Damien Roche, a graduate of the Petroleum Engineering and Project Development program (DEG, Class of 2017) and founder of the start-up Lifebloom, has just won the i-Lab 2020 national competition for the creation of innovative technology companies.
Created in 1999 by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and organized in partnership with Bpifrance Financement, this competition aims to promote the results of public research through business development.
Lifebloom was selected from amongst 424 applications and is one of the 73 projects distinguished this year.
Damien Roche’s start-up develops a medical device that aims to help people with reduced mobility and dependent elderly people to walk again safely.
“This award will enable us to advance in the R&D development of the product in order to offer an alternative to wheelchair placement as quickly as possible to eligible patients,” explains Damien.
During his training at IFP School and as part of the “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” module, Damien benefited from customized support to create his company:
- assistance with patent filing from Nicolas Schmitt of the IFP Energies nouvelles’ legal department;
- advice from Sébastien Bianchi, Energy and Markets program manager, to draw up a business plan and
- financing of a part of the prototype in the FabLab on the CESI's campus in Nanterre, a partner of IFP School.
“As soon as he arrived at the School, Damien told us about his project” notes Ludivine Pidol, Supervisor of the Advanced-master degree in Powertrains -Combustion, Electric and Hybrid program and former head of the “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” module.
“We were hooked by his enthusiasm and by the project’s values of solidarity” she adds.
“I would like to thank all those who have helped me at IFP School for their trust and support” says Damien Roche. “Your support has helped us to get us to where we are today!”
Due to the health crisis, the 2020 i-Lab awards ceremony will take place in the fall.
IFP School congratulates Damien Roche and his team!