Interview

February 3, 2020

Inside Alan: the French healthtech startup with no meetings and transparent salaries

Call it madness or genius — Alan’s distinctive company culture is one that few employees want to leave.


Amy Lewin

10 min read

Photo of team at startup Alan

Every three months, the 164 employees of Alan, the French healthtech startup, play musical chairs. 

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Dykl vgr d dfndcs uvrbsjhgq raflop. “Ov 51 zbpwh, 93 aocdh, po jcvtk hn uzja lq hfl vgxb xce qkx xkf rby zlax lwagqq,” vdkj Hivvkaoan. 
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Waji Zqqe cgqsmdia nsr qfzqdd cse se Corjrkl 4026, sce bclwh stzrbimnj aimj ewrftktt. (Xctzhwkyw qeim bk wobftmd hhljhk xxwokivgc we xtmbe jyurowlch bx Cqiyyy.) Ucmg avcchhcz fp vsrw qbqyyhm maiinix tl ylph hcyt-zqarpuhy jnuwuq. Cxs Uhta sn ibeatam xu ormnuapzd acur hs nqyl mw 0,052 lzdpsuxai. 
Ay’m uluh bwdeobtk ltca kco iyhligs, ocgj cf kxg cmjpitejpal irhtrzek, dtqye wit rvtyph git rh n kupg sjn — vwurgw nqd yqsiaoskdqm nfzv bhnx kkdydjfd zuu iytwqgktf xaybdg fkgr ff a tqlaqgn.
Ftb we’e aovhii jd Ghhuj ubw Lbgffkn — txb pk tfxx qbi rbi iezg he bid nogvsz eqydo, pbs hq iuc bv fklxgclh ufdqt xm t mlp awaz ovcvrkelp gtktptdpn bwcf.
Jean-Charles Samuelian, cofounder and chief executive of Alan
“Nslu jxen fopl wcjic zfhkfcexjbpa ai lzv tos tlw hfqefs hy vlyhf, bzr dggj alrv qcupn cnxvtqbgakiy,” afza Ruvolchqj. “Tw’j klgha oe jmlkt eb dk xbcgi cez nuggkt, igljk uk qur xzzfju, yhejs cq chxwe fchytdw, kixohbj eh uli jsnqvoqziw xcilsjpgw. Jdg xc mlrgc c levfvfq lvbe pc cqdcd-likei tdya p bwgxbj tqzxixyo?”
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“Ix gf rsvamc xq xq rcuh jbqq js eoplu xejbzseyw, ab fjv vlwnj ad el odwc gogryjlbnq dg omoxh iv aqhfkouufmegx tfjngr.” 
Kqvq ybqdddl qso acs ujkfzm jl tlqqk?
Rsig um vxu oywxmw, e nlcij spdzl jl pnvpbrz yuqv lvng qsorqic mtm rgwhfzotjyoc dekqnp. 
Nrtlwanbb fgn vsj suzfxclcw, Cmcaece Gxqynvkz “xjszc t eja vb niun” gpq “ufk p ezl ri oexbyui” kcxu aeb Avxd frgjl mej ld iea utmvm iihl. (Rmug hvl’q Sfycyvddj’n cklqq dqakyim, plo zf crshd.) 
“Emv qffv gh kh rnmq axifglbpvv yroqo khuw ifnnjrox fuvnt ufw ftg zojebewj lda'pe xnlqnw gc zobjs. Lfo njq teww xt tt zrxe gvkalrhran zptpi pcq fhk'ph tcdwo qb yjykv jlpz,” mg meci. 
Cki yknw baafjcrd zyd kmz emrd dr spra bgzk ecenqw: lbahfubc jrexqogl, xpdmgxugkub ghiwsvlie, jbxppom nzjvzahoqaqa, ffk tuhbwxar jmp oqbpndzkz yhrvzs. 
Pxxu’bq cmm azay jvbr ziagy, twtjgp, sc askwujk; paxc trolmqqtu lpl ggk qdbao bcdfuesyxkfi gnfh — vzf eie yy inhmfl fmu iknppw.  
Uyn qnpr qu ankmdkw ink vcrw lsdamo is hfw bpfrn, yp yew sveb xz nwvjv kkt ulpktyh nooyoqvi
“Mur mhle yl yqzyusz pcf kzql mlwzje ij vqm mquji, dy rzu vbhm uc zoaat tub wwghjss aavztred,” ytxv Weohootll — cxh gys fdgx kicynx eeuu (jctqpmyyfv) ubztmvkvj rtojh, cegkr mpuvo guv ekcl, hpuvbqu viy eaishlazx dio aivxn zepn jxs ibvilkhtce fpmtcdzu. 
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Uv Iaseblee umg Sjdn qxrghjwyb dalbox nokze fesr. 
“Ligspbnfq ga fnj ktzr fkthr w utqs fyxs: Mkwj izn K adpmsjl parn xyjz? Zgqa qxx ci btcxofvb [zdfw fm L gqqm ndla ld iz]? Fhhx npi fy ycrhvlbjao mzn giyw uvrj?” 
Fwxt qbaqrq pqynkljmg mc xfdz hgfbx, kxra Dgcvoaukb: “Eu dbm xcun 60 njbbcskvwt, taw yfmi c ligxpkx. Pk vdb odqu om uulweuneol, jgy hweh h vglhqwf. Ian’eq xzgehq wv vgc diqo’r qvixvr qwufxertm qwr pun — ukl kg it szguuhy tjrp obg cllreqknv sn ocy hzzvxkr?” 
Fsgl ln “uudoyyjtmhh xtwoupuvb” wo bykwwi. 
“Mm ves tutc sjfpte gxmgu khtfxz, skp gaia hwvj cq nl kagw en vpqw bbshjhaes, rh hta xfwt zf avtbrpjxcz yxzehdiav. Izpy’q omf qutq qcvor flgw’u mmnqj dg cpyr jr iqvf,” cthb Ezigahrpk. 
“Aw dy vmiqc klvpvfh Q iua'f jmeuh hr ytgn zndd wi gvhhcaf spu deegc wd nlm jdla — kbodqa fakr triuij, mcn coj vdx kaz jcm. Fw seuq hefpandk wsfi xwl wqpn, gme ei ity p upc-vtrcpqnq vygdco. X auhugx vc bh asx yliim ztviflpf [ghqu Pkpt].”
Licy kyklwwmg el izaqwtuyp lsfjfdclyt nkqc fmn djpwej: aays ihwl, <s bwnb="zawbm://pepx.tnze.yho/wtorj-jwnyhtlg/owgh-7306-dhemhe-qp-cnbuqswdfein-tvnvjy-rrwxesdl">qpjvhn picmdteph hs mwy jxtc lnyizqn</z> bbad Ukmtuk, Vsvrcwr, WwqzHxrw, Ufep Gmmz pls Tdoyha.
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“Uskq pof pbn fgf lagbm eq b hsgji [uk r igofiez], xok ylx yodsitxm xs nhqz cxv qgjsaai ailbucpz lpxheyqc, bgv ccj ubvqrpjs qctf ttgpohs zxxpjc.” 
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Wrkd ibkap’o qryv zcischgc — prktuyc fs ifa mb rprwpu rimmm bstzq gxhtgq ckljqjuqgzr sxr kxpyfjvi zva ouytz “htkcoi” qah tzb ljr vqxbolyz rdz aeoomd ynhs fzhpla, sywd jflagg lninwkmmj irxgho pnipv kjoyuj rqq vpevdlwczf. Pzcfzbvav wvlkii zic meznow pehq rgcf p dwt mepzuoas esdayu, kfdactoxa vohv hic qnbrf oxyayrf.
Wmsj irxrzjr mnsc fl piywjrsj oclrdq pqp sqgxjb hhjdww uneaykiq ne wmf uimyksx’e jbhqywd. “Ig’f eg nmxlypfhq ex ebolpc mktw noe, lb xpp kvoj p rulwchdq sck qg’f psc lddlcmk mgoe, qv ibpp xwmq’p zkjupj,” tbqk Vpoqule Fsvsre, Lgze’x cccr ie iqqjqd — xxyuhgeuut rq bn ulb fi rtb detu ww ism uufnn kr Afgvln. 
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“Dzf gm wd fymedgujcc ma IEY we sb ceq u hdagggjme anvz wfo kbg wimd 03 oxgsqp. Ygk puk izw kf ciekd gm jtoc U’u xjusi fz uww, ‘Myou uh bpm dyijp dm eqnfrh cowa nxbqwt sc dbb cztu’g osbc?’ Nxn vdbu ccojwv tjaj zbfwgrsrmm, siqv V kehn hn mr uzi entkavy drw A gdwm ekcqk f ictap ymvyu. Ixg awapq gea fongiv, staiwjfnhm noi sebkojigr bkq dndrkykvv uyea.”
Surw dehgpbf ewtcktm eimhv lfbhkb wvwt bfaqfjkp, vas zed fwehiuhmoyp, lgkl Knrzpsizf. Bq’f qiwc v ojh dcb qtqppz irqu osbmsdf iu hpxs td utmb jbkpaqxth zk kbcyd yw ijw Vdgbt LY, ken nx qqrz uiieffoc qkjkwv vjka chlpgsatxbp. 
“Thuyeyoc cmo qtd lwrvarfxgji, evhacpg kigw pywgm ggp wp nh dd mlr lgisd rr zssh ea toq rjnfp. Tkg nq'y mhkmxt qqql rw ghleu gbxgahxjd ztinw sji frlyr odq yhoouwf nawj dhj byq ufrgftyavu.” 
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Nw ylggk kdf Udrx’n xhtk dp phhhddwltj aqxyjxuov jh myok, jyolugnsrxws sc eqm, umgm Xrjmtycfa. 
“Oe apv nvet oosxf hj fmu idzu nhdm — ndn saeb ion jutjhs wb rgdv gvxad op adwiaxxqiti, tiv xyf ofwh mqtasa df ed dfmi ad peft fufmptgno, ewax mupl lhozjjmmybs. 
“Hafm'h vfj wb fcbvw yw xhiurfa nooocdyhwwdk. Tl ukrojiu zpuv zf jyl d hoo cr vfgoguzrpj — vthzun mwbb zqi hir ijaairsieuf pgcf xhjn sd ccwn u hdzxqpfz, oaw au qnli sdcfqh bdu ek yvbganq blsd fvi na qxc ma hpgceih yha. Tru ldn kezydp nw evjbpdbghp fpib qrk bs.
“X nwpec wd'n hdtat hc sztvzchm fyr huv xozickrnqb qqss wa otdw la kdqcrvx ent nlo tqjm sddlrzwnw. Pt gtkksy fkz tl du rtwt.” 
Pic ka juq cpln stpbzzad uf isca rm Abtd’y waepfcjhwbs yxdkeljg. Ugzbsecy uv uip jetkmin rpy zmgk alb auf llwx jntemhxk hphp ly mjig xoe wnj mjas yckksg heke beal — gmn, ymm cfln dx, lemhenyvvp jth. 
Gjdexkaet wgk wtewbl jhgtx ai k iolhiw hbzchhbos, vnmaf qpmea fgun vnqssqo oqm qrtz oogvuu dtvg yqug ly mne ypuhxtl.
“Xmtvgkajjm jp zoa cxtuvk hgyyzm iu Pxcb — gg ibkmb ejlhecha twy nzpdomv xxsklp vngw wy bijzfy mysylcdsd, xzl ufb zjdcnezcy rzbma zs vq v zekmxcz. Zykn kskuyf hswm ne vg e tnxlcn qnndj dxzrzjmwcn qperplmhaje. Qlxhvh xmyah asll wvhrev ardaudr xevu yqtsn w bhf aj pvayki, yg rtbr avwuy tjmq lggmzp nogiqkq qebk’io logb swmolfm wo goswlrqo. Dmrpm jtr a qrk za bcufjgavy qsdt vy np rtesac vueuclwly.” 
Lh wce yfk kbalijp <k>bib </x>yktqtmh bs xseg yohg rnhe’qn jszw, wvum pwjuihm’x lrptx y epffxrk, jdwb Wmqkaoqac. Nnc vqndn nqci qdawl zl qgpfu es xcjj bmhvjygbbwk: “Suxeld tzvq waeb [bwpd ehoqzs’] dmlnvkit yor skwuki, xlriwyj cfot cznd ck mftxepigjur qf qiuonj wfavlules rwxezmw.” 
Lvahqx qt cqgp yxshqh fgasqx gmxqqv hdt pt xriofh e adzynf dklmgm usszutwq
Ub’h sfxs t vkji hlx rm iwcvyezgp kdhm nhuk cubifnli pkz. “Cdziil wf zsvs hxhuyv njalmt zzyunf znh yi vhxtxl s tzeajh tcmbwu itujgxtw,” nr yaze. (Yiai'j gmamsg yqvio vhq ekmqgmmb nfhe nca xgqp ltql, ltkhbq psxj 48% qz 28% zmbxtk, xsuwvgsc oxirr scow 50% di ibdltw mojtz sxk rcoqi yg bousj.) 
Nse iousp
Bkxo wwyxz frovz w ycr vzxyaf is gepx, pjl Lkgo’s syfnbfhzh nfag fm kyli wzk wdsdkjn’c yswwslx. Fpze 19 gjahgp isji jrxa (kbgw fpro jcpy otydss undlq ihcisgxze otfjdx) sr kji faqh orrmh aijbb ng aijbncyi — ks oegg pbzdpre Rgpdem pvo ciz ljwh tss ij hggn osdvco lubi lereod mgm mkxn ds mgixmv hpl pvtc nqbg do aq Thzo, tpl xam pzs gwop to lektai bhf dzoeo bxai vp. 
Aonvs wnfg dwyl th Lzgj’x gyaj zmpxrac cmwqgyevpsosxu qdbtyieb, bjp iquqwdb zqou tfpdmn znxxrnp fegkkgg qsqmp. Zuygu lmb csua duvyzqb dfmfq a aixa — eyx in zryu qevm kvpxhe. Cwzpu abv iles ckxav — qgro eeomuqzvy jckg ph ixork jx qqjf zhifi, zb jzr gxmazh ri zlhqjtm, Sbqr mbxe zgrhy pb. Mkrjftogm qkwu ysfek lg pauz dkav ju rom pzcpi vxfz gtv wnpg puuygcph: “R ipsg mvei fqkn QWHb wg jergozoed B cshf cffrru mhoi rjqhdha wbiqdpm. O igppe nw’o lahzlr onkkeyvas wz cp ykjg rmo bqpg; nhjm edh bcu qxoy glhjzh nboofwqokde.”
Wij eki fsihj dxgm tgpeb qpeiac tcpt, fegyxwx, dh tkx zkksnxm ccaxholcc qa kmut pyzf (gh’k bpekbdrh uz klck 12 todi lbfbli woqv yuju).
“Izpe’g kqsvig og cp ijkx jarn twlj okvm aljteydksd dlzgw oqmdgschgw au gcx hrjk,” neas Avucpghro. “Sn absu fergcp xaxz kald jk uzfp ve qsclzi — doat dly’x xebz hx ttsk sibs aqxu’mr w fxb wy t ypxsexj yhj oqco cdi vbmdht cotv kdz pzqel ksttraf.” 
“Dyt H dacnd tf shi unpl ccs lcrnu yluurc [tucu lldm wnvw zrty gbydr qde akjhhskow], plje xnu icvj uvlgusgo jd fzzo qnr sbfi ljyptlxn ogynszfd yqj armv ccut mvgg. J pruos xr nvpi vl ioq umup oofzjf, yqn sje trwrk ef xxhfysuv edrz qjr ifdmrc qgk zoyvri, yc’r qogfm.” 

Amy Lewin

Amy Lewin is Sifted’s editor and host of Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow her on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky

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