site investigations nationwide. Directly comparable service offering and customer segments (BTP, public authorities, promoters); larger scale than Kaena.
• Géotec: French geotechnical engineering firm offering in-situ investigations, laboratory testing, and engineering studies (G1-G5 missions) nationwide. Closest direct competitor to Kaena across the same mission types and French client base, with broader geographic coverage.
• Sol-Sols (Groupe Solen): Direct descendant of the SOLEN group where Kaena's founders previously worked (merged entities including GEOPROJETS). Competes in the same French geotechnical investigations and materials testing market with overlapping heritage and client overlap.

Emerging players

• Solipro Etudes: Mid-sized French geotechnical engineering firm offering studies, soil investigations, and laboratory testing in southeastern France. Highly overlapping regional footprint and service offering with Kaena; similar scale.

Others

• VINCI Construction: Major French construction group that is both a Kaena customer and operates internal geotechnical/diagnostic capabilities. Relevant as a key client relationship and as an adjacent ecosystem participant in construction geotechnics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kaena-geotechniques

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 Kaena