THE PRESENT: A French Expansion Template
In 2023, Alan is present in 5 European countries with 500K+ members and €150M+ revenue. From Paris, they systematized expansion in a way most French startups never achieve.
Most French companies that try international expansion fail or struggle. They approach each new country as a custom project, burning cash and founder time, often retreating after 1-2 markets.
Alan built an expansion system instead.
Alan's Expansion Results
- Countries: France, Belgium, Spain, Germany (planned)
- Members: 500,000+
- Revenue: €150M+ (2023)
- Employees: 500+
- Funding: €500M+ total raised
- Profitability: Path to profitability announced 2024
- Expansion Speed: New country every 18-24 months
What makes this remarkable: Each new market launches faster and cheaper than the previous one.
That's the power of systemization. Not hero founders traveling constantly. Systems that replicate.
THE PAST: How They Built the System
Alan launched in France in 2016. Founders Jean-Charles Samuelian and Charles Gorintin understood from day 1: build systems for scale, not just product for France.
Phase 1: France as a Laboratory (2016-2019)
Alan didn't rush international expansion. They spent 3 years in France building replicable systems:
- Tech Platform: Multi-country architecture from day 1 (even when only operating in France)
- Regulatory Playbook: Documented process for navigating health insurance regulations
- Sales Process: Standardized, measurable, trainable (not founder-dependent)
- Customer Onboarding: Self-service + automated support
- Operations: Claims processing, provider networks, all systematized
By 2019, Alan had €30M revenue in France. More importantly: they had a system for building health insurance businesses.
Most competitors saw €30M revenue. Smart investors saw a replicable system worth €500M+.
Phase 2: Belgium as the Test (2019-2020)
Alan chose Belgium deliberately: Similar to France but different enough to stress-test systems.
What they learned:
- Their regulatory playbook worked — but needed country-specific modules
- Tech platform scaled — minimal engineering for localization
- Sales process required cultural adaptation but core system stayed
- Operations needed local partnerships but frameworks transferred
Belgium result: Launched in 9 months vs. France's 3 years. Cost: 1/3 of France launch.
That's when investors realized: this isn't a French health insurance company. It's an expansion engine.
Phase 3: Systematic Expansion (2020-2024)
With Belgium validating the model, Alan built what they call the "Country Launch Playbook":
Alan's Country Launch System (Simplified)
- Month -6 to -3: Regulatory mapping (using established framework)
- Month -3 to 0: Partnerships & licensing (proven templates)
- Month 0: Soft launch (small controlled group)
- Month 1-6: Iteration (product-market fit testing)
- Month 6-12: Scale (activate growth systems)
- Month 12+: Optimization (profitability path)
Each phase has documented processes, KPIs, decision frameworks.
This is how Alan enters Spain (2020), accelerates Belgium, and prepares Germany — while maintaining quality and economics.
The French Advantage (That Most French Companies Miss)
Alan leverages specific French competitive advantages:
- Complex Regulation Expertise: French health system is among world's most complex — if you can navigate France, other countries are easier
- Design Excellence: French UX/UI culture (world-class design at lower cost than US)
- Engineering Efficiency: French engineers build with fewer resources, more sustainable code
- European Cultural Bridge: France is between Germanic and Latin Europe — cultural adaptability
US healthtech competitors entering Europe often fail because they assume US playbooks transfer. They don't understand European regulatory complexity and cultural nuances.
Alan built FOR Europe FROM Europe. That's structural advantage.
THE FUTURE: Implications & Lessons
Alan proves that French startups CAN scale internationally — if they build systems, not just products.
Lesson 1: Build Systems Before You Expand
Most founders want to expand after reaching €10M in home market. They're impatient.
Smart founders: Use home market as laboratory. Build systems. Document processes. THEN expand when systems are ready.
Alan spent 3 years systemizing France. That patience enabled speed later. Belgium in 9 months vs. France's 3 years.
Lesson 2: Expansion System = Competitive Moat
Alan's competitors have better products in some markets. But Alan has better expansion systems.
Over time, expansion system beats product features. Because you can iterate product in each market. You can't easily replicate competitor's expansion system — it takes years to build.
Lesson 3: Choose Adjacent Markets Strategically
Alan chose Belgium before Spain or Germany. Why? Similar enough to validate system, different enough to stress-test it.
For any business: First international market should validate systems without overwhelming complexity. Second market should add complexity to strengthen systems. Third+ markets accelerate.
Apply to Your Business
Expansion Readiness Checklist:
- Can new employee replicate your sales process without you? (Documented, trainable)
- Are operational processes standardized and measurable?
- Is your tech platform localization-ready?
- Do you have regulatory/legal framework templates?
- Can you launch new market with <30% of founder time?
If you answer "no" to any — don't expand yet. Build systems in home market first.
What Happens Next for Alan (2024-2027)
Probable Scenario: Continued European dominance, potential IPO
- 2024: Germany launch + profitability achieved
- 2025: Italy or Netherlands entry
- 2026: Pan-European leader position (1M+ members)
- 2027: IPO or strategic exit at €2B+ valuation
Why this path is probable: Alan has proven expansion system. Each new market is faster, cheaper, more profitable than previous. That compounding efficiency is what creates unicorns.
The Ultimate Lesson
International expansion fails when treated as sequential custom projects.
International expansion succeeds when approached as system replication.
Alan chose the second path. That's why they're winning.
Ready to Systematize Your Expansion?
The BE Scale framework helps you build expansion-ready systems. Assess your international readiness.
Free BE Fit Assessment →Sources
- Alan public communications and press releases
- Interview excerpts from French tech press
- System Index proprietary data
- European healthtech market analysis