But not impossible. Daan Tech, for example, with its famous Bob compact dishwasher, is a regular at this event. With a turnover of 8 million euros in 2023 and around fifty employees, the company has made good progress since its beginnings in 2016. And it does not intend to stop there. After marketing a cooking appliance, Joe, also repairable, the start-up launched an “evolution” kit for its dishwasher. “We couldn't go any further in terms of software, we had to update the hardwareexplains Mélania Ricard, communications and events manager at Daan Tech. For customers who have supported us from the start, we offer a kit that they can install themselves.»
Nobsolete wants to reinvent small household appliances
The other start-ups encountered at the MIF show are not as advanced. Nobsolete is one of them. It was launched by two designers trained at the Strate design school, Mano Silberzahn and Nathan Hubert, after receiving the James Dyson Award in 2022 for their modular product, which can be used as a mixer, whisk, or potato masher, among other things. others. The product is also easily repairable with an opening that can be operated using a screwdriver located on the top of the device, which allows parts to be easily changed.
The device is also equipped with a fault detection system. “We took apart 150 different blenders to see where the breakdowns typically came fromexplains Mano Silberzahn. There are often overheating problems, so I designed an electronic card that allows better thermal dispersion“. For the moment, the young company launched crowdfunding on Ulule in October, which has already exceeded its objective of 100 pre-sales, for production planned for May 2025 with a partner. “We plan to have a complete range fairly quickly, because household appliances with a single product don't work very well.», explains Fabrice Delfortry, who supports the two designers.
Deglace launches a repairable vacuum cleaner
Another start-up also started with a single-product launch: Deglace, founded in 2021 by Geoffroy Hulot, industrial designer and Matthieu de Wolf, engineer. After three years of development, the pair of entrepreneurs launched their vacuum cleaner, called Fraction, also designed to be repairable. The battery of the device can be removed simply by pressing on it. The start-up recently raised one million euros to finance R&D on the vacuum cleaner's on-board intelligence. “Thanks to an application, the device can identify if there is a fault, and its cause, indicates Geoffroy Hulot. If there is a battery fault, for example, you can easily order a new one.” The founders currently plan to do the assembly in France, in order to promote the short circuit.
A first pre-series of 10 to 15 devices should arrive in April. “We are currently still in discussions with industrial partners», slips Geoffroy Hulot. But that doesn't stop the designer from dreaming. “We would like to launch a range of small household appliances, and in the longer term, we are considering launching into mobility, such as electric scooters, which are currently disposable products.“, explains the contributor to the development of the Repairability Act of 2021.
If for the moment, the three companies work with industrial partners and do not have a production site, Daan Tech plans to build a factory in Montaigu-Vendée, which should be operational at the end of 2025 and beginning of 2026.
