VILLAGE BY CA ILLE ET VILAINE

What VILLAGE BY CA ILLE ET VILAINE does

Village by CA Ille-et-Vilaine is a French business accelerator and innovation hub established in 2017 as SAS Village by CA Ille-et-Vilaine, with €950,000 share capital, and is created and continuously supported by Crédit Agricole d'Ille-et-Vilaine. Operating from a 1,000 m² facility in the Saint-Jacques Gaîté business district of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande (Rennes metropolitan area), it runs a 12-month, renewable personalized acceleration program for innovative B2B startups headquartered in Ille-et-Vilaine, covering four pillars: business development, strategy structuring, visibility, and physical workspace access. The Village also serves established corporates (ETIs and SMEs) with open-innovation programs including immersion experiences, learning expeditions, intrapreneurship support, and Business Connect matchmaking events.

The accelerator's go-to-market is community- and event-driven, anchored by 14 corporate ambassadors (Groupe Roullier, Vivalto Santé, Samsic, ENGIE, Crédit Agricole, Groupe Legendre, Ouest-France, Groupe Launay, and others), ~20 expert-partners (GBA Avocats, GEIREC, Urban Linker, Yes We Prompt, Auvalie Innovation, Kemberiñ, L48 Conseils), and a broader network of 650 partner companies. Startups benefit from access to the international Villages by CA network of 48 locations across France, Italy, and Luxembourg, enabling in-person meetings with clients and prospects in any city. Marketing and engagement channels include a monthly newsletter (L'Écho du Village), a podcast (En Mode Village), a YouTube series (100 manières d'entreprendre), Demo Lunch events, workshops, Masterclasses, and presence at major trade shows including CES Las Vegas and SPACE.

The business model is a professional services / non-profit-style accelerator funded primarily by Crédit Agricole d'Ille-et-Vilaine through membership and participation contributions from ambassadors, corporate partners, and startups. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Since 2017, the Village has supported 90+ innovative projects, reports a 75% sustainability/perennial rate among accelerated startups, facilitates 500+ business connections between executives annually, and claims 650 indirect jobs created on the territory. Leadership consists of Romain Cuculi (Maire du Village) and Jean-Yves Carillet (Directeur Général), supported by sector-specialized Startup Managers. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the entity operates with 1–10 employees.

Name

VILLAGE BY CA ILLE ET VILAINE

Legal name

SAS VILLAGE BY CA ILLE-ET-VILAINE

Website

https://villagebyca35.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Village by CA Ille-et-Vilaine is a French startup accelerator founded in 2017 and backed by Crédit Agricole d'Ille-et-Vilaine, providing 2-year personalized acceleration programs, workspace, mentoring, and corporate matchmaking for innovative B2B startups in Brittany and participating corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Acceleration and Innovation Ecosystem Services

NAICS

Management of Companies and Enterprises (55111)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM), Corporate Innovation & Technology Scouting Units (with investment mandate) (FSANAHAI)

Keywords

• Startup acceleration program
• Innovation ecosystem
• Corporate open innovation
• Entrepreneurship support services
• Business network matchmaking

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-jacques-de-la-lande

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Accelerator Program Services: The organization operates as a non-profit accelerator funded primarily by Crédit Agricole d'Ille-et-Vilaine. Revenue model involves membership/participation fees from startups and corporate partners, though specific pricing not publicly disclosed.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Village by CA Ille-et-Vilaine operates a startup acceleration program (12 months, renewable once) that combines commercial development, strategy structuring, visibility, and access to a 1,000 m² workspace in Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande. It also runs a corporate innovation program for enterprises (ETIs, SMEs, corporates) covering open innovation, intrapreneurship, immersion programs and Business Connect matchmaking events. The accelerator is supported by Crédit Agricole d'Ille-et-Vilaine and a network of 14 corporate ambassadors, 650 partner companies and a wider network of 1,300 startups across 48 Villages by CA in France, Italy, and Luxembourg.

Product overview

Le Village by CA Ille-et-Vilaine is a startup and innovation accelerator ecosystem operated by Crédit Agricole d'Ille-et-Vilaine. Rather than a single unified software product, it offers a portfolio of programs and services including a 2-year personalized Startup Acceleration Programme (with business development, strategy support, visibility, and 1000 m² of workspace), a Corporate Innovation Programme for enterprises seeking open innovation, event organization services with a 180-seat auditorium, a mapping/database of Breton startups, and access to an international network of 48 Villages by CA across France, Italy, and Luxembourg. The ecosystem connects startups with 650 partner companies and 1300 startups through a community of expert-partners spanning finance, HR, marketing, law, media, strategy, and technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• L'Écho du Village by CA Ille-et-Vilaine: Monthly newsletter of the accelerator delivering news and events.
• 100 manières d'entreprendre
• En Mode Village

Products and services

• Programme d'Accélération Startups (Startup Acceleration Program) A 2-year personalized acceleration program for innovative startups offering business development, strategy structuring, visibility/networking, and access to 1,000 m² of workspace at the Saint-Jacques Gaëté business district, supported by a dedicated Startup Manager and an ecosystem of 14 Ambassadors and 650 partner companies.
• Programme Entreprises (Corporate Innovation Program) Innovation support program for corporates, ETIs and SMEs including immersion experiences, team inspiration sessions, learning expeditions, intrapreneurship support, project incubation, innovation management and open-innovation structuring, leveraging the Village's ecosystem of expert partners, ambassadors and startups.
• Organisation d'événements (Event Hosting and Organization) Event hosting and organization services at the Village venue, including access to a 180-seat event auditorium, 5 meeting rooms and a VIP lounge for startups, partners and corporate clients.
• Réseau International des Villages by CA (International Village by CA Network) Access to a coordinated international network of 48 Villages by CA across France, Italy, and Luxembourg, enabling accelerated startups to work and meet clients, prospects and partners at any Village location.
• Business Connect – Mise en relation qualifiée (Qualified Startup-Enterprise Matchmaking) Speed-meeting event format that connects startups with corporate partners based on the corporates' innovation needs across dedicated industry themes (Health, Industry, Tourism, Food, Agri-food, etc.).

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of accelerated projects achieve sustainability/perennial status
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fondation Saint-HélierminorOthers · 25 July 2024Foundation focused on disability and inclusion. Became Ambassador in July 2024. Launched Centre Saint-Hélier ParaSport for accessible sports practice.
• Groupe RoulliercoreOthersMajor Breton industrial group operating in plant nutrition and animal health. Active ambassador providing corporate innovation perspective and potential startup partnerships.
• Groupe CréativecoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware consulting and development group (300+ talents, 7 French agencies). Became Ambassador-Expert in March 2024. Advises and supports startups on IT and digital aspects. Currently assisting Skribix with UX-UI design.
• Vivalto SantécoreOthersHealthcare group providing innovation needs in health sector. Active in Business Connect Health events. Partner in QVCT and workplace health initiatives with startups.
• SamsicminorOthersService company (cleaning, security, hospitality). Ambassador partner providing corporate perspective on service innovation and sustainability.
• Groupe LegendreminorOthersConstruction and real estate group. Ambassador partner contributing to innovation in building sector.
• Ouest-FranceminorOthersMajor regional newspaper and media outlet. Provides media visibility and press coverage for startups and ecosystem activities.
• GBA AvocatsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm expert partner specializing in business law, startups, IT, and professional services. Provides legal expertise on financing, fundraising, and business structures.
• ENGIEminorOthersEnergy company providing corporate innovation perspective. Active in energy transition and sustainable development initiatives.
• Groupe LaunayminorOthersRegional business group in various sectors. Ambassador partner supporting ecosystem development.
• Urban LinkerminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTech and digital recruitment specialist with offices in Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux. Headhunting services for tech talent acquisition.
• Yes We PromptminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGenerative AI agency and Qualiopi-certified training organization. Helps businesses integrate AI through consulting, training, and executive coaching.
• L48 ConseilsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerManagement consulting firm helping companies reconcile performance and well-being. Specializes in manager training and work environment transformation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NUMA: Paris-headquartered startup accelerator and innovation consultancy running cohort programs, corporate innovation services, and a global network of hubs. Comparable accelerator-plus-corporate-innovation offering.
• Agoranov: Paris-based deep-tech startup incubator supporting early-stage science and technology ventures. Comparable incubator/accelerator offering targeting innovative French startups, though with a deeper-tech tilt.
• 1Kubator: French network of startup accelerators operating multiple regional locations. Same hybrid accelerator/corporate-partner model as Village by CA, with similar geographic-distribution strategy across France.
• The Family: European startup support organization providing education, community, and acceleration services to founders. Comparable in serving French and European startup founders with a community-led, non-equity model.
• Station F: The world's largest startup campus, located in Paris. Operates a startup acceleration/incubation program targeting French and international founders with corporate partner engagement — directly comparable to Village by CA's model but at national scale.
• Euratechnologies: Lille-based tech accelerator and incubator with strong regional focus in northern France. Provides startup acceleration, corporate innovation programs, and a large partner network — closely analogous to Village by CA's Brittany-centric model.
• Wilco: Paris-based startup accelerator serving early-stage French tech companies with mentorship, investor introductions, and corporate partner access. Direct competitor for French startup deal-flow.
• Village by CA Finistère: Sister organization within the same Villages by CA network, also operating in Brittany. Runs an essentially identical accelerator and corporate-innovation program in Finistère — direct sister-entity peer within Crédit Agricole's national network.
• H7: Lyon-based startup accelerator and innovation hub run with corporate partners. Similar model combining startup acceleration with corporate open-innovation services, anchored in a major French regional city.

Broad incumbents

• Bpifrance Le Hub: French public investment bank's startup and innovation hub. While larger and more nationally focused, Bpifrance is both a strategic partner to Village by CA and a broader-market incumbent offering acceleration, financing, and corporate-innovation services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@levillagebyca35

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 VILLAGE BY CA ILLE ET VILAINE