Rivalis-Henrri founders regain full ownership and step up AI strategy for small businesses

Damien Valdan et Lionel Valdan - co-directeurs de Rivalis

The founders of Rivalis have regained full ownership after a management buyout from Ardian Growth, aiming to expand AI-driven support services for small companies.

The founders of French small-business support group Rivalis-Henrri, Lionel Valdan and Damien Valdan, have completed a management buy-out to acquire the stake held by investment firm Ardian Growth, restoring full independence to the company.

Founded in 1994, Rivalis-Henrri provides both human consulting and SaaS management tools to small businesses. The group says its platforms are currently used by around 228,000 active companies, representing approximately €21 billion in annual business flows.

The move comes as small and micro-enterprises across Europe face increasing pressure to digitalise their financial management and improve profitability monitoring.

Pragmatic use of artificial intelligence

Speaking to Impact European, co-founder Damien Valdan said artificial intelligence has long been embedded in the company’s predictive tools.

“We have been developing predictive algorithms for more than 25 years to help entrepreneurs anticipate profitability and investment impact,” he said.

More recent generative AI features have been integrated into specific functions such as automated document creation, financial projections and decision-support tools.

Human relationship remains key

Despite increased automation, the company maintains that human interaction remains central to its business model. Rivalis-Henrri relies on a nationwide network of around 800 independent advisors who meet clients in person on a regular basis.

Looking ahead, the group plans to expand services related to cash-flow optimisation, predictive analytics and financing preparation tools.