For those closely watching the AI sector, Mistral should be a notable name. This French AI startup, boasting a valuation of $6 billion, is arguably the leading company in Europe working on foundational AI models.
In contrast, Alan may not be as widely recognised. This health insurance unicorn is steadily evolving into a digital partner for health management, currently covering over 680,000 individuals across several countries.
The link between these two firms lies in Jean-Charles Samuelian-Werve, serving as co-founder and CEO of Alan, as well as a co-founding advisor for Mistral.
A recent article from Bloomberg outlined his critical contributions and provided insights into Mistral’s inception. It noted that while Arthur Mensch serves as the public representative of Mistral, another startup’s CEO has played an essential role in reaching its impressive $6 billion valuation. Although Samuelian-Werve has been recognised as a co-founding advisor from Mistral’s launch, his significant influence on the establishment and progression of this French AI firm had not previously been fully acknowledged.
Bloomberg reported that Samuelian-Werve anticipated the rise of AI well before the debut of ChatGPT. He initially approached Xavier Niel, the telecom magnate behind Station F and Kima Ventures, to establish an AI non-profit organisation.
However, upon meeting Arthur Mensch and Mistral’s other co-founders, he pivoted from the non-profit concept to what would ultimately evolve into Mistral. It was around this time that Charles Gorintin, Alan’s co-founder and CTO, along with former digital minister Cédric O, also took on advisory roles within the Parisian AI powerhouse.
As per Bloomberg, Samuelian-Werve successfully persuaded Lightspeed to spearhead Mistral’s seed funding and connected with various investors who later financed the AI venture. Efforts have been made to seek Mistral’s perspective on the article and the recognition it gives to Samuelian-Werve regarding the company’s establishment and development. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
In February 2024, Samuelian-Werve expressed his passion for artificial intelligence during the announcement of Alan’s financial outcomes.
He stated that the company remains committed to investing in AI across Alan. He remarked on his dual roles as co-founder and board member of Mistral, which reflects Alan’s long-standing investment in AI, predating the generative AI trend. This investment aims to reduce operational costs, enhance market efficiency, deliver superior services, and create innovative offerings. Moreover, he indicated that exciting new services associated with generative AI would be unveiled in 2024.
In November 2024, Alan launched an AI-driven chatbot named Mo. What distinguishes Mo from standard chatbots is that a medical professional reviews responses within 15 minutes, ensuring that medical advice is either validated or corrected based on the conversation.
Regarding Xavier Niel, he subsequently financed Kyutai, a French AI research laboratory dedicated to genuine open-source AI development. Nevertheless, he has maintained a connection with Mistral, having also invested in its initial funding round.
Currently, Mistral shares its office space with Alan, situated near Canal Saint-Martin in Paris. Samuelian-Werve and Mensch continue to convene weekly to strategise Mistral’s direction. Alan also holds shares in Mistral.
In the Bloomberg profile, Samuelian-Werve reaffirmed that Mistral is not available for sale, echoing Mensch’s recent comments at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The relationship between Alan and Mistral, alongside the topic of Mistral’s potential sale, is expected to be revisited at the upcoming AI Action Summit in Paris. It is important to note that statements about a business being not for sale often emerge when there are indeed considerations for a sale, or when shareholders are pushing for one.