Symphony is a cloud-based messaging and collaboration platform that connects markets, organizations and individuals, securely. Team Côte d’Azur facilitated their integration into the local ecosystem. David Gurlé, founder and CEO, explains why this investment on the Côte d’Azur is a strategic move for Symphony.
What does Symphony do?
Our communication platform is powered by an open and growing app ecosystem, and protected with customer-owned encryption keys, it increases workflow productivity while facilitating global regulatory compliance. Already the platform of choice for the financial services industry, Symphony eliminates inefficient workflows to boost productivity in information-driven businesses. Symphony now employs 242 persons worldwide and has over 303,000 licensed users, mainly financial professionals, a sector in which the confidentiality of exchanges is fundamental. Our growth is accompanied by a growing diversification of its client portfolio, which now includes players in the banking, insurance and healthcare sectors, as well as high-level law firms. We are now expanding to other sectors where the transmission of information, collaboration and security are important
Why choose the Côte d’Azur ?
With offices in Palo Alto, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Stockholm and London, Symphony decided to establish a new research and development center in the biggest European tech center, Sophia Antipolis in January 2018. We selected the site following a review of fifteen locations globally. Eventually, I plan to dedicate additional resources and focus to this center and recruit around a hundred engineers. We are focusing on France not only for its research and development activities, but also for its commercial potential. We will expand our sales team in Paris that will operate throughout the European market. The opening of this research and development center in France is the result of a strategic decision linked to the density of the innovation ecosystem, entrepreneurship in France and the dynamism of the French tech. I have a real interest in investing in France: it is a country that trains very talented engineers and knows how to build international champions.
What support do you get from Team Côte d’Azur ?
Jean François Chapperon from Team Côte d’Azur was key to help us understand the options for office locations in Sophia Antipolis. He provided our team with a list of options to investigate and visit, narrowing our search. Ultimately, we chose Pearl Partner, an office with a fantastic size and location for what our research & development team needs. Jeff was also extremely knowledgeable about local talent and R&D grant incentives in the area.
What are the development prospects of Symphony on the Côte d’Azur ?
As new services are integrated, four goals guide our platform’s development in 2018: effective communication and collaboration, the implementation of efficient and automated workflows, data protection and customization of services. Our drive for innovation at every stage of growth is now reaffirmed by the opening of this research and development center in France. This new center will be a critical catalyst of this innovation.
