France

The first edition of the Paris Creator Week took place at Station F in Paris this week. It brought together content creators, brands, and industry experts to dive into the booming creator economy. This sector, valued at $180–250 billion globally in 2023 and growing at 15% annually, is expected to double in the next five years. The event aimed to position France as the leader in the European creator economy. Here are the key takeaways from the event. Lessons from France’s top podcaster, Matthieu Stefani Matthieu Stefani is the leading podcaster in France with GDIY (Generation Do It Yourself), and is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the creator economy. During his conference at Paris Creator Week, he shared his approach to building a successful podcast. His main advice: passion is essential. Content creation should always come from a genuine interest in the subject matter. He also emphasized the importance of working with sponsors you truly believe in. If a sponsorship feels forced or insincere, it risks alienating your audience. Matthieu pointed out that, in the creator economy, it’s not the number of subscribers that matters but their quality. For example, a podcast on entrepreneurship with 500 founders as listeners is more valuable than millions of followers with no connection to the topic. He also shared that his podcast saw a 40% increase in new listeners this year, proving there’s still room for new voices in podcasting. CYRILmp4: Balancing content creation and entrepreneurship Cyril MP4, a content creator with over 5 million YouTube subscribers, spoke about balancing content creation and entrepreneurship. He believes every content creator is also an entrepreneur. Cyril has built multiple companies around his content. However, it hasn’t been smooth sailing. He mentioned taking a one-year break from YouTube to recalibrate and refocus. His key advice: organization is crucial. As creators scale, finding the right balance between producing content and managing business operations becomes essential. Making corporate communication engaging: the role of content creation Corporate communication can often feel dry, but there are ways to make it more engaging and relatable. One of the best ways to do this is by putting faces to the brand. Whether it’s the CEO, employees, or content creators who authentically represent the company. After all, a business is made up of people, and showing the human side of a brand helps build trust and connection with the audience. A great example of this is Orange’s Better Program, where influencers are invited to spend time at the company’s offices to learn about its innovations. These influencers then share their experiences with their followers, offering a more personal touch to the brand. It’s not just about promoting a product; it’s about showing the people and values behind it. Creating engaging content is another key to making corporate communication resonate. L’Oréal did this brilliantly by turning a traditional financial report into something visually appealing and digital-friendly, which garnered 3 million views. They proved that even dry corporate content can be transformed into something captivating when done creatively. In the same vein, Orange used content creators to create over 1,000 posts leading up to the Olympics, and nearly 400 posts during the event. This real-time, engaging content kept the brand at the forefront of the conversation and connected with audiences in a natural, authentic way. The key takeaway? To make corporate communication sexy, brands need to humanize their message—by putting real people in front of it, whether it’s through influencers, employees, or leaders—and make it engaging, whether through creative content or authentic storytelling. It’s all about finding the right balance between authenticity and creativity. How to work with content creators ? When working with influencers, it’s important to give them the freedom to bring their own creativity into the collaboration. They understand their audience best and know how to deliver the message. More and more, brands are turning to micro and nano-influencers. While they may have smaller followings, these influencers tend to have highly engaged and loyal audiences, making them an excellent choice for brands looking to target specific, niche markets. Ultimately, the key to a successful influencer partnership is authenticity. When influencers genuinely believe in the brand and share its values, their content feels more trustworthy and organic, which leads to a stronger connection with their audience. Although Paris Creator Week 2024 has ended, check out our upcoming events here – we’ve got some exciting opportunities lined up for you !

Data privacy has become a critical issue in the digital age, and Zama is at the forefront with its innovative homomorphic encryption solutions. Co-founded by Pascal Paillier and Rand Hindi in 2020, the company aims to protect sensitive data through Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), a groundbreaking technology that allows computations on encrypted data without exposure. As businesses and industries navigate increasing privacy concerns, Zama’s encryption solutions transform data usage in sectors like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, healthcare, and finance. A Visionary Start in Data Privacy The inspiration behind Zama arose from the urgent need to balance data privacy with functionality in an increasingly data-driven world. “Zama was born out of a desire to solve the paradox of enabling secure data usage without compromising privacy,” shares Jeremy Bradley, Zama’s COO. This vision has evolved from a research-focused concept to a fully accessible and user-friendly encryption platform, making significant strides in deploying advanced cryptographic solutions that promise to revolutionize industries reliant on big data. The Core Technology: Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) At the heart of Zama’s innovation lies homomorphic encryption, a transformative advancement in the encryption landscape. Traditional encryption methods require data to be decrypted for processing, which exposes it to security risks. “FHE allows data to remain encrypted during computations,” explains Bradley. This capability is vital for sectors such as healthcare and finance, where secure data processing is paramount. Their technology ensures privacy while maintaining high performance, providing practical solutions to real-world challenges. “We’ve optimized our cryptographic algorithms to ensure our solutions are both secure and efficient,” Bradley notes. Zama’s Competitive Edge in Encryption What sets Zama apart from other encryption providers is its commitment to usability and performance. While many competitors focus on theoretical advancements, Zama is dedicated to making homomorphic encryption accessible to developers without requiring extensive cryptographic knowledge. “We emphasize open-source tools, making our technology widely available for innovation and collaboration,” Bradley states. This approach cultivates a community-driven ecosystem where privacy-preserving applications can flourish. Overcoming Challenges in Cryptographic Solutions Developing cryptographic solutions presents numerous challenges, and Zama has faced its share. “Balancing security with performance has been one of our biggest challenges,” admits Bradley. FHE is inherently computationally intensive, but the company has made significant strides in refining the technology to ensure it’s practical for everyday use. Collaborations with the cryptographic research community have been essential in overcoming these challenges and pushing the possible boundaries. Expanding Impact Across Industries and Use Cases Zama envisions a future where FHE is a foundational technology across various sectors. In finance, FHE enables secure data analysis without exposing sensitive information. In healthcare, it allows patient data to be processed securely while adhering to privacy regulations. Governments can also benefit from FHE, ensuring secure data sharing across departments. “We see homomorphic encryption as the bedrock of privacy-preserving innovation,” Bradley emphasizes, highlighting their long-term vision. Zama’s Flagship Product: Concrete In its mission to democratize homomorphic encryption, Zama recently launched Concrete. This is an open-source encryption library designed for efficiency and ease of use. “Concrete allows developers to integrate FHE into their applications without needing to be cryptography experts,” says Bradley. The product will significantly impact the industry by enabling more developers to create secure, privacy-preserving applications. Looking Ahead: Zama’s Strategic Goals Looking to the future, Zama’s strategic goals are clear: to expand the adoption of homomorphic encryption across industries and continue optimizing its solutions. “We’re focused on building a robust ecosystem of developers and partners around our open-source tools,” Bradley shares. By fostering innovation and staying at the forefront of encryption research, Zama is positioned to shape the future of data privacy. Zama’s journey exemplifies the power of visionary leadership and groundbreaking technology. With a focus on practicality, performance, and privacy, Zama is setting new standards for encryption in the digital age. “We’re committed to protecting privacy without compromising functionality,” Bradley emphasizes — a promise that solidifies Zama’s status as a leader in secure data processing.

Sesamers attended the ALL4PACK event in Paris, where we explored cutting-edge solutions transforming the packaging industry. From eco-friendly materials to advanced digital tools, these startups are reshaping packaging for the F&B sector and beyond. Here’s a breakdown of the innovative companies we met. Proper Packaging (Eco-Friendly Materials and Processes) Reusable and Circular Packaging Solutions Digital Tools for Packaging and Delivery Efficiency Authentication and Brand Protection Boost Your Startup’s Visibility Are you a startup in the packaging industry with a sustainable or innovative solution? List your startup here to increase visibility among key players in F&B and packaging sectors. We might also feature your startup in one of our articles !