Technology Designed for Higher Education
When Chris Mugnier and Trang Nguyen founded Zettabyte, their ambition was clear: to bring digital innovation to higher education. Drawing on their extensive experience in technology, they developed a platform designed to simplify the day-to-day management of educational institutions. Admissions, student records, lecturer management, examinations, program administration, regulatory compliance… Zettabyte centralizes a very extensive list of administrative and academic processes within a single, intuitive environment.
“We wanted to build modern tools designed for today’s users. When someone logs in, they should immediately know what to do and where to go
Committed to staying closely connected to its customers, Zettabyte continuously enhances its platform with new features that respond to real-world needs. This agile approach has proven highly successful: in less than ten years, the company has become one of the fastest-growing players of the sector in Europe. Today, more than 500 institutions rely on the platform — France alone accounts for nearly 95% of its business.
Lille: The Right Place to Grow
As its business continues to grow in France, establishing a local presence quickly became a strategic priority. Several locations were considered, but the Lille metropolitan area soon stood out. Its central position between Paris, the Benelux countries and other major European markets was a strong advantage. So were its deep talent pool, thriving tech ecosystem and the presence of EuraTechnologies, one of Europe’s leading innovation hubs. The warm welcome given to the project ultimately sealed the decision.
One visit was all it took for us to decide that Lille was the right place. We were impressed by the warm welcome, the genuine entrepreneurial mindset, and a real willingness to help businesses grow. To be honest, I’ve become a true ambassador for the Lille Metropolis
A Strong Local Network Behind the Project
To make its Lille expansion become reality, Zettabyte was able to rely on several key local partners, including Hello Lille, the Lille European Metropolis Attractiveness Agency, Nord France Invest and EuraTechnologies. From setting up its French subsidiary and securing office space, to navigating complex administrative procedures and connecting with local stakeholders, Zettabyte founders benefited from tailored support that significantly accelerated the launch of their French operations.
This local support is now shifting to another key priority: building Zettabyte’s French team. Thanks to Hello Lille, APEC and local employment partners, the company has recently launched an initial recruitment campaign with seven positions to fill. The first hires will support customer success, project management, business development, user support and engineering activities. Beyond technical skills, Zettabyte is primarily looking for people with potential, curiosity and the desire to contribute to a shared entrepreneurial adventure.
«We’re not necessarily looking for candidates who tick every box from day one. What matters most is their willingness to learn, grow and build something together. Skills can be taught; motivation and mindset are much harder to develop” says Chris Mugnier.
This approach is about more than hiring. It reflects the culture Zettabyte wants to maintain as it grows. Within three years, the company aims to build a team of around 25 people in Lille while preserving the same entrepreneurial spirit.
