With extensive experience supporting business creation projects in the fields of construction, mobility infrastructure, energy services, and real estate, Leonard has backed 215 innovative initiatives since 2017, prioritizing environmental challenges, the rise of artificial intelligence, and industrial innovation.
Selected by a jury of VINCI experts and sector investors, the 42 innovative solutions in the 2026 cohort will benefit from six to twelve months of support from Leonard’s experts, aiming to address major challenges in construction and real estate, energy services, and mobility infrastructure.
“The 2026 cohort reaffirms our innovation ecosystem’s commitment to tackling critical challenges in the construction, energy, and mobility sectors. From the resilience of energy networks and infrastructure flexibility to improving safety conditions on worksites, Leonard continues to support the most promising companies and projects that will enhance environmental impact, productivity, and safety in construction professions in France and internationally.” said Julien Villalongue, Managing Director of Leonard.
SEED: 9 deeptech startups to discover!
Discover the 2026 cohort of the SEED program
As part of the SEED program, Leonard supports early-stage startups for six months to help them launch and grow their innovative projects, all the way to their first fundraising round.
In addition to financial support (€60,000 in the form of BSA Air) and workspace at Leonard’s headquarters in Paris, these companies benefit from the expertise of VINCI executives to validate the relevance of their projects, as well as access to a network of over one hundred French and international business angels and venture capital investors.
Nine startups have been selected to join the 2026 cohort. Based in France, the United Kingdom, and Australia, these young companies are developing innovative solutions in a wide range of fields, including industrial decarbonization, robotics, AI, energy infrastructure, and worksite safety.
Among the projects supported this year: a static, cable-free charging solution for electric vehicles using induction; a burner that uses recycled iron powder to deliver clean, CO₂-free energy; and ready-to-use connected devices designed to prevent collision risks with construction machinery.
Startups supported through the SEED program will be connected to an alumni network that provides strategic insights on emerging technologies in VINCI’s business sectors and will benefit from thematic workshops organized by Leonard.
Since 2019, SEED program startups have raised a total of €69.7 million and created more than 300 jobs (including the 2026 cohort).
CATALYST: 9 innovative solutions ready to scale up
Discover the 2026 cohort of the CATALYST program
Through the CATALYST program, Leonard supports mature solutions in bringing their projects to life by providing the means to deploy innovative services and products in partnership with VINCI entities.
Leonard offers these solutions a “one-stop shop”: personalized support for their projects—from initial contact to contract signing—and privileged access to VINCI’s projects and decision-making bodies. International solutions also receive assistance for setting up operations in France.
In 2026, nine innovative companies from five countries will be supported through this program. The selected startups offer solutions in diverse fields, including energy, Contech, AI and robotics, and workforce safety.
Since its launch in 2019, the CATALYST program has expanded to 14 countries, identified 71 innovative solutions, and contributed to the signing of more than 1,000 contracts. In total, the supported companies have raised over €1.7 billion (including the 2026 cohort).
Intrapreneurs: 11 new projects led by VINCI employees
Leonard’s Intrapreneurs program supports innovative projects led by VINCI employees and companies to foster the emergence of new activities within the Group’s businesses.
In 2026, the program will support 11 projects, most of which stand out for their strong commitment to environmental responsibility, contributing to VINCI’s environmental ambitions. These projects offer solutions aimed at reducing the ecological footprint of construction projects and optimizing resource use.
Since 2017, the Intrapreneurs program has proven its value by supporting 85 projects, 118 intrapreneurs, and creating 36 new entities, departments, or services within VINCI.
AI: 13 new projects putting AI at the service of VINCI’s businesses
Selected on December 18, the new 2026 AI Track cohort at Leonard includes 13 internal projects with a clear goal: to continue developing AI within VINCI’s businesses to support and anticipate future changes.
Designed to help VINCI entities conceive and develop their AI solutions, Leonard’s AI program offers structured, personalized support for teams, combining technical expertise, methodological guidance, strategic support, and data science training (300 hours of courses).
In 2026, 13 new projects will be supported in the following areas:
• Energy efficiency
• On-site safety improvement
• Optimization of design offices
• Production optimization on construction sites
• Improved project scheduling
• Smart City
These projects will receive support from Leonard until June 2026. After that, they will be taken over by VINCI companies for industrialization, while Leonard’s experts gradually step back.
In six years, the AI program has achieved:
- 80 projects developed with VINCI business units
- 15 countries involved
- 2 PhD theses
- 12 centers of excellence worldwide
- More than 250 people trained
