The French-American Business Awards 2018
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2015 EDITION

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PRESS REVIEW​


​Décideurs

French Morning
Tendances IT
ITR News
IT Channel
ITR Mobiles
​InfoDSI
ITR Innovation
France Today

NOMINEES

Listed in the order of the Ceremony 
​
AGRIBUSINESS

Nominees
Artisan Barrels & Tanks Inc. / Aubin Cellars
H&A Financing and Services
Pellenc America
Saverglass
Tonnellerie Baron
Vivelys

Jury
Jean-Noel Fourmeaux du Sartel, Owner, VGS Chateau Potelle Winery, Director of the board, FACCSF
Jean-Pierre Giovanni, Vice president & general manager, SGP Packaging, Secretary of the board, FACCSF
Charlotte Gourraud, Marketing manager, Laffort
Jean Hoefliger, Winemaker & general manager, Alpha Omega Winery
Vincent Nadalie, Sales manager & key account manager, Nadalie USA
Ryan O’Connell, Winemaker, Nakedwines.com
Alexandre Remy, General manager & winemaker, Concept Wine Group
Thibaut Scholasch, Founder, Fruition Sciences
Melanie Thomas, CEO & executive director, Janson Capsules Inc.

Gold Award: H&A Financing and Services: Very involved in the local French business community, our winner suports the wine estates in the management of their barrels from the acquisition to the resale and even the recycling. Thanks to this company, winemakers can focus on their priority: making high quality wines!

Special Distinction: 
Pellenc America: "All winemakers use this brand!" said one of the jury members. Indeed, our Special Distinction offers a wide range of qualitative and innovative products, and is very serious about after-sale support.
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FOOD BUSINESS

Nominees
Atelier Crenn
Au Bon Repas Restaurants
Harmless Harvest
La Folie

Jury
Jean-Yves Charon, Founder & pastry chef, Galaxy Desserts
Philippe Chevrollier, General manager, Laura Chenel Chevre/Marin French Cheese
Sebastien Espinasse, Vice president of sales & marketing, Fabrique Delices
Ken Frank, Chef owner, La Toque
Manuel Gonzalez, Managing director, head of corporate clients West Coast Region, Rabobank
Jo Lynne Lockley, Owner, Chefs’ Professional Agency
Laurent Manrique, Chef owner, Laurent Manrique Restaurants
Celine Plano, Partner & pastry chef, Pascaline Fine Catering
Bettina Rouas, Owner, Angele Restaurant & Bar

Gold Award: La Folie:  Our Gold Award has realized the perfect mix between tradition and innovation. The owner has now 3 French brasseries, 2 steak houses and one fine dining restaurant where the French President likes to have an intimate, simple meal with a few friends when he comes to San Francisco.

Special Distinction: Atelier Crenn: This restaurant received one Michelin star during its first year of existence. Its chef represents the innovative young generation and was the first woman in the USA to receive a second Michelin star in 2012.
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HIGH TECH, OVER $20 MILLION IN REVENUE OR FUNDING

Nominees
Axway
Eventbrite
Numberly - 1000mercis group
Scality
Talend
TangoMe

Jury
Johanna Assous, Vice president, Capgemini Consulting
Eric Brisson, Vice president of customer development, Alation
Eve Chaurand, General counsel, Change.org, Vice president, FACCSF
Tom Foremski, Editorial communications director, Delphix/Silicon Valley Watcher
Geoffroy Martin, CEO, Art.com
Sean Randolph, President & CEO, Bay Area Council Economic Institute
JD Savelli, CEO, Oscaro Inc
Frederic Stemmelin, CEO, IDB Consulting, President, FACCSF

Gold Award: Scality: Created in 2009, believing that the data storage market will soon be completely driven by software, our winner now employs over 100 people. Very active in the community, its CEO has built a bridge between France and Silicon Valley.

Special Distinction: TangoMe:
This company allows people to communicate for free by text, voice and video. Its app counts more than 300 million registered members in 224 countries and 15 languages. In 2014, it raised $280 million after a round lead by the Chinese group Ali Baba.
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HIGH TECH, UNDER $20 MILLION IN REVENUE OR FUNDING

Nominees
Front App
Ifeelgoods
Kwarter
MyScienceWork
Squid Solutions
Stupeflix

Jury
Karine Allouche Salanon, CEO, Pearson English Business Solutions
Eric Barbier, CEO, TransferTo
Jonathan Benassaya, Founder, StreamNation
Eric Brisson, Vice president of customer development, Alation
Philippe Cases, CEO, Spoke Software
Thomas Cottereau, Founder & CEO, Sightcall
Tom Foremski, Editorial communications director, Delphix/Silicon Valley Watcher
Marc Rougier, Co-founder & president, Scoop It
C. Matthew Schulz, Partner, Dentons
Frederic Stemmelin, CEO, IDB Consulting, President, FACCSF

Gold Award: Ifeelgoods: Its turnkey end-to-end platform has seduced 300 leading brands. For the past five years, the company has successfully powered 1000+ reward campaigns in over 30 countries.

Special Distinction: Stupeflix: This company helps people themselves via video, making it much easier to produce high quality video edits in real time. Its app was recently chosen by Apple as App of the Year in 34 countries.
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LIFE SCIENCE & BIOTECH

Nominees
Adynxx
BioMarin
Eureka Genomics
Exogen Biotechnology

Jury
Benoit Berthoux, Vice president, Capgemini
Sylvaine Cases, Senior director, head of external science & partnering, US West, Sanofi
Dominique Charmot, Co-founder, Ardelix
Christophe Degois, Vice president of business development, Geron
Pierre-Antoine Gourraud, CEO & founder, Methodonomics
C. Gideon Korrell, Managing associate, Dentons
Jean-Bernard Le Pecq, Owner, Exothera
Hocine Lourdani, Science & technology officer, Consulate General of France in San Francisco
Anita Melikian, Patent agent, Morgan Lewis, Director of the board, FACCSF
Philippe Nore, Co-founder & CEO, Mindera

Gold Award: BioMarin: Our Gold Award is a world leader in providing therapies to treat patients with rare genetic diseases. Its French CEO was appointed 10 years ago. Under his leadership, the narket capitalization of the company went from $450 Million in 2005 to $9 Billion in 2014.

Special Distinction: Adynxx:
This clinical stage biotech company is dedicated to improving health and the well-being of millions of patients currently suffering from acute, persistent or chronic pain. Its main drug candidate, AYX1, should be commercialized by 2017.
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PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Nominees
Anne Bezançon
Domninique Crenn
Alexandre Dayon
David Fattal
David Gurle
Renaud Laplanche

Jury
Claude Boivin, Vice president of high tech, communication & media, Capgemini
Doug Carlisle, Managing director, Menlo Ventures
Jean-Yves Charon, Founder & pastry chef, Galaxy Desserts
Nicolas El Baze, General partner, Partech Ventures
Frederic Laluyaux, President & CEO, Anaplan Inc
Pascal Le Coz, Managing director, Banque Transatlantique
Sebastien Lepinard, General partner, Next World Capital
Gisele Maxwell, CEO, Shasta Crystals, Director of the board, FACCSF
Bertrand Schmitt, Co-founder, chairman & CEO, App Annie
Frederic Stemmelin, CEO, IDB Consulting, President, FACCSF
Antoine Villata, General manager & COO North America, Planisware, Vice president, FACCSF

Gold Award: Renaud Laplanche: Throughout his career, this entrepreneur has tried to fix inefficiency. In 2006, it is the inefficent banking system that inspired him. 8 years later, his company realized one of the largest US-based internet IPO in history.

Special Distinction: Domninique Crenn: 
The jury members were very impressed by this talented visionary who already has strong milestones in her young and successful career. She is a pioneer in her field. We can't wait to taste her new bistro in Hayes Valley!
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US INVESTMENT IN FRANCE

Nominees
Airbnb
Cisco
HP
Intel Corporation
Salesforce
Zuora

Jury
Dominique Brunin, Director of industry, innovation & economic intelligence, CCI France-International
Eric Clogenson, Vice president of finance France, Coca-Cola Enterprises
Luc Dumont, Executive vice president of corporate development, Dailymotion
Rabah Ghezali, Managing director of government affairs & public advocay, Euronext
Christopher Kramme, Head of EMEA corporate network, corporate & institutional banking, BNP Paribas
Pierre-Henri Kuhn, Journalist, Decideurs Magazine
Stafford Matthews, Partner, Dentons
Jason Morse, Vice president of mobile products, Criteo
Romain Serman, Director, Bpifrance
Frederic Stemmelin, CEO, IDB Consulting, President, FACCSF
Spencer Tall, Managing director, Allegis Capital

Gold Award: Intel Corporation: Our winner's first office in France opened in 1974. For the past five years, it has created 1000 direct jobs, by opening 7 R&D centers throughout the country, focusing on the smartphone and tablet. It also invests in French companies through its venture capital funds.

Special Distinction: 
Salesforce: This $50 billion market cap cloud leader opened its office in France in 2006. It now counts many French multinational companies as clients but also powers the largest ecosystem of 3rd party local business apps. With a brand new headquarter opened last year and one R&D center in Grenoble.
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WINE

Nominees
Hubert Germain-Robin International Consultant
Melka Wines
Roederer Group
St. Supery Estate Vineyards & Winery
Verite Winery 

Jury
John Compisi, Food, wine & travel writer, The Examiner
Jerome Chery, Winemaker, Fog Crest Vineyard
Jean-Noel Fourmeaux du Sartel, Owner, VGS Chateau Potelle Winery, Director of the board, FACCSF
Charlotte Gourraud, Marketing manager, Laffort
Jean Hoefliger, Winemaker & general manager, Alpha Omega Winery
Ryan O’Connell, Winemaker, Nakedwines.com
Deborah Parker Wong, Senior industry editor, The SOMM Journal
Alexandre Remy, General manager & winemaker, Concept Wine Group
Jean-Jacques Vitrac, Founder, owner & CEO, Domaine Becquet Winery
Robin Wenzel, Vice president & SRM Premium Wine Group, Bank of the West


Gold Award: Melka Wines: 
This family-run estate specializes in small production wines, crafted with a sense of soil and terroir. Environmental-friendly and always up-to-date with innovation, it will continue growing steadily and organically, providing unique wines.

Special Distinction: Verite Winery:
 Between 2011 and 2014, this winery received 7 times 100 points from wine critic Robert Parker. Having moved to California 18 years ago, Monique and Pierre want to position Sonoma County as a leading appellation for Bordeaux varietals in the world.
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STARTUP OF THE YEAR

Nominees
Auraia 
Bayes Impact
Blackfire
Code for fun
Ezkie
FLYR
KissFly
Live2times
NextUser
Orbirental
Petit Pot
Pictyear
Quirk Creative
Squadrone System 
Student Blueprint

Jury
Doug Carlisle, Managing director, Menlo Ventures
Jean-Yves Charon, Founder & pastry chef, Galaxy Desserts
Nathalie Dore, CEO, L'Atelier BNP Paribas US
Jerome Louvel, CEO, Restlet
Reza Malekzadeh, Vice president of business, Cumulus Networks
Michel Meyer, Venture partner, Newfund Capital
Romain Serman, Director, Bpifrance
Richard Simoni, Managing partner, Asset Management Ventures
Frederic Stemmelin, CEO, IDB Consulting, President, FACCSF
Matt Walters, Managing director, Runway Incubator


Gold Award: Petit Pot: You can find its products at Whole Foods, Andronico's and 50 more stores throughout California. With a 3-digit growth in 2014 and 2015, I would say: watch out Nestle, be careful Danone... Petit Pot is coming!

Special Distinction: Code for fun: 
 This non-profit is preparing the future of Silicon Valley by exposing children to computer science as early as possible. In less than 2 years, it has already created 56 different curricula and instructed over 300 students.
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ADVISORY BOARD OF THE 2015 EDITION

Nathalie Auber
, CFO & partner, Sofinnovaventures, Vice president, FACCSF
Claude Boivin, Vice president of high tech, communication & media, Capgemini
Philippe Cases, CEO, Spoke Software
Sylvaine Cases, Senior director, head of external science & partnering, US West, Sanofi
Eve Chaurand, General counsel, Change.org, Vice president, FACCSF
John Compisi, Food, wine & travel writer, The Examiner
Jean-Noel Fourmeaux du Sartel, Owner, VGS Château Potelle Winery
Ken Frank, Chef owner, La Toque
Jean Hoefliger, Winemaker & general manager, Alpha Omega Winery
Sebastien Lepinard, General partner, Next Wold Capital
Hocine Lourdani, Science & technology officer, Consulate General of France in San Francisco
Philippe Perez, Attache for science & technology, Consulate General of France in San Francisco
Thibaut Scholasch, Founder, Fruition Sciences
C. Matthew Schulz, Partner, Dentons
Romain Serman, Director, Bpifrance
Frederic Stemmelin, CEO, IDB Consulting, President, FACCSF
Antoine Villata, General manager & COO North America, Planisware, Vice president, FACCSF
Xavier Wartelle, CEO, French Tech Hub
Robin Wenzel, Vice president & SRM Premium Wine Group, Bank of the West

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  • Home
  • The FABA
    • About
    • Organizer, Host and Master of Ceremomy
    • Methodology
    • Jury & Advisory Board Members
  • Categories & Laureates
    • FABA 2018 Categories & Laureates
    • FABA Startup 2018
  • PICTURES
  • Sponsors & Partners
  • Contact us
  • Tickets
  • Past editions
    • 2017 edition
    • 2016 edition
    • 2015 edition