The French startup A2D, specializing in automated data processing, analysis and interpretation, has just announced that it has managed to raise 500,000 euros. We had the opportunity to speak with Pierre Loonis, founder and CEO of this innovative company, who enlightened us on his journey and his future projects.
Everything you need to know about A2D
Who are you ?
I am Pierre Loonis. In my first professional career, I was a university professor in establishments in France and Malaysia. My areas of expertise focus on image processing and analysis as well as decision support systems, particularly artificial intelligence.
I ended my academic career in January 2018, after having held a position, for 4 years, at the service of the merger of the Centrale Paris and Supélec schools, at the heart of the construction of the University of Paris-Saclay. The emergence of aerial drones and the increase in lower-cost computing capacities have made it possible to implement our complex algorithms in industrial contexts. This is how A2D was born at the end of 2017, a young innovative company specializing in the automated processing, analysis and interpretation of data acquired in an external environment.
What exactly is A2D’s activity?
In 2018, we started by building our software suite in a modular way to quickly develop complex prototypes using signal processing and artificial intelligence algorithms. Our first application, LINEA²D, is a diagnostic tool for overhead line maintenance. A drone acquires the data, which it then transmits to a box that we designed and built around a computing processor dedicated to graphics (GPU), capable of quickly processing very heavy videos. Our artificial intelligence algorithms are executed on these GPUs to present the human expert with a list of doubts to be resolved. We also offer this solution in SaaS mode thanks to our software design. At the same time, in just a few months we developed BOSCA²D, our solution for carrying out inventories and controls of vegetation around aerial infrastructures.
In 2021, we integrated new components to create two solutions for temporal monitoring of anomalies in engineering structures and civil engineering infrastructures. ARCA²D focuses on structured structures (concrete, masonry). It consists of identifying and positioning disorders such as cracks, fractures and disjointedness, with precision of the order of a millimeter, georeferenced to the nearest centimeter. PERREA²D analyzes the movement of materials in weakly structured structures such as embankments, riprap and dikes. Recently, in 2023, we developed STRADA²D to automatically generate georeferenced and precise plans from 3D point clouds.
A2D fundraising
Why did you raise 500,000 euros in funds?
We decided to raise funds for several reasons. First of all, in order to strengthen our technical and scientific team to industrialize our exploratory solutions. We also want to accelerate our commercial momentum to promote our solutions in their respective markets and open up to the European market.
Why did you choose to welcome these investors into your capital?
A2D has chosen to welcome Crédit Agricole Charente-Maritime Deux-Sèvres as well as Port Atlantique La Rochelle among its investors.
Crédit Agricole Charente-Maritime Deux-Sèvres is a player committed to the development of our maritime territory.
The Grand Port Maritime de La Rochelle played a key role in the implementation of our proof of concept on the automated diagnosis of anomalies in masonry structures, which are critical industrial tools for our national sovereignty. When the feasibility was demonstrated with the ARCA²D product, the port decided to continue the adventure and contribute to our commercial deployment within the port sector.
It should also be noted that two business angels contributed significantly to this fundraising, not only through their financial investments, but also through their skills and their network in the fields of optics and translation.
What will A2D look like in 5 years?
We have developed a multi-year program with a detailed projection of the research and development to be carried out, with the aim of positioning A2D as a leader in the development of predictive models for monitoring, diagnostic and decision support purposes. . These models will be adapted to complex application contexts, characterized by evolving data and models.
