Born at the end of 2022, the digital anatomy training platform Akivi has 18,000 downloads at the end of 2024 and will reach 25,000 at the start of 2025. A performance for this niche market, medical students. This Angers start-up was created in response to a need identified by its co-founder Florian Bernard, neurosurgeon at Angers University Hospital and lecturer at the faculty. “I noticed that my students were faced with a lack of resources. There was also a gap in relation to the digitalization of society.”
Double entry application
Hence this double entry application, with on one side accessible content based on 3 D technology which energizes old anatomy textbooks and on the other hand, a service approach, namely a journey of training adapted to the level of the learner. For the technical development of the project, Florian Bernard joined forces with Cyril Royer, video editor, today CEO of the structure.
An accentuated communication approach
Very quickly, at the national level, the college of anatomy teachers dubbed Akivi, becoming a prescriber to the profession. The faculties of Paris Saclay, Créteil, Toulouse use the application today. It will be distributed in the universities of Nantes, Rennes and Brest at the beginning of 2025, thanks to sponsorship from the Caisse d’Epargne Bretagne Pays de Loire. There are 37 universities in France, there is still room for development.
The start-up hopes to integrate the public purchasing catalog for university libraries in 2025. “Universities buy our product directly from us, but our competitors traditionally go through libraries,” explains Florian Bernard.
Akivi subsequently intends to reach training centers for paramedical professions (physiotherapist, nurses). He already works with the Paul Guinot association, which trains the visually impaired in physiotherapy.
Florian Bernard, scientific director of the company, remains discreet about its turnover. Still modest, this tripled between 2023 and 2024. To continue this dynamic, a proactive communication approach is among the 2025 objectives: a not insignificant initiative in a sector where this is not practiced.
Angers connexion at Miami
At the same time, Akivi (initials of Anatomical knowledge in virtual immersion) plans an international deployment. First in French-speaking Europe then, thanks to its English version, English-speaking Europe, and ultimately the United States.
“The United States will represent both an incubator and a locomotive,” describes the surgeon. If the market responds, it could serve as a springboard to reach the 2,600 English-speaking universities around the world. But “it’s a one-shot gun. We’re waiting for the right moment to address this market. It will depend on development in Europe. It will take one to three years. The challenge is to continue to find support.”
Milestones have already been laid in the United States. Last year, Akivi was selected to participate in the French Tech Capital Days in Florida. On site, the two partners are supported by a strong ally: the new co-president of French Tech Miami, who is none other than Corine Busson-Benhammou, former director of Angers French Tech. To orchestrate this stage, the question of new fundraising will arise, as well as that of recruitment. Akivi currently has only one employee and works with technical subcontractors or medical providers.
To develop, Akivi raised 630,000 euros in funds in April 2024. It is finalizing a request for a European grant to support educational innovation of 300,000 euros from the Feder fund.
A start-up well supported from the start
Initially, the successful deployment of Akivi was based on the support it received from its maturation. Between 2019 and 2022, SATT Ouest Valorisation enabled solid incubation of the project. The start-up then continued to be supported by the local ecosystem, from Réseau Entreprendre to Angers French Tech, but also by the University Hospital and the Angers Faculty of Medicine which was the first to subscribe.
