fairness
Fairness is a Paris-based worker cooperative of approximately ten artisans that designs and develops responsible web and mobile applications, performs technical and eco-conception audits, and delivers training for French startups, SMEs, associations, and public services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What fairness does
Fairness is a French worker cooperative (Société Coopérative, SCOP) founded in 2016 in Paris, operating with approximately ten cooperators under a co-management governance model. It originated as Elao Paris before transforming into Fairness on October 15, 2019, with the exit of historical shareholders and the entry of cooperators aligned around the values of equity, justice, and digital emancipation.
The cooperative designs and develops responsible web and mobile applications, with a service offering structured around three pillars: responsible web and mobile development (using PHP/Symfony, Svelte, Python, PostgreSQL, NestJS, React, Node.js, and Flutter), technical and eco-conception audits (covering software quality, accessibility per RGAA 4.1, performance, and RGPD compliance), and training/awareness programs (including Symfony and Node.js training and Fresque du Numérique workshop facilitation). The technical approach is grounded in Domain Driven Design, hexagonal architecture, open-source software, automated testing, and CI/CD practices, with all team members trained in eco-conception through the CNumR collective.
Fairness monetizes entirely through professional services, with project-based, quote-driven pricing and no public rate card. Its go-to-market is sales-led and direct, working on-site or remotely with startups, SMEs, associations, and public services in France. Named clients include Radio France (continuous engagement since 2021), SNCF, ADEME, LeBoncoin, Amnesty International, the Ministère de la transition écologique, Beta.gouv, Edubase, MJ Conseil, Musée de Bretagne, and Apidays, with distribution amplified through content marketing (blog, podcasts Techologie and Echo), conference speaking, and open-source contributions including Permacoop.
fairness firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- fairness
- Legal name
- Fairness
- Website
- https://fairness.coop
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Fairness is a Paris-based worker cooperative of approximately ten artisans that designs and develops responsible web and mobile applications, performs technical and eco-conception audits, and delivers training for French startups, SMEs, associations, and public services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where fairness is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
fairness business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Responsible Web and Mobile Development: Designing and developing responsible web and mobile applications, including new development and improvement of existing applications in terms of performance, eco-conception, and accessibility.
- Technical and Eco-conception Audits: Conducting technical state-of-the-art reviews and eco-conception audits, producing detailed reports with prioritized recommendations for software quality, eco-conception, accessibility, performance, and security.
- Training and Sensitisation: Technical training in Symfony, Node.js, agile methods, and responsible digital design awareness sessions including the Fresque du Numérique workshop animation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based consulting and development engagements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
fairness product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fairness is a French worker cooperative (SCOP) that designs and develops responsible web and mobile applications, conducts technical, quality, eco-design, and accessibility audits, and provides training and awareness programs on responsible digital practices. The cooperative bundles engineering services with a focus on eco-conception, accessibility (RGAA), software craftsmanship, and long-term maintainability for organizations building digital products.
Product overview
Fairness is a cooperative offering three interconnected service poles: responsible web and mobile application development, technical/quality/eco-design auditing, and training/awareness programs on responsible digital practices. The company works with technologies including PHP/Symfony, NestJS, Flutter, Python, SvelteJS, and React, integrating software craftsmanship, agile methodologies, and eco-design principles throughout their service delivery. Services are delivered through client collaboration and dojo sessions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Responsible Web and Mobile Application Development End-to-end design, development, and maintenance of web and mobile applications with a focus on eco-conception, accessibility (RGAA), and software craftsmanship. Targeted at organizations that want sustainable, maintainable digital products.
- Technical, Quality, and Eco-Design Audit Audit engagements covering technical architecture, code quality, eco-design (environmental impact of digital services), and accessibility compliance (RGAA). Delivered to organizations seeking to assess and improve the sustainability and inclusiveness of their digital products.
- Training and Awareness on Responsible Digital Training workshops and awareness programs covering responsible digital practices, eco-design, accessibility, and software craftsmanship, delivered to client teams and organizations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Bing reduced server load by 80% by reducing displayed elements per search page by only 20% (example cited during Forum PHP 2022 conference)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use fairness
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
fairness technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
fairness partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EntrelaccoreEntrelac supports Fairness on user research, UX and UI design, eco-conception, and accessibility. Anne and Aurélie from Entrelac collaborate with the Fairness team on design aspects of client projects.
- TheGreenCompagnoncoreTheGreenCompagnon is Fairness's partner for responsible digital training. They collaborate on training programs to help clients understand digital impacts and adopt best practices.
- TroopersminorA Nantes-based cooperative that designs and develops digital products and services respecting current social and environmental challenges, similar to Fairness's approach.
- MultiminorMulti is a cooperative that contributes to developing digital commons and associated services, bringing together professionals working for digital общественного блага (general interest digital).
- Les TilleulscoreLes Tilleuls Coop carries out web and mobile development projects, consulting, audits, and training. Fairness works alongside them on certain projects.
- OmnicitéminorOmnicité is a cooperative of entrepreneurs that brings together and shares a work culture where each member is autonomous while benefiting from the support and attention of all others.
- Collectif Conception Numérique Responsable (CNumR)coreFairness is a member of the CNumR collective, which develops and publishes the 115 eco-conception best practices and the RGESN framework. All Fairness team members are trained in eco-conception through this collective.
- FingminorFairness contributes as a volunteer to Fing (now known as Internet Society France), participating in initiatives like Numériques tous risques and contributing to thought leadership on responsible digital.
- The Shift ProjectminorFairness contributes to The Shift Project, including through the Carbonalyser browser extension project, working on carbon footprint awareness in digital usage.
- LatitudesminorFairness participates as a mentor in Tech for Good projects supported by Latitudes, contributing to digital projects with general interest.
- ESPERminorFairness contributes through mentorship and skills sponsorship to ESPER (possibly a sustainability or social enterprise association).
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
fairness competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bocasay: International digital agency with Paris operations offering custom web and mobile development for enterprise clients. Comparable on project-based delivery model and target customer segments.
- Theodo: Large French web and mobile development agency working across similar tech stacks (Node.js, React, Flutter). Direct competitor for mid-market and enterprise web/mobile build engagements in France.
- Les Tilleuls Coop: French worker cooperative offering web and mobile development, consulting, audits, and training. Listed as a core mutual partner of Fairness and operates in essentially the same niche with similar technologies and client segments.
- Elao: Sister web agency from which Fairness was spun out in 2019. Continues to operate in the French custom web development market using PHP/Symfony, making it a directly comparable boutique agency peer.
- Troopers: Nantes-based cooperative designing and developing digital products with a social and environmental mission. Direct sibling cooperative with overlapping positioning, geography, and client base in responsible digital.
- Multi Coop: French cooperative developing digital commons and general-interest digital services. Mutual partner of Fairness with a comparable cooperative structure and mission-driven technology practice.
Broad incumbents
- Carbone 4: Leading French carbon and climate consultancy that has built a digital practice addressing the environmental impact of IT. Adjacent incumbent that competes for the same corporate sustainability budgets.
- Octo Technology: Established French digital transformation consultancy with a broad software, architecture, and design practice. Overlaps with Fairness on technical audits, accessibility, and enterprise modernisation but at far larger scale.
Emerging players
- The Green Compagnon: French training provider partnered with Fairness on responsible digital training. Comparable on the training/awareness side of the offering and increasingly overlaps on eco-design advisory services.
- Greenspector: French vendor of eco-design tooling and audits for digital applications, including EcoIndex measurement. Competes directly with Fairness's eco-design audit offering at the tooling/measurement layer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
fairness social profiles
Digital presencefairness financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
fairness leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
fairness funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
fairness M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about fairness
What does fairness do?
Fairness is a French worker cooperative (SCOP) that designs and develops responsible web and mobile applications, conducts technical, quality, eco-design, and accessibility audits, and provides training and awareness programs on responsible digital practices. The cooperative bundles engineering services with a focus on eco-conception, accessibility (RGAA), software craftsmanship, and long-term maintainability for organizations building digital products.
Is fairness a public or private company?
fairness is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was fairness founded?
fairness was founded in 2016.
Where is fairness based?
fairness is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does fairness make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Responsible Web and Mobile Development is the primary driver. The others are technical and Eco-conception Audits and training and Sensitisation.
Who are fairness's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bocasay, Theodo, Les Tilleuls Coop, Elao, Troopers and Multi Coop. Broad incumbents are Carbone 4 and Octo Technology. Emerging players are The Green Compagnon and Greenspector.
Does fairness have an API?
No public API is recorded for fairness.