The wait is over. Today, 110 French startups will embark on a mission to win over nearly 140,000 B2B visitors exploring the halls of the CES in Las Vegas. Even before the official start of this latest edition of the renowned American trade show, some French startups have already managed to stand out by earning a CES Innovation Award.
This recognition gave them the opportunity to take part in CES Unveiled, the exclusive CES pre-event reserved for the media. Maddyness was there and now presents three particularly original French innovations that caught our attention during the event.
1. Withings’ futuristic smart mirror
A regular at CES, Withings has consistently surprised visitors with unique products designed to improve daily health tracking. After introducing U-Scan, a connected urine analysis device for toilets in 2023, and BeamO, a multi-scope health check device, the French company is back with a bold new concept: Omnia.
Omnia is a connected smart mirror equipped with multiple features, giving users an interactive view of their overall health at a glance. Using AI, the mirror aggregates, analyses, and interprets various vital health metrics (cardiac health, nutrition trends, pulmonary function, sleep quality…) to analyse complex relationships between different factors affecting health.
Weighing 200 kilos and standing over two metres tall, this futuristic mirror was the largest product displayed at CES Unveiled. Although not yet available for commercial sale, Omnia stands out as a forward-looking innovation in health technology, offering a glimpse into the future of personal health monitoring.
2. Skyted: From mask to headset
In 2024, Skyted attracted attention at CES with its mask designed to make “silent-calls” in public. This year, the Toulouse-based startup has returned with a new product: Skyted 320, a headset designed to maintain call privacy by amplifying the user's voice without disturbing those nearby.
Developed by Stéphane Hersen, a former Airbus vice president, the headset uses AI to cancel out background noise and enhance the user’s voice, ensuring clear, discreet communication. Maddyness tested the device, and the results were impressive!
This innovation offers a unique solution for confidential calls in public spaces, preventing sensitive information from being overheard. It could also benefit the 300 million people worldwide with vocal or hearing impairments. Priced at €240, the Skyted 320 headset is available for pre-order and expected to start shipping by the end of March.
As CES CEO Gary Shapiro advises in his book "Pivot or Die!", Skyted has adapted its strategy accordingly. "We're not here to be right, we're here to win," says Sébastien Gorjux, Skyted's CFO. Time will tell whether this strategic pivot leads to success.
3. DotDot: Sharing unused mobile data
With mobile plans increasingly offering generous data allowances, many users end up with unused data. Recognising this, DotDot has developed a pocket-sized WiFi repeater that allows users to anonymously and securely share their unused mobile data.
This innovative approach could improve internet access for low-income individuals and students on tight budgets. It's a pressing issue, as 15% of the French population lacks access to mobile internet, while many others pay for data they don’t fully use. DotDot offers a solution by enabling users to either donate or sell their unused data at a rate of €1 per gigabyte.
In a context where inflation is putting a strain on household budgets, this solution could prove attractive, not just in Europe but in the United States, where mobile data plans are notoriously expensive compared to France.
These three French innovations, ranging from futuristic health monitoring to secure communication and data sharing, exemplify the creativity and relevance of French tech at CES 2025. With their unique approaches to everyday challenges, these startups are well-positioned to make an impact both locally and internationally.
