Mirova teams up with Banque des Territoires for its societal impact first investment into Neosilver
September 12, 2024
The aim of this €4 million round of financing is to accelerate the development of Neosilver, a young company dedicated to providing support for the elderly. Led by Mirova, it also includes Banque des Territoires, which helps companies and firms specialized in the “aging well” field. This deal stands as a milestone in the financing of innovative solutions for the development of “Tech for Good” and a more inclusive transition.
Founded in 2018 in Paris by Jean Hennequin and Omar Bennouna, Neosilver addresses the societal challenges of loss of independence and isolation among the elderly. It offers collective prevention activities aimed at seniors aged 60 and over, whether they live at home or in a nursing home. In order to meet the needs of its partners, it has developed a B2B digital platform that puts senior accommodation facilities in touch with qualified professionals to facilitate the organisation of workshops – well-being, sport, arts and crafts, cultural outings, etc. – to foster community spirit and maintain social links within the host establishments.
While the proportion of people aged over 65 in the total population of the European Union has risen steadily over recent decades, it is estimated that they will represent 31.3% of the EU population by the end of the century, compared with 20.8%1 today. Among its recommendations for prolonging life expectancy in good health, the World Health Organization advises the pursuit of moderate physical activity as part of a policy that gives priority to social ties and community programs.
Neosilver's solution makes a significant contribution to physical and psychological well-being and to maintaining social ties for senior citizens, and thus contributes directly to Sustainable Development Goal N°3: “Good Health and Well-being”2. The solutions provided by Neosilver have already demonstrated their strong impact: 75% of participants said they had a better vision of the future and 97% felt less isolated at the end of the workshops3. By 2022, the company had organized over 8,200 events with more than 67,000 senior citizens4. In 2023, Neosilver won the “Creating, maintaining social links and fighting isolation” category of the Carenews Top 50, which singles out the 50 associations and companies with the greatest impact. Neosilver's quality and ambition have also been recognized by the IMPACT40 index, which showcases French companies which have a positive impact and the future unicorns of the social economy.
The funds will enable Neosilver to pursue its development in France, as well as in Spain and Germany, and to continue upgrading and optimizing its service platform.
"Neosilver was born out of our desire to create a company with a strong social impact, in response to the challenges of aging and the isolation of elderly people. Today, we believe that all businesses should have an impact. It is especially thanks to the support of major players in the field of ageing well and to the assistance of Viva Lab, the Assurance Retraite accelerator, that our project has gained such traction in France. We are very grateful to Mirova and Banque des Territoires for their trust and support, which should enable us to pursue our development in France and abroad."
Jean Hennequin et Omar Bennouna
Co-Founders & CEO, Neosilver
"We are delighted to have chosen a high-impact startup like Neosilver. Its vision of impact entrepreneurship perfectly embodies the spirit of our strategy, which offers institutional and retail investors the opportunity to combine positive societal impact with attractive potential returns."
Judith-Laure Mamou-Mani
Senior Investment Director, Mirova
"The digital platform developed by Neosilver has demonstrated its strong impact in helping to improve the quality of life of the elderly and combat social isolation. As such, it is perfectly in line with our actions in favor of Better Living and social cohesion in all geographical areas."
Christophe Genter
Head of the Social and Territorial Cohesion Department, Banque des Territoires