The Net economy history in Monaco will remember two success: Binuscan of Jean-Marie Binucci and Microtek of Christian Haneuse. Two pioneers.
Monaco is not Sophia Antipolis, OK. But, the principality has already done some steps throughout the new economy and the creation of start-ups. Several entrepreneurs bet on the NTIC in th e1980s new technologies of information and communication. There are two success stories; Binuscan and Microtek.
A printer concerned by technology
The first success story is the one of Jean-Marie Binucci, 54, and Binuscan. He was born in Monaco and was a 'small' printer who was seeking to have the quality of the traditional printing when the numerical era happened. And, because he did not find a specialized software on the market, he created one. 'Binuscan ColorPro' was launched at the beginning of the 1990s. This process that allows the automatic correction of the colors of numerical pictures, quickly experiments an enormous success.
The way was found. In the wake of Binuscan, 'PhotoPerfect was launched, a bundle version sold for scanners. Then, one year ago, a new software was launched for the general public: 'Watch & Smile' that uses the universal language of television to treat pictures and sound.
Christian Haneuse: 'Mister Start-up'
The second success story is the one of Christian Haneuse, 43; creator of five start-ups. Coming from Belgium but with the heart in Monaco, he stopped his studies to work in the world of finance (portfolio management). In 1979, he invested his first earnings into a little shop to sell computers. Microtek was born. From a simple distribution of equipment, the firm soon developed software for the bank sector. In the 1980s, Microtek was one of the main company in the financial field in Monaco.
Then, in 1993, the firm became bigger. It founded a subsidiary in Sophia Antipolis: Microtek Méditerranée (a 65 million franc turnover in 1999), that goes up to Marseille. The subsidiary was sold to Sivea in February 2000. Christian Haneuse did not stop there. In 1994, he created Tekworld, a subsidiary that will deal with the Internet as a supplier, then as a specialist in e-commerce. Tekworld (a 18 million franc turnover and 18 employees in 1999) became a specialist in the management of clients' relationship, purchase, security (Push and Wap technologies).
An e-business institute in Sophia
New launchings in 1995: Blue Wave Software 30 MF, 25 employees in 1999) to develop bank software and info-centers software on the Internet. Then Tekline in May 1999 (5 people, turnover expected about 5 million francs). Tekline is specialized in the settlement of platforms dedicated to the e-commerce and to management of points of sales for the tourism sector (cruises, luxury hotels, clubs, ports and oil platforms.
Recently last February, Microtek Méditerranée was sold to Sivea. But Christian Haneuse is still a shareholder of the new group a 100 MF turnover for PACA). He is thinking about huge national projects with the BNP, whereas with Blue Wave he launched E-bank-vision in March 30 at the forum Banque et Finance de Monaco (Monaco banks and finance). E-bank-vision is a portfolio management software entirely achieved for the Internet and already bought by the bank Rothschild a CCF and Monte-Paschi Banque subsidiary. In Sophia Antipolis, he is about to open (in August 2000) an institute dedicated to the training and the recruitment of e-business colleagues for huge groups (20 people). It is also a way to join Monaco to Sophia.