Eleonore Crespo (Pigment): “It’s possible to build a global tech company with roots in Europe”

Leaders League: Did you start your career with the idea of one day becoming an entrepreneur?
Eleonore Crespo: I always knew I wanted to create my own company. However, I first wanted to gain experience. At Google, for example, I truly became aware of the complexity of planning and decision-making at scale. That’s when the idea for Pigment began to take shape. Then, at Index Ventures, I had the opportunity to closely observe what it takes to build sustainable companies by working with some of the best founders and investors. Those two experiences gave me a solid foundation on which to build Pigment, alongside Romain Niccoli.  

What was the goal?
Our goal was to create a modern AI platform that customers would genuinely want to use and that could turn planning into a real strategic advantage. I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished so far. Today, we work with some of the world’s largest companies across all industries, such as Unilever, Siemens, Uber and Anthropic.

We continued to evolve the product, expand use cases and develop a suite of agents that is concretely changing what companies can do today. We’re also showing that it is possible to build a global technology company with roots in Europe. But we’re still only at the beginning. There is still an enormous amount to do, and the pace of change means the opportunity is even greater than we initially imagined. 

How can a French tech-startup hope to compete against the American giants?
In the tech sector, success isn’t down to being French or American ‒ you win because you build a product that is truly effective for customers. That’s what we focused on from the very beginning. We invested heavily in product innovation, ease of use and the customer experience, which allowed us to stand out, especially in an area as critical as planning.

Leadership is still too often associated with fairly homogeneous profiles

No one wants to be held back by technology that isn’t fit for purpose. But a good product alone is not enough. We also made the decision to invest early in North America by building a local team to support companies on the ground. Today, it is our largest market.

You’re one of the few female leaders in the French tech industry. What enabled you to overcome the barriers to entry?
I was lucky enough to work with people who pushed me, supported me and helped me grow as a leader, rather than holding me back. But barriers for women do exist, and it’s a real issue. The problem isn’t a lack of talent; it’s more a matter of underrepresentation at multiple levels. Starting with the push toward technical fields, but also later in access to leadership positions, funding and visibility as founders. Leadership is still too often associated with fairly homogeneous profiles, and that can create obstacles. To make a difference at the top, we need profound and structural changes, not just highlighting individual career paths.

Do you see yourself as a role model?
I don’t really see myself as a role model in the traditional sense, but if my journey can help other people envision themselves pursuing careers in tech, entrepreneurship or leadership, then that matters. Representation plays a key role, and the more diverse the ecosystem is, the stronger it will be.