in 2021, Toulouse startups raised €350 million
350 million euros. This is the “record” amount raised by Toulouse startups in 2021, according to the FrenchTechToulouse. Every quarter, this association run by eight entrepreneurs publishes its Toulouse Tech Index. “And despite the climate of economic uncertainty, the year saw excellent innovation funding dynamics,” the association is prospering in a press release.
Indeed, the amount raised represents more than double of last year (in 2020, startups raised 158 million euros). This increase in the volume of investment in the region is explained by 83% growth in the average amount raised. The latter rose to 2.2 million euros in 2021 against 1.2 million in 2020.
The diffusion of technology is accelerating. This sector is one of the keys to the future of our employment pool”, analyzes Thibaut de Bouville, vice-president of the association, in charge of financing.
What are the most funded sectors in 2021?
In detail, the sectors of spatialof farming and some mobility are the most funded sectors in 2021. They alone concentrate more than 81% of investment volume for only 4 fundraisers: Loft Orbital, Agronutris, Easymile and Railcoop.
the spatial is experiencing “unprecedented” growth thanks to the association of the CNES and the Toulouse incubator Noubbo, says the Index. Together they created the first startup incubator in the world, 100% dedicated to the Moon. Space also accounts for 25% of jobs in the sector and represents 12,000 jobs in 400 companies, according to Invest in Toulouse.
Agritech comes next second thanks to the raising of funds from Agronutris, to finance its R&D (Research and experimental development) and its industrial development.
Space, agriculture and mobility will account for more than 81% of the volume of investments in 2021. © / French Tech Toulouse
In terms of number of fundraisings, on the other hand, it is the sectors of healththe biotechnology and of aeronautics which dominates (see graph below).
Health, biotechnology and aeronautics dominate in terms of fundraising. © / French Tech Toulouse
Three companies on the podium
The financing of these sectors was authorized in particular by three main fundraisers :
- The company Orbital loftfor a lifting of €125 million. It is close to the top 10 national fundraisers, according to the Index. It is also the first fundraising exceeding 100 million euros in Haute-Garonne. This company, born in 2017, has deployed its innovation center in Toulouse since 2019. Its objective is to make access to space “simple, fast and affordable”. This fundraising should thus allow it to move “to the realization and at deploy of satellite constellations”.
- The company Agronutrisfor a lifting of 100 million euros. Founded in 2007, its objective is to respond to environmental and food issues. She market edible insects in order to produce flour, oils and foodstuffs for agriculture. With this fundraising, Agronutris wishes accelerate its industrialization by deploying two new sites.
- EasyMilefor a lifting of 55 million euros. Founded in 2014, the company wants to revolutionize urban mobility by offering completely autonomous vehicles. In particular, she set up the driverless electric shuttle EZ10 in Toulouse, soon in circulation. This fundraising should allow him to exhaust new autonomous solutionsboth in the direction of passenger and freight transport.
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A regional and national dynamic
Moreover, the association also notes that this dynamism in Toulouse is also found in regional level. According to EY Barometer in the first half of 2021, the Occitanie region occupies the 3rd place on the podium in terms of investment attractiveness, behind Ile de France and Auvergne Rhône-Alpes. It has indeed raised 124 million euros and achieved 416 operations.
Occitania ranks 3rd in investment attractiveness. © / French Tech Toulouse
Nationally, according to a item of the General Directorate of the Treasury, the France to impose on the second place in Europe venture capital investment.
This dynamic should continue in 2022, in particular with the acceleration of financing in sectors such as New Space”, concluded Benjamin Lillo, of the management company Irdipartner of French Tech Toulouse.
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