More and more companies are preparing to follow in the footsteps of Doctolib, Back Market or Swile and acquire unicorn status. Here's a closer look at 10 of these innovative FrenchTech start-ups, which you're likely to be hearing more about in the near future.

Unicorns: what are they?

The term "unicorn" is well known in the world of entrepreneurship and start-ups. Unrelated to imaginary creatures, it's a word that was first used in 2013.

There are four main conditions that companies must meet to achieve unicorn status: 

• Be valued at 1 billion or more or more;
• Not listed on a stock exchange stock exchange;
• Having investors who can support their objectives;
• Securing fund-raising encouraging their growth

Top 10 future French unicorns (by 2022)

To compile this list, we based ourselves on the 7 winners of the Future Unicorn Trophies. We have also selected 3 popular start-ups that are poised to become unicorns in the near future.

Topping the list is DNA Script. This start-up specializes in biotechnologieswas awarded the Grand Prix at the Future Unicorn Awards ceremony. 

Founded in 2014, it develops easily accessible ADN synthesis technologies. Thanks to a modern, innovative method (enzymatic synthesis technology that comes in the form of a printer, Synthax), DNA Script's products are designed to reduce the costs and time wasted engendered by the creation of DNA sequences. In fact, the French Ministry of Defence was quick to collaborate with the company.

• In January 2022, DNA Script raised 200 million to develop and market its Syntax printer.
• The company has 200 employees.
• The start-up's capital was 79,711.20 in December 2020.

Openclassrooms was awarded a prize in the E-Commerce and Service category. The website specializes in online training. 

On the site, you can find courses in many different fields (marketing and communications, office automation, HR, design...).

The courses are taught by industry professionals, with the aim of providing the optimum knowledge and skills for each student to succeed in his or her career.

• In total, Openclassrooms has raised 135 million euros.
• The company employs between 200 to 500 people.
• In 2019, net sales amounted to 17 229 294 €.

Verkor is a young start-up founded in 2020. Entirely eco-friendly, it has set itself the challenge of supporting sustainable development through innovative solutions and green technologies (notably with its gigafactory and battery projects).

It offers heating, air-conditioning and lighting solutions using low-energy technologies, systems to manage energy consumption, and advice to help businesses become greener. At the same time, the company works with suppliers ofrenewable energies to run its business cleanly and sustainably.

• Verkor's management announced that it had raised 250 million of euros.
• The company's founders and employees financed 2.5 million to participate in the company's growth.
• The future Dunkirk plant will raise financing of1.5 billion for its launch.

Pasqal operates in the field of quantum computing. In recent years, it has been combined with artificial intelligence to improve the data processing.

This innovation makes it possible to solve problems that would be too long and difficult for conventional computers.

Pasqal's other aim is not only to make quantum computers more accessible to businesses and scientists, but also to enable them to take advantage of this technology.

• Pasqal raised 25 million in 2021.
• The company was awarded 3.5 million of the 650 million euro government quantum plan
• Today, the start-up is looking to raise several hundred million euros to expand.

Kayrros, a start-up operating in the deeptech (SaaS, artificial intelligence and big data), is one of the innovative start-ups on its way to becoming a unicorn.

The platform uses satellite data and satellite images to provide information on climate risks and hazards hazards (including pollutant gas emissions).

Kayrros' technology delivers accurate, real-time information to companies and regulators. 

• Kayrros has raised 40 million to develop and market its solutions
• The start-up has more than 150 employees to its credit
• The company's share capital is 322 380€.

Biotech company TreeFrog Therapeutics wins an award in the Biotech and Medtech category of the Trophées des Futures Licornes, thanks to its innovative concept for the medical sector.

With its C-Stemdevice, the start-up is seeking to make cellular therapies to patients suffering from rare and/or serious diseases. TreeFrog Therapeutics' technologies work by using viral and non-viral vectors to transfer target genes into cells to treat various diseases.

• In 2021, the company raised 64 million to expand its activities.
• The start-up's share capital amounts to 144 561€.
• TreeFrog Therapeutics has over 90 employees employees.

The seventh future unicorn to appear on this list is Deepki, the start-up founded in 2014 which wins the ESG Trophy.

The company offers predictive solutions and insights and insights to help companies improve their sustainability and move towards a carbon-neutral carbon-neutral impact.

Deepki offers comprehensive solutions that integrate artificial intelligence and visualization tools to help companies make decisions, predict results and improve their environmental performance.

• In the first quarter of 2022, the company announced it would raise 150 million of euros.
• Deepki estimated sales of 30 million for the year 2022.
• To date, the start-up is active in over 39 countries.

Brut is a French 100% digital media launched in 2016. Very popular with the younger generation, the mission of this medium is to create a space where everyone can have access to relevant information and learn about the world around them.

To this end, Brut produces and distributes varied contentfrom documentary reports to interviews, testimonials and debates.

The start-up makes its content available mainly on social networks, in the form of videos and podcasts. In 2021 was launched BrutXthe company's streaming platform.

• In 2021, Brut raised 63 million of euros.
• Today, it is valued at 130 million dollars.
• The media's streaming platform, BrutX, has around 100 000 subscribers.

Ornikar is a online driving school created in 2013. The platform offers comprehensive training to obtain a driving license, including interactive online courses, practical stimuli and tests.

Users can also find certified driving instructors on the platform, enabling them to take driving lessons safely and confidently.

Ornikar is also designed to be a flexible platform on which the future motorist can revise independently, at any time of the day, without having to adhere to precise schedules. Finally, Ornikar is renowned for offering its services at attractive pricesmuch lower than those of physical driving schools.

• Ornikar has raised an impressive 146 million in April 2021.
• The site lists more than 2.5 million users.
• The company employs over 200 employees.

Electra is a rising star in the field of Greentech. The start-up develops electric vehicle charging systems, including public charging stations and intelligent charging network management solutions.

Its aim is to facilitate access to recharging for all electric vehicles in large and medium-sized towns, but also to encourage the population to move towards more responsible and sustainable means of locomotion.

The company has also developed a mobile application on which users can locate available and optimal charging stations for their vehicles. The same app can also be used to reserve a charging station and receive notification of the vehicle's charging status.

Electra is a step forward for the energy transition.

• Electra completes financing round to raise 160 million in June 2022.
• In September 2022, net revenues amounted to 7.63 million euros.
• The start-up's sales amounted to 9 299 200 € for 2019.