The L’OCCITANE Group has unveiled OBRATORI, its startup studio, designed to discover the future of cosmetics and well-being.Â
For Reinold Geiger, CEO of the L’OCCITANE Group, the opening of the startup studio OBRATORI will enable new ideas to be explored and developed in a fast-moving world. “The L’OCCITANE Group has always been keen to initiate entrepreneurship and perpetual renewal, it’s in our DNA.” He continues: “The creation of startups around the world is an economic revolution whose consequences will be seen very quickly, they have become the most important actors in the entrepreneurial system.”
OBRATORI, a partner since the genesis of this project led by Aix-Marseille University and the Metropole Aix-Marseille Provence, will welcome a dozen of selected startups within the Cité de l‘Innovation et des Savoirs Aix-Marseille (CISAM). It occupies the second floor of the famous Castel building and can accommodate up to 108 workstations that will be dedicated to entrepreneurs.
Amaury Godron, General Manager of the startup studio OBRATORI says: “We are aware that innovation is key to identify new breakthrough ideas. We are proud to bring the next generation of entrepreneurs through our partnership with Aix-Marseille University and the support of the Aix-Marseille Provence Metropole and the South Region.”
The startups sought are those in cosmetics and well-being, as well as in the digitalisation of solutions for retail and early growth which require technical, financial, commercial, marketing or other support. The blend of product, digital and other startups is a must-have, according to OBRATORI, to jointly develop strong synergies of innovation and to explore new concepts, ideas, products, services and brands.
Specifically, the selected startups will follow a support program lasting a maximum of 23 months. They will benefit from an adapted workspace, the support of the internal resources of OBRATORI, a network of experts and mentors, and the ecosystem of the L’OCCITANE Group. For Ingo Dauer, General Manager at OBRATORI: “These are tailor-made programs. A startup may need research expertise, marketing expertise, international visibility…”
In order to better meet the technological needs of its incubated startups, OBRATORI has equipped the 950m2 space with an L2 cellular research laboratory and a MIT compliant FabLab.
