13M, the first gas pedal for digital inclusion, welcomes its first class

Informa’Truck, Lisio, NECC and SOStech – these are the names of the four winners of the first class of 13M. What they have in common is an unwavering determination to move the boundaries of digital inclusion.

In 2023, 13 million French people will still be digitally excluded. The result is 13M, the first nationwide gas pedal for digital inclusion, operated by Groupe SOS in partnership with H7.

With 13M, Banque des Territoires, Groupe SOS and H7 are mobilizing to identify, support and accelerate the emergence of innovative solutions. Marianne Beaufils, “digital inclusion” project and investment manager, explains: “we need new ideas and more sustainable models to drastically reduce the digital divide. Solutions need to reach more beneficiaries and seduce them into taking them up.”

82 entries received for 4 winners

November 2022 marks the start of the call for applications. Winners are selected on the basis of four criteria: innovation, viability of the business model, the number of beneficiaries already reached, and the potential for regional expansion. 82 projects applied, 10 went before the jury and 4 were selected. Welcome to Informatruck, Lisio, NECC and SOStech!

Informa’Truck – the network of autonomous workshop-trucks fighting digital exclusion in rural areas

Informa’Truck is developing a network of autonomous workshop trucks. These trucks – transformed into repair workshops – travel and set up in rural areas to offer a service to private individuals, in their catchment area or at home. The Informatruck project combines digital inclusion, social impact – through the employment of disabled workers undergoing retraining – and environmental impact – through the repair of electronic devices.

A word from the founder: “Digital inclusion isn’t just about skills. It involves three links: I know how to use my equipment, I have equipment that works and I know how to connect. Many solutions are working on the first and last points, but there is a lack of solutions for equipment durability. Thanks to local repairs, Informa’Truck fills this gap. Cyril Noury, CEO and Founder of Informa’Truck.

Lisio – the innovative web solution for people and the planet

Nearly 50% of the French population has great difficulty with digital technology. At the same time, environmental impact continues to grow. Using its web module, LISIO adapts the display of websites to the specific needs of each visitor (disabilities, illiteracy, low-speed zones, etc.) in real time, without redesign, and reduces the environmental impact of consultation.

A word from the founder: “We’re more focused on digital accessibility. In ‘digital inclusion’, we’re only interested in those who are excluded. Yet digital challenges affect everyone. There are as many difficulties as there are solutions, and we’re here to help them emerge.“Éric Gayraud, Founder and CTO of Lisio.

NECC: a digital hub for inclusive educational innovation

The concept: NECC (National Esport Club & Community) raises awareness of digital inclusion issues, and more generally of social issues, through the prism of esport. Thanks to video games, NECC works on subjects such as professional integration, intergenerational, socio-educational, school support and parenting.

NECC has been created to encourage mutual support and solidarity, thanks to a new type of structure equipped with facilities conducive to digital discovery and training.

A word from the founders: “Digital inclusion is constantly evolving. We’re taking people towards today’s technologies, to put them on an equal footing. We have a real subject on education: the most difficult thing is not transmitting a skill, it’s the pedagogy and the culture with which we’re going to do it.” Mehdi Bensafi and Stephan Euthine, co-founders.

SOStech: giving everyone access to the opportunities offered by digital technology.

Aware of what is at stake in today’s digital world, Arthur Pinault founded SOStech in 2020, a company dedicated to fighting the digital divide.

SOStech works alongside the public sector to build and deploy innovative, effective and practical solutions for people who are not digitally literate, through a range of IT assistance and training services tailored to each context.

From the founder: “Digital inclusion is a big train. SOStech’s role is to make sure no one is left on the platform.” Arthur Pinault, founder.

They support the

For 9 months, the winners will focus their efforts on the 4 pillars: reaching more beneficiaries, federating talent, financing growth and structuring operations. Supported start-ups will benefit from the advice and network of partners made available by the acceleration program.

13M start-ups can count on the support of two godmothers, Orianne Ledroit and Judith-Laure Mamou-Mani . Their two complementary profiles enable start-ups to combine growth and impact.

Orianne Ledroit is Director of Program Success at OpenClassroom. Convinced that digital inclusion is a common challenge that everyone must take up, she has made it the fight of her career. Thanks to her experience, Orianne brings a pragmatic and enlightened view of the barriers to be broken down and the levers to be activated to make society in the digital age.

“I’m convinced that there are many answers to the digital divide. What we need is a tool to bring them out into the open and give them visibility. 13M is a response to this,” she explains.

For her part, Judith-Laure Mamou-Mani has extensive experience in project financing. After 8 years with France Active, she took over the management of MAIF Impact, MAIF’s impact investment fund. Judith-Laure supports 13M gas pedal entrepreneurs, helping them to maximize the social impact of their projects and the development of their businesses. For her, “creating hybrid business models that blend BtoB, BtoC and BToG, is part of the key to success for entrepreneurs with high social impact.”