Olivier Metzker Directeur General Aegis Civis Global (left) signing a MOU at the Franco-Omani Business Forum
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On June 16th Arnaud Villadere, founder and president of Aegis Civis, made his VivaTech debut at a small booth on the Centre-Val de Loire stand. Less than two weeks later, the company attended the Franco-Omani Business Forum, alongside His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan of Oman, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
During the forum, Aegis Civis Groupe signed a series of memorandums of understanding with the Sultanate of Oman. The agreements covered “the cybersecurity of the Omani SME ecosystem, the development of digital learning, the creation of a cyber school, and the development of computer vision in the Sultanate,” according to a LinkedIn post.
The Road to VivaTech
The start of Aegis Civis
Founded in 2017 by former DGSE agent Arnaud Villadere, Aegis Civis develops tools that help companies prevent cyberattacks, as well as training and solutions that support employees after a breach.
The company’s best-known product is AfterShock One, an all-in-one crisis management tool. The portable, rack-mountable unit acts as a digital crisis headquarters after a breach. It brings the company’s crisis management tools together on a local server and network hardware, making it easier for teams to coordinate their response, track progress, and produce a final situation report.
Regional Involvement
Aegis Civis also works to make cybersecurity more accessible. “We joined a women in cybersecurity group and are trying to develop this aspect. We have also trained people with disabilities so that they can become cybersecurity trainers,” Villadere said.
The company runs seminars in schools on online safety, cyberbullying, and how to distinguish disinformation from reliable information. It also organizes online workshops that teach participants how to identify AI-generated content and protect their personal information.
The Le Coudray-based startup attracted the attention of cybeRésponse, the Centre-Val de Loire cyber risk center.
From Le Coudray to Paris
“The region was genuinely interested in [AfterShock One] and wanted to highlight it, showing that in Centre-Val de Loire there are companies like ours that can deploy solutions that do not exist elsewhere,” Villadere said in an interview.
The region saw VivaTech as the right place to introduce Aegis Civis to a broader audience. Centre-Val de Loire has been a proud partner of VivaTech since 2017, hosting more than 300 local startups at the event and highlighting innovation from the heart of France.
At VivaTech 2026, Aegis Civis exhibited alongside 35 other startups on the regional stand. For the company, the stand became the starting point for a much broader international conversation.
An International Breakthrough
Gaining Visibility
Arnaud Villadere and Olivier Metzker's main objective at VivaTech 2026 was to raise awareness of AfterShock One. The company was preparing to expand internationally, so every opportunity to reach new audiences and generate media interest was valuable.
The solution attracted the attention of BFM Business journalist Gilles Petit, who named it one of his top three hidden gems at the event. The recognition increased the company’s visibility and confirmed that larger organizations were interested in its solution.
The impact of VivaTech extended beyond media coverage. Conversations at the event generated new business opportunities and created an international pipeline.
Expanding Internationally with Aegis Civis Global
We were approached by major organizations, mainly foreign ones. We are currently in discussions to sign significant deals with large international organizations,” Villadere said. “We did not expect it to go this far. It showed us that our solution was attracting interest. It was also a test for us. A lot of people came to see us, and it helped us open doors nationally, but especially internationally.
On June 29th, less than two weeks after VivaTech 2026, Aegis Civis signed memorandums of understanding with the Sultanate of Oman. The agreements will bring the company’s solutions and expertise to the Middle East. The company credits VivaTech with helping it access new international markets.
Looking Ahead
The visibility, leads, and partnerships generated at VivaTech 2026 are creating new opportunities for Aegis Civis. The company plans to use this momentum to expand its research and development activities, recruit specialized talent, and continue growing internationally.
In October, Aegis Civis also participated in the Africconex Val de Loire 2026 Business Tour, which brought delegates from several African countries to the region.
The company identified potential partners at VivaTech 2026, including another startup with which it plans to collaborate. Further details will be announced at a later date.
Following the success of its first edition, Villadere plans to return to VivaTech next year. “We have already expressed our interest to the region in coming back,” he said.
Experience VivaTech for Yourself
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If you want to discover startups like Aegis Civis and explore the latest innovations, get your VivaTech pass. For more stories like this, read Yneuro’s VivaTech Growth Story: Brainwaves to Business.
