What esic does

ESIC – École Supérieure d'Informatique et de Communication is a privately held French professional training organization structured as a SAS with €50,000 share capital, headquartered in Malakoff (36/38 avenue Pierre Brossolette) with additional training academies in Paris and Lyon. The company was created in the 1990s and initially focused on office computing and IT before expanding into management, cybersecurity, data, and artificial intelligence. ESIC offers 263 professional training courses across 12 domains — including cybersecurity, AI/ML, web and mobile development, cloud and DevOps, data and BI, systems and networks, digital marketing, management, accounting, desktop publishing, office productivity, and languages — delivered in person, remotely, or in hybrid formats via its proprietary CASTOR e-learning platform (100+ interactive modules) and a national network of practicing expert trainers.

The business is a fee-for-service training operator monetizing both individual learners (self-funded or financed via CPF through Mon Compte Formation, OPCO joint vocational funds, France Travail subsidies, or employer development plans) and enterprise clients (customized intra-company training with a 24-hour quote response). ESIC delivers 40+ France Compétences-registered certifications, including RNCP titles (e.g., Titre Professionnel Secrétaire assistant médico-administratif, Bac+5 Expert SI Security), RS certifications, 15 TOSA digital-skills certifications via Isograd, and 11 LILATE language certifications via Linguaphone. The Qualiopi quality certification (B02671, valid 02/12/2024–01/12/2027) is the regulatory gating mechanism that makes ESIC eligible for publicly funded training.

ESIC also runs VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience) services that convert work experience into state-recognized certifications, and operates the subsidiary ESSAP Formations for health, social, and early-childhood training verticals. Reported operational metrics include 2,500+ learners trained annually, 97% trainee satisfaction, 94% certification success rate, and a dropout rate below 5%. Marketing is conducted primarily through organic search, an educational blog, the esic-online.com catalog with an AI chatbot (Haci), and dedicated B2B sales; no external investment, parent company, or public listing is indicated in the source material.

Name

esic

Legal name

ESIC – École Supérieure d'Informatique et de Communication

Website

https://esic-online.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ESIC is a privately held French professional training organization offering 263 courses across 12 domains (IT, AI, data, management, languages) to individual professionals and enterprises, delivered via Qualiopi-certified in-person, hybrid, and online formats through its CASTOR e-learning platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training and Continuing Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Systems Administration & IT Operations (Windows/Linux, Monitoring, ITSM) (EDABAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Information Technology & Cybersecurity Certification Prep (CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft, AWS, ISC2/ISACA) (EDANAIAF)

Keywords

• Professional training services
• Continuing education
• Certification preparation
• E-learning courses
• Vocational training

Headquarters

HQ city

Malakoff

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional training services (B2C and B2B): ESIC generates revenue primarily through fee-for-service professional training. Individual learners pay for courses via CPF funds, OPCO (joint vocational training) financing, France Travail subsidies, employer skill development plans, or self-funding. Enterprise clients procure customized intra-company training under negotiated pricing. Revenue is one-time per training engagement, with some subscription-like dynamics through ongoing LMS platform access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ESIC provides 263 professional training courses across 12 domains (cybersecurity, AI, development, data, cloud/DevOps, systems & networks, digital marketing, management, PAO/graphics, accounting, office productivity, languages) delivered in-person, remotely, or hybrid via the proprietary CASTOR e-learning platform. ESIC also delivers validation of acquired experience (VAE), apprenticeship programs, and preparation for 40+ France Compétences-registered certifications (RNCP/RS, TOSA, LILATE, Titre Professionnel) accessible through CPF, OPCO, and France Travail funding.

Product overview

ESIC (École Supérieure d'Informatique et de Communication) is a professional training organization offering 263 professional training courses across 12 domains. The core offering is the training catalog organized by specialization areas: Cybersecurity (12 courses), AI/Machine Learning (24 courses), Web & Mobile Development (46 courses), Cloud & DevOps (6 courses), Data & Business Intelligence (22 courses), Systems & Networks (24 courses), Digital Marketing (16 courses), Management (18 courses), Accounting (10 courses), Desktop Publishing (21 courses), Office Productivity (18 courses), and Languages (11 courses). The CASTOR e-learning platform delivers 100+ interactive modules for distance learning. ESIC also provides VAE (professional experience validation) services and exam preparation for TOSA (15 certifications via Isograd) and LILATE (11 certifications via Linguaphone) credentials, all recognized by France Compétences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cybersecurity Training 12 professional training courses covering Pentest, CISSP, CEH, ISO 27001, and other cybersecurity certifications, delivered in-person, remote, or hybrid to individual professionals and enterprise teams.
• Artificial Intelligence Training 24 professional training courses covering Machine Learning, ChatGPT, prompt engineering, generative AI document production, and AI efficiency for administrative/operational support, for individuals and enterprise teams.
• Web & Mobile Development Training 46 professional training courses covering React, Python, JavaScript, Node.js, PHP, and other development technologies, for individual learners and corporate upskilling.
• Cloud & DevOps Training 6 professional training courses covering AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD, and cloud infrastructure, delivered to individuals and enterprise clients.
• Data & Business Intelligence Training 22 professional training courses covering Power BI, SQL, Python for data, Tableau, and data analytics, including TOSA Power BI certification preparation, for individuals and enterprises.
• Systems & Networks Training 24 professional training courses covering Linux, Windows Server, Cisco, virtualization, and network administration, for individual professionals and enterprise IT teams.
• Digital Marketing Training 16 professional training courses covering digital marketing, SEO, social selling, social media, growth hacking, and online advertising.
• Management & Leadership Training 18 professional training courses covering management, leadership, team coordination, and soft skills for current and aspiring managers.
• Accounting & Payroll Training 10 professional training courses covering Sage, Cegid, and accounting/payroll software, for accounting professionals and corporate finance teams.
• Desktop Publishing & Graphics Training 21 professional training courses covering Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and other design software, including TOSA certification preparation for Adobe creative tools.
• Office Productivity Training 18 professional training courses covering Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Office, including TOSA certification preparation for Microsoft Office tools.
• Language Training 11 professional training courses covering English, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, French as a foreign language, and French Sign Language, including TOEIC and LILATE certification preparation.
• TOSA Certification Preparation Preparation courses for 15 TOSA certifications delivered through Isograd, covering Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe creative tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), and technical software (Python, WordPress, AutoCAD, Power BI).
• LILATE Certification Preparation Preparation courses for 11 LILATE (Live Language Test) language proficiency certifications delivered through Linguaphone, covering 16+ languages with 100% remote webcam-based testing and certificates valid for 12 months.
• VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience) Validation of professional experience service allowing individuals to obtain official French diplomas, RNCP titles, or RS certifications based on their work experience without completing full training, completed in 6 to 12 months on average and 100% financeable via CPF, OPCO, or France Travail.
• Titre Professionnel Certification Preparation Preparation courses for 12 Titre Professionnels (state-recognized professional titles) issued by the French Ministry of Labor (DGEFP), including Secrétaire assistant médico-administratif (RNCP40800, 416h), Administrator secured infrastructures (500h), Expert SI Security Bac+5 (450h), and BTS SIO (1,620h).
• CASTOR e-learning Platform Proprietary online learning management system hosting 100+ interactive e-learning modules supporting distance, hybrid, and in-person training delivery with progress tracking and supplementary pedagogical resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% trainee satisfaction rate (evaluation at end of training, normalized to 100)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Isograd (TOSA)coreTechnology or IntegrationESIC is an authorized TOSA certification center, offering 15 TOSA certifications covering Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe creative tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), and technical software (Python, WordPress, AutoCAD, Power BI). TOSA is a French reference standard for digital and office skills certifications, recognized by France Compétences and CPF-eligible.
• Linguaphone (LILATE)coreTechnology or IntegrationESIC offers 11 LILATE (Live Language Test) language certifications through Linguaphone, covering 16+ languages including English, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, and French Sign Language (LSF). LILATE tests are 100% remote via webcam, with certificates valid for 12 months.
• Ministère du Travail / DGEFPcoreTechnology or IntegrationESIC delivers 12 Titles Professionnels (titres professionnels) issued by the French Ministry of Labor (DGEFP). These state-recognized professional certifications are registered in the RNCP and recognized by all employers in France, covering areas such as IT development, systems engineering, management, accounting, and training.
• France CompétencescoreTechnology or IntegrationESIC's certifications are registered with France Compétences, the national authority regulating all professional certifications in France. 21 RS certifications and multiple RNCP titles are registered in the national directory, enabling CPF and OPCO funding eligibility.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Orsys: Leading French corporate IT and digital training provider with a similar catalog of professional certifications and a Qualiopi-certified multi-modal delivery model across major French cities. Direct competitor for enterprise and individual IT training buyers.
• M2i Formation: Major French IT, digital, and management training organization with a broad catalog across IT certifications, data, and project management. Overlaps closely with ESIC on Qualiopi-certified professional training for CPF/OPCO funding.
• ENI Ecole Informatique: French IT training school offering IT development, systems, and cybersecurity courses with multiple delivery formats (in-person, remote, e-learning). Direct competitor across ESIC's IT development and systems training domains.
• Dawan: French IT training specialist focused on open-source technologies, web development, and infrastructure. Direct overlap with ESIC's web development, cloud, and systems training catalog.
• IB Formation: French training provider offering IT, management, and office productivity courses with a Qualiopi-certified model and CPF-eligible catalog. Direct competitor across multiple of ESIC's 12 training domains.

Broad incumbents

• AFPA: Large French public vocational training organization (Association pour la Formation Professionnelle des Adultes) with nationwide reach and a broader vocational mandate that partially overlaps with ESIC's qualification preparation offerings.
• CNAM: Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, a major French higher education and continuing education institution offering professional training across IT, management, and engineering with national reach.
• GRETA: Network of French public continuing education organizations (Groupements d'Établissements) offering vocational training across all regions of France, providing a public-sector alternative to ESIC's professional certification offerings.

Emerging players

• OpenClassrooms: French online education platform specializing in tech, digital, and management training with strong employer partnerships. Differentiates on online-first delivery versus ESIC's blended model, but competes for the same CPF-funded learners and enterprise upskilling budgets.
• Skillandyou: French online training group offering professional certifications and diplomas across IT, management, accounting, and languages. Overlaps with ESIC's multi-domain catalog and CPF funding eligibility, with a more digital-first delivery approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esic-formation

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 esic