You might have noticed a theme in my recent blog posts:
I’ve deliberately placed female scientists centre stage, convinced their contributions deserve far more attention than they often receive (the famous Matilda effect, but that’s another story).
Yet if you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know this blog isn’t about ticking boxes for gender, background, or origin. It’s about science itself, and about the remarkable people who push ideas forward with courage and creativity. It’s also about making science approachable, sharing innovation and the stories behind it.
That’s why today I’m very happy to present Thomas and Louis-Antoine. I first crossed paths with them in March at Forum Labo, and from our very first conversation I was struck by their energy, openness, and drive to make a difference.
Their first device, TOBIE (Tool for Biodegradation Evaluation), is an automated platform designed to assess the biodegradability of chemicals and polymers. How does it work? Quite simply, it measures how much oxygen is consumed as microbes get to work digesting different substances-a clever approach.
Since then, they’ve made impressive progress in bringing TOBIE to market, and I’m grateful they’ve found the time to share their journey with us in this interview.
1. You’re both at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey, having just launched BELEM Biotechnologies in 2024. How did your paths cross, and what inspired you, so early in your careers, to make the transition from science to entrepreneurship?
We first met 10 years ago, when we started our final year of high school at Lycée Notre-Dame de Fontenay-le-Comte. By chance, we were in the same boarding room. Since that day, we’ve never really been apart.
The shift from academic research to entrepreneurship wasn’t something we had planned. It was more of an opportunity that came along and a way to give value to several years of work.
2. Thomas, while you were at GEPEA (a CNRS-affiliated lab specialised in process engineering and biotechnology), what made you decide it was time to move from the lab to entrepreneurship, and how did Louis-Antoine join the journey?
After three years of development, our technology was being used routinely in the lab for both research and service activities. This quickly caught the attention of GEPEA’s partners. Everything was in place, but as the university is a public institution, commercializing the device wasn’t possible. To get around this, I came up with the idea of creating a start-up, then asked Louis-Antoine to join me and co-manage the project.
Turning an Idea into Reality
3. Your first product, TOBIE (an automated platform for biodegradability and ecotoxicity testing), responds to a growing demand in sustainable product development. What specific gap were you aiming to address, and why does it matter to you personally?
The device was originally designed for internal use at GEPEA, with no commercial ambition. None of the systems available on the market met our needs, whether in terms of measurement accuracy or user experience.
So we built our own device with a simple set of requirements: robust, reliable, minimal maintenance, and able to autonomously screen a large number of substances.
The first version was built at low cost and optimised until it worked for us. We then approached an industrial partner to reinterpret our “DIY” prototype and turn it into a finished product (with electrical standards, stronger components, etc.), still with the idea of serving the lab’s needs.
It turned out that many other labs faced exactly the same challenge.
4. What was the most complex challenge you’ve faced so far, whether scientific, technical, or entrepreneurial, and how did you manage it as a team?
Starting a business is exciting, but it definitely came with worries. The technical and scientific challenges have been manageable so far, and we’re making good progress.
The legal aspects, however, such as negotiating the patent licence agreement, were more difficult, as we had no experience in that field.
Making certain investment decisions was also nerve-racking. Since we started the company with only our own funds and no external investors, the margin for error is very small. It forces us to be extra careful.
We always discuss things openly and try not to stress too much, which helps us overcome challenges together.
5. You co-lead BELEM with distinct roles: one as CEO, the other as President. How do you complement each other in daily decision-making, and what have you learned from this shared leadership?
We make decisions together, except when it comes to science. Louis-Antoine contributes ideas, but Thomas sets the direction thanks to his experience and perspective from the scientific world.
This structure has taught us how important it is to carefully choose your partner. Complete trust in each other is essential when starting such an adventure.
6. As a young company, you’ve already received support from Atlanpole and Ouest Valorisation, and you’ve gained visibility through events like Forum Labo. Which kind of support made the biggest difference, and what surprised you most in this innovation ecosystem?
Without question, the support from GEPEA has been the most valuable. They have encouraged and accompanied us since the beginning and still do today.
Being hosted in the lab, receiving advice, having privileged contacts, gaining visibility, and being able to use almost all of the lab’s equipment – all of this is an enormous advantage for a young company like ours.
What surprised us most in this ecosystem is the scale of certain well-known events like Forum Labo. We are still so small, yet we already feel like we’ve stepped into the world of giants!
Looking Back to Move Forward
7. Looking back over your first year as entrepreneurs, is there anything you wish you had known from the start?
It would have helped a lot to be more experienced in negotiation and commercial matters. That would have given us more confidence from the start and allowed us to make a stronger impression. Being young, we sometimes felt mistrust, as if we weren’t being taken seriously.
8. What advice would you give to other young researchers who are thinking about turning their scientific work into a start-up?
Above all, surround yourself with the right people. Don’t try to rush things, and make sure your project is solid before you even think about creating a company. A start-up should be the outcome, not the goal.
Delaying the official creation of the company as long as possible is actually a good thing. Once everything is ready and planned ahead, progress is much faster. If potential problems are identified in advance, they are easier to handle when they actually occur.
9. And finally, scientific innovation is, for you, above all about…
For us, scientific innovation is above all a mix of serendipity and creativity, where everyone can bring their contribution and solve challenges.