Toulouse-based innovation consultancy and communication agency StandOut has formalized its corporate purpose as a mission-driven company, targeting €3 million in revenue and roughly 30 employees by 2030, according to co-founder and general manager Hugo Roy. Founded by Roy, Paul Zanin-Rey, and Jean-François Paillas, the firm provides strategic and creative advisory services to startups and industrial enterprises.
Corporate Evolution and Mission-Driven Status
StandOut officially adopted the legal status of a mission-driven company (société à mission) in September 2026. According to the agency, its formal corporate purpose is to “reveal the potential of innovative companies that shape tomorrow’s world.” The project initially originated in Singapore in 2017 before relaunching in Toulouse the following year, where it operates from Avenue de Muret in the Croix-de-Pierre district. The firm secured a “Boost” loan from Bpifrance and won the “Croissance” program from Réseau Entreprendre to support its financial trajectory. In late 2025, the agency received the jury’s “Coup de cœur” award in the innovation category at the Trophées des leaders de demain.
Revenue Targets and National Expansion
StandOut targets €1,5 M€ in revenue for the 2026 financial year, representing a year-over-year increase of more than 30 percent, according to company statements. Looking ahead to 2030, the firm aims for 3 M€ while expanding its headcount to approximately 30 employees. While its current client base remains heavily anchored in the Occitanie region—where Jean-François Paillas asserts a leading market position in innovation communication—the agency plans to generate 60 percent of its business nationwide by 2030. To support this geographic expansion, StandOut has established partnerships with ecosystem actors including Paris&Co, the ESPCI Paris incubator, and investment firm Raise.
Hybrid Business Model Shifting Toward Industrial Accounts
The agency operates through two distinct divisions: a consulting practice where professionals work on-site with clients on growth strategy, the construction of the offer, and pricing, and a communication agency handling branding, web development, and content production. Although StandOut launched primarily to serve startups, its revenue model has shifted since 2024 toward major industrial and service accounts across aeronautics, energy, and healthcare. Recent enterprise clients include Airbus Robotics, Eiffage, Vinci Facilities, and Eurécia. According to Hugo Roy, startups and large corporations currently contribute equally to the agency’s revenue, with large accounts ultimately projected to account for two-thirds of total business.
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