I am Pierre Calais, Vice President of International Business Development for EGERIE. EGERIE is a leading software vendor of integrated cyber risk management solutions growing very fast and expanding its business internationally.
Toulon meets Mannheim – French startup on a visit
At NEXT MANNHEIM we support international startups with their market entry to the German Market.
One step is always an initial visit to Mannheim to get to know the area - but most importantly to make direct contact with potential customers.
In October, Pierre Calais, Vice President of International Business Development of EGERIE, visited Mannheim to identify potentials with clients.
In this interview, he provides further insights about EGERIE and what they are looking for in Mannheim.
Could you introduce yourself and EGERIE briefly?
What value are you creating for your customers?
We help our customers to master their cybersecurity, the visibility they have on it, the return on investment they can expect by implementing cybersecurity programs driven by a continuous and collaborative monitoring of their cyber risks.
In your opinion, why is Mannheim an attractive starting point for entering the German market?
Mannheim is an attractive city as it is a kind of hub to travel to different German cities where business is done: Stuttgart, Frankfurt, … It is also very accessible from Paris as it is only a 3h30 trip by train.
Moreover, the city of Mannheim is very active in helping startups set up their business in Germany whether from an administrative point of view or in terms of business development opportunities.
And last but not least, Mannheim has a close, long-term relationship with the city of Toulon, in southeastern France where EGERIE has its headquarter.
What are you searching for in Mannheim and the region?
Our business is indirect and we are looking to team up with business partners to address the German market. As Mannheim is housing the Smart Production Network cluster it is also an important point for us as the industry market segment is one of our target market for our international expansion.
Next Steps
EGERIE plans to open a German subsidiary in April 2022.
Therefore, the next steps are quite clear. On the one hand, the aim is to expand sales in Germany. NEXT MANNHEIM helps with direct contact to regional clients and partners. On the other hand, it takes some concrete administrative steps to found a German GmbH. The partner network of NEXT MANNHEIM is here to help.