At Viva Technology, FDJ Group presented an experiential booth showcasing around twenty experiments and technologies, most of which were co-created with startups from its ecosystem. The solutions displayed to the public were centered around the Group’s five main innovation topics (GSI). Flashback on this event with Pierre Brousseau, Director of FDJ Ventures.
Although FDJ had visited Viva Technology every year, this was the first time the Group had its own booth. “After the privatization and IPO at the end of 2019, the Group decided to accelerate its innovation efforts. After the health crisis and, in 2022, our first Inno Day at the Group’s headquarters, the time had come,” says Pierre Brousseau. “It’s still not widely known, but FDJ is a tech company. Our Open Inno approach was initiated back in 2015, we manage over 5 billion transactions per year, operate 6,000 virtual servers, and 30% of our employees work in IT.”
Regarding the design of this first booth at VivaTech, Pierre Brousseau mentions: “It was intended to be as experiential as possible, bringing that fun and entertaining touch that matches FDJ’s DNA. It highlights real projects co-developed with startups and is organized around our five main innovation topics.”
The Future of Gambling was represented by InnoMillions, a futuristic lottery game specifically designed for the event. Jean-Pierre Foucault was not present at the 2023 edition of Viva Technology, but participants were able to interact with the hologram of the host. His role was to present the game and its modern, immersive draws, offering tickets for the Paris 2024 Olympic events. This experience was made possible by the collaboration of three startups with FDJ teams: Pump for the creation of the scripted draws, Fosfor for the holographic booth, and Blackfoot for the web app development.
Regarding the Future of the Player Experience, thanks to a collaboration with the startup Actronika, visitors were able to test haptic technology (the science of touch) that recreated the scratching sensation on the FDJ lottery app’s games on their smartphones. Other experiments highlighted player protection. The Yoti startup’s algorithm, which estimated the player’s age based on facial features, ensured that players were over 18 before they could use the FDJ app.
In the Omnichannel Distribution corner, visitors discovered physical-digital experiences, such as the holographic tablet from Holo Industries, which allowed users to select FDJ games without contact. The Group also showcased Nirio, its new payment services enabling French people to pay their bills and rent at certain FDJ points of sale.
During VivaTech, the Group unveiled its ambitions and projects in Web3, the new decentralized internet based on blockchain. Visitors were able to view the first images of Ultimate Numbers, its new generation game based on NFTs. “This game was co-developed with the French startup Cometh, in which FDJ Ventures invested in early 2022,” Pierre Brousseau explains. “This collaboration perfectly illustrates the win-win relationship FDJ seeks to develop with startups relevant to our five main innovation topics.”
Visitors could also immerse themselves in the FDJ space within the metaverse The Sandbox and discover co-developed experiences and adventures with BEM Builders.
Lastly, the Tech for Good corner highlighted a lottery game project that allowed visitors to support their favorite biodiversity charity. “This project was co-developed with the French startup Captain Cause, co-founded by Frédéric Mazzella, also supported by FDJ Ventures,” says Pierre Brousseau. Through collaboration with the startup Umay, the Group aimed to show that technology could serve to strengthen the societal role of its points of sale, such as through the fight against street harassment.
This innovation strategy has enabled FDJ to build a network that also contributes to the development of French Tech, echoing the Group’s purpose, its commitments to society, and its slogan “Making a win-win.”
“FDJ Ventures has an investment capacity of over 100 million euros in startups and venture capital funds to finance young companies and support their development,” says Pierre Brousseau.
The Group broadly supports the French Tech ecosystem through its partnerships with startup accelerators, associations (e.g., France Digitale, La French Tech Corporate Community), and think tanks.
In total, more than 400 French or European startups are supported, either directly or indirectly, by FDJ, including 23 within the French Tech 120 index.
Finally, the Group made two announcements at VivaTech.
- FDJ is supporting the government initiative “Je choisis la French Tech” aimed at doubling the use of startup solutions by public and private stakeholders by 2027.
- FDJ Ventures also participated in the launch of the France Invest Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) Club.
