Who are we ?

The Group

Our Investment Philosophy

Courtin Investment was founded in October 2015 by entrepreneur and Business Angel Christophe COURTIN.

We aim to help entrepreneurs develop their business by proving financing, consulting and peer support.

We invest in companies headquartered in Europe and North America.
Courtin Investment selects startup that have already started and whose turnover is existing and growing strongly.

We are not in a hurry ! Our time horizon will essentially depend on the entrepreneur's objectives.

We invest alongside entrepreneurs who remain operational managers and majority stakeholders in their business. We act like a financial partner and key advisor.

We invests between €25.000 and €250.000 in each company.

Our values and commitments

Fast, flexible growth

We believe that any successful company has three basic pillars : a consistent business model, high-achieving leaders and minority stakeholders able to provide the consulting and the financial support.

For small and medium sized-businesses

As regards SMBs, we believe that risk-taking, responsiveness and pragmatism are key ingredients for success.

Investments with no strings attached

We believe that Investors should encourage quick decision making and should leave the business leader free to act as he sees fit, for the good of his company.

The founder

Christophe Courtin, founder and CEO of Courtin Investment(Groupe Courtin), is a French entrepreneur, company director and business angel.

Christophe Courtin has founded several companies, starting with the Santiane Group, which put him on the national and international map by becoming France's leading health insurance broker.

With a Master's degree in Project Management, Christophe began his entrepreneurial career at a very early age.

In 1999, aged 20 and in parallel with his studies in Paris, he founded his first start-up with some friends: an e-learning company aimed at students in preparatory classes.

 

In 2001, aged 22, he set up Best-Price, which he successfully sold a year later.

 

In 2006, aged 27, he created Santiane.fr, a new-generation health insurance comparator, which, combined with a wholesale insurance business called Néoliane, founded in 2010, would become the "Santiane Group".

 

In 2012, Christophe Courtin was awarded the "E&Y / L'EXPRESS Entrepreneur of the Year Prize" in the Innovation category for his work with the Santiane Group.

 

In 2015, he sold the Santiane Group to BlackFin Capital Partners, while retaining a significant minority stake and a seat on the Supervisory Board. At the time of the sale, the group had around 300 employees at three sites (Paris, Nice and Casablanca) and generated sales of around €50 million in 2015.

 

To support his ambitions, Christophe has raised funds from investors such as BNP Paribas Private Equity in 2011 (€5 million), Sagard in 2013 (€40 million), and BlackFin Capital Partners in 2015 and 2018 for divestments and exits.

 

With the Santiane Group, he has completed four major financial transactions in seven years, including an LBO followed by a full exit at the age of 36.

 

In 2015, drawing on his experience of rapid growth and his good understanding of development capital transactions, Christophe decided to found :

 

  • Courtin Investment, whose aim is to finance and support entrepreneurs as business angels in the development of their start-ups.
  • Courtin Promotion to renovate and build eco-responsible property in the south of France, particularly in Sophia Antipolis.

 

In 2017, Christophe Courtin joined the Jury of the Paris Dauphine Incubator and became a Mentor to help certain entrepreneurs get their projects off the ground.

 

In 2018, he invested in Side Capital and became a Partner.

 

In 2020, he also invested in AngelSquare and became a Partner, reinforcing his strong commitment to the French entrepreneurial ecosystem.

 

These combined investments, as a Business Angel, enable it to directly and indirectly support more than 800 start-ups in France.

 

In 2020, alongside these previous ventures, he founded and ran FLEX-O, which offers flexible office space in major French cities.

 

In 2022, Christophe Courtin has announced the consolidation of his various companies and activities, bringing together around fifty of them under a single umbrella: GROUPE COURTIN.

 

In 2024, Christophe Courtin announced the creation of SaaSOffice, a SaaS platform dedicated to workspaces. This new entity becomes the fourth branch of his group, joining property development (COURTIN PROMOTION), a property company (COURTIN GESTION), an operator of flexible workspaces (FLEX-O) and a venture capital company (COURTIN INVESTMENT).

 

AWARDS RECEIVED

Christophe Courtin has been recognised on several occasions for his entrepreneurial spirit and his impact on the business world.

 

In 2023, Christophe Courtin received 3 awards in 2 different sectors of activity:

  • Courtin Promotion (Groupe Courtin) has been named "Growth Champion" by Les Echos, ranking second among the fastest-growing companies in France (out of more than 5 million companies).
  • Courtin Promotion is the winner of the SIMI 2023 Grand Prix for a new office building of over 100,000 sq.ft for its Centrium development.
  • Christophe Courtin has been ranked "France's leading business angel" by Challenges magazine in partnership with Angelsquare) in 2023.

 

In 2024, new distinctions and major interventions

 

February 2024: For the second year running, Courtin Promotion is ranked in the TOP 5 of "Growth Champions" in France by Les Echos, with the company ranked third among the fastest-growing companies in France (out of more than 5 million companies).

 

March 2024: Courtin Promotion was also ranked 28th (across all sectors' in the FT's "Europe's fastest-growing companies" ranking, published by the Financial Times, and first among the fastest-growing property companies in Europe, with an average annual growth rate of 229.9%.

 

April 2024: Christophe Courtin was the guest of honour before more than 400 leaders of France's leading property groups, to present his vision of property and new ways of working at the BigUp event organised by Businessimmo (Costar Group)

 

July 2024: Christophe Courtin is the KEY SPEAKER at the Cercle de l'Union Interalliée in Paris, in front of 600 executives at the annual CFNEWS IMMO Grand Prix. This prestigious and influential event brought together leaders from the real estate industry to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

 

July 2024: Christophe Courtin is awarded the "Maillot Jaune des Entrepreneurs" for his entrepreneurial career with FLEX-O.

 

September 2024: Christophe Courtin gives a landmark interview in Décideurs Magazine, in which he looks back on his entrepreneurial career, notably with Santiane and Courtin Promotion. He shares his innovative vision for transforming real estate, focusing on eco-responsible buildings and flexible office spaces like Flex-O, adapted to companies' new expectations.

 

October 2024: Christophe Courtin was interviewed by MIPIM, one of the world's leading property, as part of its "Perspectives by Mipim". The article, entitled "Christophe Courtin: 'L'immobilier à 2000km/h'", highlights his career as an entrepreneur and his desire to revolutionise the property sector through technology.

 

December 2024: Christophe Courtin was interviewed at the SIMI, where he shared his perspective on the changes underway and the current property crisis, as well as information about his group, which brings together several complementary activities.

 

December 2024: Les Echos published an article on changes in the property sector, highlighting Christophe Courtin's companies and his innovative vision. Courtin Promotion is cited for its key role in adapting workspaces to meet companies' new expectations. The article also highlights Flex-O, which offers flexible and sustainable offices that are adapted to changing working patterns. Christophe Courtin stresses the importance of innovation in meeting the current challenges facing major business districts.

 

SOCIETAL COMMITMENT

In July 2024, Courtin Promotion and Flex-O became " Mission-Oriented Company", amending their articles of association to include social and environmental objectives, affirming Christophe's commitment to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.