The QA Company Secures €2.8 Million in Series A Funding
Orchestrated by a consortium of investors from the Loire region and supported byBpifrance, this funding round marks a significant milestone for the Saint-Étienne-based startup. Leveraging its expertise in artificial intelligence, The QA Companydevelops an innovative solution that enables public and private organizations totransform their data into actionable knowledge through intelligent andcustomizable conversational agents.
Strong Support from Local and National Partners
This strategic funding round includes a key €1 million investment from a consortium comprisingSolent 2-2 (an investment firm uniting HEF, the family of its founder, and former employee-shareholders), UI Investissement (manager of SCR Métropoles Innovations), a fund supported bySaint-Étienne Métropole, and Crédit Agricole Loire Haute-Loire Capital Innovation. Additionalsupport for this first tranche comes from a local network of private investors and business angels,including members of the SEBA 42 network, based in Saint-Étienne.
Bpifrance is contributing €1.8 million in a second tranche, reaRirming its confidence in The QACompany's potential and vision.
“This financial support strengthens our ambition to revolutionize how organizations interact withinformation through artificial intelligence,” said Dennis Diefenbach, CEO of The QA Company. “Ourstrategic collaborations with major European Union institutions reflect the trust placed in ourexpertise and our ability to address the complex challenges of large-scale information access.”
The QA Company’s solution has already been deployed with long-standing clients, proving itsrobustness, European deployability, security, and compliance with AI regulations and GDPR.
Beyond financial growth, this funding aligns with a broader ambition: to build a strong and sovereignEuropean AI and data management ecosystem. By participating in strategic European projects, TheQA Company aims to play a key role in advancing AI adoption for enhanced knowledge access acrossEurope.
A Commitment to Building a Sovereign European AI Ecosystem
This funding round aligns with a broader ambition: to establish a robust and sovereign Europeanecosystem in AI and data management. By actively participating in strategic projects at the Europeanlevel, The QA Company aims to play a pivotal role in the adoption of AI to enhance knowledge anddata accessibility across Europe.
The QA Company: Generative AI at the Service of European Sovereignty
Based in Saint-Étienne, The QA Company specializes in generative AI. Its flagship product, QAnswer,helps public and private organizations unlock the full potential of their data, transforming complexinformation into clear, actionable insights with intelligent, customizable AI assistants. By combininginnovation, security, and compliance with European standards, The QA Company stands as a keyplayer in responsible AI, addressing the growing demand for trusted AI solutions.
A Future Focused on Innovation and Expansion
With this funding, The QA Company plans to:
- Recruit new talent to strengthen its team and supportrapid growth.
- Accelerate innovation by integrating new generativeAI-driven functionalities.
- Expand its presence in European markets, meetingincreasing demands for sovereignty and security.
A Success Built with Clients and Partners
On this occasion, Dennis Diefenbach, CEO of The QACompany, stated: “I would like to extend my gratitude to our clients andlong-standing partners, whose trust and feedback have been instrumental inshaping QAnswer. I sincerely thank the teams at the European Commission,including DG CONNECT, DG COMM, DG BUDG, DG MARE, DG IT, and the PublicationsOffice of the European Union, as well as the IT department of the Council ofthe European Union. Their collaboration has been invaluable at every stage ofour journey, and we deeply appreciate it. I would also like to thank RockwellAutomation and Village by CA Loire Haute-Loire.”
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AboutThe QA Company
The QACompany is a leader in Generative Artificial Intelligence. Its product,QAnswer, facilitates conversations, chatbot deployment, and the creation of intelligent assistants that interact with data. Based in Saint-Étienne, The QACompany provides sovereign, secure AI solutions tailored to the needs of organizations. More information: https://www.qanswer.ai/.Contact : amandine.cami@the-qa-company.com
AboutSolent 2-2 and HEF
Solent 2-2is a tripartite investment firm bringing together HEF, the family of HEF founder Jacques-Jean Caubet, and former employee-shareholders of HEF.
Solent 2-2 is committed to and actively supports innovative startups and SMEs, helping them achieve sustainable growth while ensuring that both executives and employees fully benefit from the value created.
HEF Group:70 Years of Expertise in Surface Material Engineering HEF is a globally recognized expert in surface material engineering across three key domains:tribology, photonics, and hydrogen technologies. The group develops new materials and processes to address societal challenges in mobility, construction, decarbonized energy, defense, space, and medical sectors. HEF is deeply committed to environmental sustainability, implementing circular economy principles in its processes and offering solutions to replace polluting technologies. Based in Saint-Étienne, an industrial innovation hub, HEF operates a vertically integrated model with strong R&D intensity, investing8-10% of its revenue into research, leading to a global industrial foot print, with 80% of its activity conducted internationally. The company also pioneers social innovation, with two-thirds of its capital owned by employees, ensuring financial stability to support long-term investment strategies. More information: https://hef.group/
About UI Investissement
An independent firm specializing in business development, UI Investissement has been supporting entrepreneurs for over 50 years, helping startups, SMEs, and mid-sized companies achieve sustainable growth. Managing over €1.5 billion in assets, UI Investissement partners with more than 300 business leaders in keysectors such as healthcare, agribusiness, industry, and services. The firm'score expertise in growth capital and business succession accounts for over halfof its managed assets, benefiting more than 50 companies through operational expertise and proprietary methodologies. With dedicated investment teamsfocused on innovation and market consolidation, UI Investissement supports companies throughout their lifecycle, contributing to economic vitality acrossregions. UI Investissement operates with 80 employees across more than 10regional offices, including Besançon, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Lille, Limoges,Lyon, Nantes, Orléans, Reims, Rennes, and Strasbourg. Press contact : Laurent Maillard - +33 6 60 59 7707 - laurent.maillard@ui-investissement.fr More information : www.ui-investissement.fr
About CréditAgricole Loire Haute-Loire Capital Innovation
CréditAgricole Loire Haute-Loire Capital Innovation is an investment arm dedicated to supporting innovative companies in the region. A subsidiary of the CréditAgricole Loire Haute-Loire Regional Bank, it fosters innovation through its foundation, seed fund, and Village by CA initiative, which supports the growthof mature startups. The organization also establishes sponsorship and partnership programs aimed at knowledge sharing and business development. Moreinformation: www.ca-loirehauteloire.fr
AboutSEBA 42
Founded inMay 2023, SEBA 42 is a business angel network based in Saint-Étienne, dedicated to supporting startups in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and Saint-Étienne Métropole.By bringing together previously independent investors, the collective provides both capital and strategic guidance, sharing expertise and networks to accelerate the success of local startups. Contact: Contact@seba42.com
About Bpifrance
Bpifrance finances and supports businesses at every stage of their development through credit, guarantees, innovation funding, and equity investments, acting in alignment with public policies led by the French State and regional governments. Bpifrance aids businesses in their growth, ecological and energy transitions, innovation efforts, and international expansion. It also manages export financing on behalf of the French government. With 50 regional offices, Bpifrance provides entrepreneurs with a dedicated, efficient contact point to support sustainable business growth. More information: www.Bpifrance.fr
Press Contact:
Dennis Diefenbach - +33 6 19 09 54 19 - dennis.diefenbach@the-qa-company.com