- Solaya, a Nice-based startup specialising in AI-powered 3D perception, is among the 14 new winners of the France 2030 “Innovative Technologies for Immersive Virtual Worlds” call for projects, announced on 17 June 2026 by the French Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs.
- The selected project, called REAL 3DS, focuses on developing a solution that automatically reconstructs textured 3D models from smartphone videos.
- The award confirms the momentum of a company that had already been selected as a winner of the France 2030 “Convergence IA” challenges and completed a $2 million funding round in February 2026 led by New York-based venture capital firm Betaworks.
National recognition for a promising Côte d’Azur startup
The “Innovative Technologies for Immersive Virtual Worlds” call for projects, led by the French Directorate General for Enterprise in partnership with the General Secretariat for Investment and operated by Bpifrance, is designed to support French companies developing innovative immersive solutions. The objective is to overcome technological barriers, industrialise sovereign solutions and strengthen the position of French companies in European and international markets.
Immersive technologies have practical applications across industry, healthcare, training, engineering and research, and represent a significant driver of competitiveness and digital sovereignty.
Solaya is directly contributing to this ambition with REAL 3DS, which enables textured 3D models to be automatically reconstructed from a simple smartphone video, without the need for specialised equipment.
Solaya therefore joins a cohort of 14 selected companies alongside players such as Emersya, Immersion, Uptale and Avatar Médical, as part of the third wave of the call for projects.
A growth trajectory rooted on the Côte d’Azur
Founded in Nice in April 2024 by Massimo Moretti and Mariem Farhat, Solaya is making 3D modelling more accessible through AI and computer vision. Its technology transforms real-world objects into high-fidelity 3D models, with applications spanning e-commerce, industrial digitalisation, digital twins and robotics. The startup’s customers include LVMH, Mattel, Karl Lagerfeld, SNCF and Dassault Systèmes, and it is targeting the 3D perception market, which is estimated to reach nearly $188 billion by 2030.
Since its creation, Solaya has drawn on the Côte d’Azur technology ecosystem to support its growth. The startup has turned its local roots into a competitive advantage, working in particular with Team Nice Côte d’Azur to strengthen its integration within the Côte d’Azur’s entrepreneurial and technology ecosystem. This latest national recognition illustrates the region’s ability to foster and support high-potential artificial intelligence startups with international reach.
Source: Direction générale des entreprises (France 2030) / Team Nice Côte d’Azur
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