“We want Reunion Island to be on the map of national and international innovation. » To support startups in its territory, the Village By CA in Reunion Island is organizing the “Invest Day” for the first time this Thursday, October 3. A day to connect investors with the most promising startups on the island. “Each time you question Reunionese startups whatever their sector of activity, the first of their expectations does not vary: it is support in the search for financing. There are in fact very few offers locally and startups in Reunion Island go under the radar. Hence the idea of bringing investors to our territory so that they can discover our ecosystem,” explains Elisabeth Peguillan, general director of Village by CA in Reunion.
“We mainly finance startups founded by Parisians, who have studied at HEC”
For the occasion, five investors made the trip. They represent the funds Kima Ventures, Axeleo Capital, Ovni Capital, Elevation Capital Partners and Smalt Capital. “In Paris, we are a bit in our microcosm. Coming to Reunion Island is the opportunity to discover great projects. When I organize video meetings with entrepreneurs, I never ask them where they are based. There are interesting projects everywhere, you’re never safe from a pleasant surprise. Especially since we need diversity, we mainly finance startups founded by white men, Parisians, who have studied at HEC,” estimates Alexis Robert, partner at Kima Ventures. For Dimitri Kremp, from Axeleo Capital, the objective is also to discover “how the island’s issues can influence the creation of startups and how we can deploy these local innovations in other markets. »
“We are capable, from Reunion Island, of creating an IoT major”
In 2020, Jean-Christophe Habot created Feelbat in Reunion. A startup that markets connected sensors to monitor the evolution of cracks in buildings and prevent their collapse. “In Reunion, natural risks are increased tenfold, with cyclones and severe weather. But the problem of dilapidated buildings and poor workmanship is global,” underlines the manager who has already raised 1.5 million euros at the start of 2024 to structure itself and expand its sales teams. Now, the startup of 16 employees is preparing a second fundraising and has big ambitions. “I want to show that we are capable, from Reunion Island, of creating an IoT major. But investors mainly look at what is happening in Paris, it is not easy to attract their attention here”confirms the manager.
To encourage deals, the Village by CA therefore organized round tables focused on the funds’ expectations and their investment strategies in startups. Before a time of discussion with six selected startups, for a question-and-answer session.
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