The start-up studio Imagination Machine has raised nearly €10 million to launch its second cohort of start-ups with a socio-environmental impact. Since its creation in 2017, Imagination Machine has already launched eight impact start-ups, which together employ 150 people and have raised €24 million.
Founded by Rob Spiro, a Californian serial entrepreneur, and Émilie Abel, former Executive Director of X-HEC Entrepreneurs, the Nantes-based start-up studio is inviting applications to recruit the founders of its next 10 positive-impact start-ups, which may be based anywhere in France or Europe. “Our team is made up of entrepreneurs,” explains Émilie Abel. “We’re not just in an investment role, but also take a very hands-on approach.”
This fundraising round was led by 35 investors, including institutional investors such as the French Tech Accélération 2 fund, part of the Programme d’Investissements d’Avenir (PIA), managed on behalf of the State by Bpifrance as part of the French Tech public initiative, the Caisse d’Epargne Bretagne Pays de Loire, CIC Ouest and private impact investors including Avelana, Enowe and Cameleon. Industrial players also took part in the round, such as the Cetih, Idea, Armor and Eram groups, as well as entrepreneurs including Francis Nappez (BlaBlaCar, Hectar), Fred de Gombert (Akeneo) and Alexandre Launay (Stampyt).
“At Imagination Machine, we create high-potential start-ups that are set to expand internationally, because it is by setting ambitious targets that we will truly make an impact on a large scale,” concludes Rob Spiro, CEO and founder of Imagination Machine.
Legal advisers: Thomas SALTIEL, Océane CHRISTMANN and Mathilde VASSEUR
