For its second edition in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the “Épopée Deloitte Les 40” ranking reveals the 40 individuals under the age of 40 who embody the region’s entrepreneurial dynamism. Charlotte Abadie-Fillol (Mericq), Julie Boureau (Ramdam Social) and Martin Merling (Groupe Merling) top the 2026 list, which was unveiled at an event in Bordeaux on 31 March. With 32 new winners — representing an 80% turnover rate — this edition demonstrates the vitality and constant renewal of the entrepreneurial fabric of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
A list of winners that reflects the region’s diversity and innovation
Nouvelle-Aquitaine is establishing itself as one of France’s most dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems, and this ranking is a reflection of that. Family businesses, mid-sized companies and start-ups: all sectors of the regional economy are represented here, across a remarkable range of industries and business models. Fourteen winners are at the helm of family businesses that embody a deep-rooted connection to the local area and the passing down of expertise across several generations — from Charles Bernardaud (Bernardaud Group, Limoges porcelain since 1863) to Henry Potez (Potez Aéronautique, with over 110 years of history), via Eliott Bernard (Bernard Group) and Saskia de Rothschild (Domaines Barons de Rothschild). These leaders ensure the longevity of regional flagship companies whilst resolutely steering them towards the future.
Alongside them, nearly twenty award-winners at the helm of start-ups and innovative companies demonstrate the region’s capacity for innovation. Pioneers in deep tech, green tech and health tech — Alexandre Mangeot (HyPrSpace, hybrid-propulsion space launchers), Hugo Cartron (Nova Carbon, carbon fibre recycling), Nicolas Pages (Satelia, cardiac remote monitoring), Michael Fernandez-Ferri (Vela – Sails for Good, transatlantic sailing transport) — demonstrate a region capable of driving projects with global ambition from within its own borders. This list of winners thus confirms that Nouvelle-Aquitaine is able to both preserve its industrial heritage and embrace the most disruptive innovation.
40% women: female representation on the rise
This second edition sends a strong signal regarding the representation of women in regional entrepreneurship, with women accounting for 40% of the ranking – 16 out of 40 winners. Even more significantly, of the 32 new entrants, 15 are women – nearly half of the new additions. They lead start-ups, such as Camille Guérin (ALTERIA Biosolutions), Madeleine Moscatelli (BeLiver) and Atlal Boudir (LOUISE), as well as leading family businesses — Astrid Colas-Salin (Maison Salin), Marie Lecal-Michaud (FMA Group, France’s leading honey buyer) — and key players in the tech and social economy sectors — Bérengère Alart (HelloAsso), Sandrine Poilpré (Keenat). A profound and lasting transformation of entrepreneurship in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
“This generation of entrepreneurs proves that in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, we can both revitalise traditional sectors and pioneer the industries of tomorrow. There is no longer any doubt about the wealth and depth of this region — it has everything it needs to establish itself as a true hub of economic sovereignty on a European scale,” comments Camille Le Roux Larsabal, venture capital partner at Épopée Gestion.
Sovereignty and regions: at the heart of the debate
The evening featured a panel discussion on sovereignty and the challenges facing the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, bringing together three award winners whose career paths perfectly embody this theme. Clara Vaisse (Pony), co-founder of one of Europe’s leading micro-mobility companies; Sylvain Théon (Terres du Sud), managing director of Lot-et-Garonne’s first cooperative, which brings together 6,000 farmers and 1,500 employees around a locally rooted and sustainable food model; and Matthieu Calès (Cap Ingelec), CEO of this mid-sized company specialising in the engineering of complex buildings, discussed concrete measures to strengthen the autonomy and resilience of regions. The conversation highlighted how entrepreneurs from very different backgrounds share a common conviction: economic sovereignty is built day by day, company by company, region by region.
The panel discussion was followed by a speech from Marc Prikazsky, the evening’s guest of honour and chairman of Ceva Santé Animale, a global leader in animal health headquartered in Gironde. Drawing on his remarkable career, Marc Prikazsky shared his vision of leadership and international growth with this young generation of entrepreneurs, offering valuable insights to support the collective ambition of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Ronan Le Moal and Charles Cabillic, co-founders of Épopée Gestion, say: “These 40 talented individuals embody what we see every day on the ground: leaders who combine economic performance, a strong local presence and a long-term vision. Whether they are family businesses passed down through the generations or up-and-coming start-ups, they are helping to make Nouvelle-Aquitaine a region of entrepreneurial excellence.”
Mathieu Perromat and Stéphane Lemanissier, Deloitte partners in the South-West region, add: “Through Épopée Gestion, we wanted to shine a spotlight on a generation of entrepreneurs who demonstrate that, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, it is possible to reconcile economic sovereignty, innovation and a strong local presence. These 40 winners demonstrate that, starting from the regions, it is possible to build high-performing and sustainable models that serve a European, or even global, ambition. At Deloitte, we are proud to support them and to contribute, alongside them, to the influence of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine ecosystem.”