A new brand identity for the Centrale Nantes, Audencia and Nantes University incubator

Kivo, plural energies for singular projects

Today, the three institutions revealed the new name of their incubator: Kivo. Short and universal, Kivo expresses the idea of moving forward, daring and innovating. Its name is inspired by ‘Ki’, the vital energy in Japan. It is extended with “Vo”, which evokes movement and ascension, and whose ‘ivo’ sound echoes innovation. Together, they embody the DNA of this multidisciplinary incubator, where entrepreneurs with complementary profiles come together.

Beyond just a name, this identity conveys a vision: to give every project leader the courage to take risks, the space to experiment and the responsibility to create businesses that matter within a unique, multidisciplinary incubator.

Three-way governance to foster the startups of tomorrow

Last May, Nantes University joined the governance of the incubator, which has been run by Centrale Nantes and Audencia since 2013. This merger marked a decisive step in the construction of a model that is unique in France: an incubator rooted in three complementary academic fields – science, engineering and management – with rich and active alumni networks.

By combining these skills, Kivo has become a rallying point for entrepreneurs (engineers, researchers, business managers) united under one roof to transform innovative ideas into businesses.

One of the unique aspects of the Kivo incubator is its proximity to the institutions' research laboratories and experimental platforms, which enables the emergence of deep tech start-ups and technology-intensive entrepreneurship.

Focused on deep tech entrepreneurship while remaining open to all types of innovation, the incubator has, to date, supported more than 170 projects, created 140 businesses and generated more than 1,300 jobs in the Pays de la Loire region.

 

A new intake of start-ups and a call for applications

This announcement is accompanied by the arrival, at the end of September, of a new intake of five start-ups, including the first three projects incubated by Nantes University: Mottronix (quantum microelectronic components), Blue2 (CO₂ recycling using microalgae) and Cathsubio (monitoring of underwater biological deposits), as well as Auralys Audio (immersive audio experience) and CarDoc (centralised and secure vehicle history) from Centrale Nantes and Audencia respectively. A range of workshops, coaching, project monitoring, accommodation, mentoring and funding are on offer to help them launch their innovative businesses over the next six months.

At the same time, the Kivo incubator is launching a new call for applications from 27 October to 23 November 2025. It is open to graduates and faculty members from the three institutions who wish to bring an entrepreneurial project to fruition. This is a unique opportunity to benefit from structured and recognised support, which has already led to the success of several regional innovation flagships, such as NextFlow Software, acquired by Siemens in 2021, and BHealthcare, which is revolutionising blood sampling with its autonomous robot.