To facilitate the integration of people with DYS (cognitive disorders that lead to learning difficulties) in school and vocational training, François Billioud, who graduated from École Centrale de Lille in 2013, and Minashe Selvam, a Brazilian student who attended the school during an exchange semester, co-created Cantoo in 2019. Cantoo is a digital notebook, recognised by France’s National Education Department, designed to support students affected by DYS learning disorders in taking notes, exercises and also their organisation.
To complete this project, François had to repeatedly rethink his ecosystem. His software solution was initially released in open source, then under licence, and was fully developed in close connection with the medical community, school carers and families affected by DYS disorders. He and Minashe are presently working at the Euratechnologies incubator in Lomme, and together have been able to obtain grants and funding from players of all levels.
Their start-up has been recompensed on a number of occasions. After receiving the Hauts-de-France Region’s Innovation Trophy with the Inclusive Innovation Award, the company was voted second best Edtech in France in 2021 at the GESAwards. The company also won two trophies at EdTech France for vocational training: the Inclusion Prize and the “Coup de coeur” Prize. Cantoo is also part of the “100 start-ups in which to invest in 2022” selection from the “Challenges” magazine.
To continue to develop its solution, the start-up is looking to raise funds with the aim of expanding its business internationally.