agileDSS
Nicolas Lepiller, director of the agileDSS Nantes agency
Nicolas Lepiller took over the leadership of the Québec-based company agileDSS’s Nantes office at the end of 2024, after spending seven years in Québec. Founded in Montréal over 20 years ago, this digital services company chose to establish itself in Nantes at the beginning of 2024. The company, which employs about a hundred people across Québec and France, specializes in data and artificial intelligence (AI), and aims to bring its expertise to the industry and health sectors, two areas that are highly developed in the Nantes-Saint-Nazaire region. This establishment was made possible thanks to the strong long-standing relationships between the ecosystems of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire and Montréal.
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What agileDSS does
We advise on and implement data analysis solutions for our clients to help them manage their data better and make more informed decisions. We work across different sectors such as transportation, banking, insurance, and energy. Here in Nantes, we plan to focus primarily on the industrial sector, with additional opportunities in the health sector.
Why choose Nantes for your company?
We were looking for a region that combined innovation, a rich and dynamic business ecosystem, and a well-developed network of companies and schools — and Nantes offers exactly that. We also appreciated the quality of life in Nantes. You can really feel the general buzz in the digital sector, with significant efforts toward the development of artificial intelligence and, in health, with the emerging health district. We are truly at the heart of innovation — exactly what we were looking for.
How Nantes-Saint-Nazaire Développement helped?
We met Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement at an event in Québec. Elsa Vénisse quickly connected us with key players in the region and the metropolitan area, such as Franz Jarry from ADN Ouest and Francky Trichet from Nantes Métropole.
This allowed us to build a strong local network fairly quickly, which helped accelerate the launch of our operations in the Nantes area. Through them, we were also introduced to various initiatives and events in the region, enabling us to further expand our local network and become more firmly established.
How the Nantes-Montréal connection helped
The relationships between Nantes, Montréal, and Québec have made all the difference. Hosting visits from the Audacieux network at our Montréal offices several times has helped reduce missteps when entering a new country. Meeting the right people at the right time has truly accelerated our market entry while helping us adapt to the local culture.
We hosted the Réseau des Audacieux several times at our offices in Montréal. When setting up in a new country, it is often this kind of network that helps limit missteps and avoid common pitfalls.
Why did you choose to set up in the GINA building?
We first heard about GINA building through Joëlle Martin-Gauthier from Nantes Métropole, who was in charge of the building’s construction. We truly consider ourselves lucky to be located in this building at the heart of innovation, right in the health district of Nantes, surrounded by high-quality companies and strong local networks. Today, there are eight of us based in Nantes and in France overall.
What are your growth prospects in Nantes and in France?
We expect to have between 20 and 30 employees within the next 24 to 36 months. Our focus will strongly shift toward the industrial sector, which is very well represented between Nantes and Saint-Nazaire. We see significant potential in this industrial sector, particularly in supply chain operations, where data and AI can truly improve efficiency and optimization.
We were very warmly welcomed during our first year in the Nantes area.
As a Québec-based company, what has surprised you most?
We were very warmly welcomed during our first year in the Nantes area. When we mention that we come from Québec, there is always a sense of curiosity and goodwill that naturally emerges — and that is truly heartening to see!