Created in 2021 by Aurélie and Maxime Jacquet, FILIZ has quickly established itself as a key player in the administrative and financial digitalization of higher education schools, particularly in the work-study sector. The startup now claims more than 500 client establishments And 40,000 companies connected to its SaaS platform.
In this interview, Maxime Jacquetco-founder and CEO of FILIZ, looks back on the genesis of the project, its product strategy and the perspectives opened up by a fundraising of 6 million euros with the investment fund ofHEXA.
A market that is still little digitalized
The FILIZ project was born from a simple observation of the administrative and financial management of work-study programs which remains largely manual and fragmented, between Excel sheets, email exchanges and aging tools.
The founders of the startup, from the world of tech, saw a gap between the standards of modern SaaS and the daily needs of schools and CFAs faced with increasing regulatory complexity.
“There were no tools that match what we can have in other markets,” emphasizes Maxime Jacquet. FILIZ has thus positioned itself as a centralized platforminterconnected with State services, which manages the complete work-study chain, from the creation of quotes to automated invoicing with financiers.
A frictionless SaaS model
Accessible online, FILIZ is distinguished by its model without commitment and its immediate commissioning.
Institutions can create an account, configure their environment, and start using it in minutes. The platform then orchestrates interactions between schools, businesses and OPCOs, while ensuring analytical monitoring of financial flows.
This iterative and collaborative approach constitutes one of the pillars of the company culture. “Our customers are our first testers”, explains the manager. FILIZ relies on a panel of active users to refine each functionality and deploy new releases every weekguaranteeing rapid adaptation to regulatory changes.
Heading towards “All-in-One” and Europe
Three years after its creation, FILIZ is preparing a new phase of expansion. The fundraising led by EXAa French investment structure specializing in B2B tech, aims to support the launch of a new All-in-One product at the start of the 2026 school year. This module will integrate the management of schedules, grades, attendance and calendarstransforming the solution into a real Complete educational ERP.
The company then plans a European extension in 2027with priority given to the Spanish, Italian, German and British markets. This internationalization responds to the growing demand for schools and teaching groups with multi-country campuses.
An opening towards businesses
FILIZ also plans to accelerate into a new segment: large companies welcoming work-study students. These organizations, often faced with the complexity of managing hundreds or even thousands of contracts, today have few suitable tools. The startup is working on a dedicated module, allowing HR and training departments to monitor their administrative and financial commitments in real time.
A remote and human-centered culture
Model-based 100% remoteFILIZ counts today 18 employees distributed in France and Europe. A choice assumed by the founders, who see it as a lever for agility and inclusion. The company invests in virtual collaboration tools and emphasizes transparency and documentationvalues at the heart of its internal culture.
“80% of our employees are former work-study students”, recalls Maxime Jacquet, emphasizing the continuity between the company’s mission and its recruitment method.
Financing geared towards product growth
THE 6 million euros collected fromEXA will be mainly devoted to strengthening of product, design and support teamsand the industrialization of the platform to support the increase in load linked to the diversification of uses. “It was not a survival lift, but a strategic opportunity,” specifies the CEO, emphasizing the cultural complementarity between FILIZ and its investor.
