Attestis is a startup supported by the PACA-EST incubator and specialized in digital proof and dematerialization for private idnividuals, professionals and communities, in the field of construction and town planning.
Attestis digital proof protects project owners against late appeals thanks to its patented system which continually proves the display of the building permit.
Interview with Guilhem Ensuque, Founder and CEO of Attestis
- Editorial Committee: Where would you situate your company’s innovation?
Guilhem Ensuque (GE): In a recent interview with the BatiActu site, Julien Denormandie, French Secretary of State attached to the Minister of Territorial Cohesion (in charge of Housing) stated: “To build better and more quickly, there is the issue of appeals. Today some 30,000-40,000 construction projects are under appeal, and are thus frozen, which prevents people from working. ». The government has made the fight against abusive appeals one of the key areas of its Housing strategy, presented at the end of September 2017. All construction sites are potentially concerned by the risk of appeal. In France, nearly one million construction sites are authorized each year. Internationally, we estimate that the addressable market, in countries with legal requirements similar to those in France, represents approximately 3 million worksites a year, probably more, as it is difficult to gain an exhaustive view of each country’s regulatory specificities on a global scale.
- EC: How did you go about developing your project?
GE: The idea for creating Attestis came about as a result of my personal experience as a principal contractor. On the occasion of a relatively modest building project at my home, and in a context of tense relations with my neighbors, I realized that the red tape involved in obtaining a planning permit was caused by the risk of appeal. This risk is due to the fact that if you do not have some proof of the deplay of your permit on the regulatory panel, then you are left at the mercy of a potential appeal which can lead to the worksite’s stoppage, and even the destruction of the work already undertaken. All this over a very long period of time.
Drawing on my experience as a telecommunications engineer, I devised a straightforward, inexpensive “proof of display” solution that can done entirely on a smartphone, while being legally valid. And so Attestis was born!
- EC: What actions and deployments are currently in the pipeline?
GE: In terms of R&D, we are finalizing the development of the first version of our platform and our digital services (web and mobile applications) for a launching expected in the first quarter of 2018. We have also begun the development of our connected panel – the ultimate weapon against late appeals in the building sector.
On the business side of things, we are fine-tuning our strategy for gaining access to the professional construction market via prescribers (e.g. notaries or architects), and we have started canvassing end customers such real estate promoters or builders of infividual homes. We thus plan to take part in the “Congrès des Notaires” event held in Cannes at the end of May 2017.
- EC: Why did you join the SCS Cluster?
GE: The SCS Cluster is a key player in our region’s innovation ecosystem, and the issues and topics it covers tie in exactly with our core business: the Internet of Things (embedded systems, wireless communications) and digital security, i.e. a source of trust in our means of proof. In particular, the SCS Cluster allowed us to meet with service providers who can speed up the completion of our solution in areas of expertise such as electronic design or blockchain.
- EC: Has the SCS Cluster brought you what you were looking for?
GE: Yes, absolutely. In addition to the partnerships mentioned above, the SCS Cluster has brought to us invaluable help in setting up a financing file with the BPI and the Region. Furthermore, it’s a fantastic forum for keeping informed of the latest technological and industrial trends.
- EC: What do you expect of the Cluster in the future?
GE: I think that our involvement in the SCS Cluster and our expectations equate with the growth and development of our company. As a start-up, we are presently at “level 1” in our search for visibility and helping hands from other members. The next levels to be reached, with support from the SCS Cluster, will include the industrialization phase and our international deployment.
Contact:
Guilhem Ensuque
Postal address: Business Pôle A, 1047 route des Dolines 06560 Valbonne
Email: contact@attestis.com
Website: https://www.attestis.com
Twitter: @attestis
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/attestis/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/attestis/