Quentin Sannié On Raising Over $200 Million To Design And Manufacture High-End Audio Equipment And Now Revolutionizing Data Solutions To Drive Agricultural Soil Rejuvenation

Quentin Sannié’s journey is a testament to the power of entrepreneurial vision, resilience, and the ability to adapt across vastly different industries. From his humble beginnings in Versailles to founding innovative companies like Devialet and Genesis, his story is about building dreams.

Quentin’s latest venture Genesis is the first Global Rating Agency for the ecological health of cultivated soils. Its researchers and engineers have built the first tool to measure the impact of agricultural practices on soils to improve their health, yield and resistance to risks. It is a tool designed and validated by the scientific community, enforceable and dynamic.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Quentin Sannié’s journey shows the value of embracing a vision and trusting your instincts to create something unique.
• Transitioning from consulting to building iconic brands like Devialet demonstrates the power of embracing new challenges.
• Building a team with diverse skills and fostering unity was central to Quentin’s success with Devialet.
• A transformative experience in California inspired Quentin to tackle environmental challenges through innovative solutions.
• Quentin advises entrepreneurs to combine the intensity of their dreams with practical strategies for execution.
• Identifying and working with complementary partners ensures long-term success in business ventures.
• Quentin’s latest venture, Genesis, highlights the importance of using data to measure, score and manage agriculture environmental footprints.

 

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About Quentin Sannié:

Quentin Sannié, based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, is currently a Président De Genesis at Genesis Soil Health Symbiotopy.

Quentin brings experience from previous roles at Greenback, Symbiotopy, Devialet, and Mandragore. He holds a 1985 – 1986 Université Paris Dauphine – Psl. With a robust skill set that includes Innovation, Consumer Electronics, Luxury Goods, Strategy, Business Development and more.

Connect with Quentin Sannié:

• LinkedIn
• Crunchbase
• RocketReach
• F6S

Read the Full Transcription of the Interview:

Alejandro Cremades: All right. Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Deal Makers Show. Today, we have an exciting founder who has done it more than a couple of times. I think you’ll all find his journey and story truly inspiring. We’ll be talking about why anyone can be an entrepreneur, how he transitioned from building a super successful company to starting something from scratch, why having the right partners is essential, and how to rally people together to deliver on a market gap.

We’ll also explore insights about building, scaling, and financing new ventures. Brace yourself for a very inspiring conversation. Without further ado, let’s welcome our guest today, Quentin Sannié. Quentin, welcome to the show.

Quentin Sannié: Hello, hello, Alejandro. How are you?

Alejandro Cremades: Originally born in Paris, Quentin, take us on a walk down memory lane, as you were raised in Versailles. How was life growing up there?

Quentin Sannié: Absolutely. It was a very nice city, pleasant with the castle and everything. But at the same time, it wasn’t exactly an exciting or entrepreneurial city back then—just a nice place to live.

Alejandro Cremades: Eventually, you went on to study economics at university. During your time as a student, you discovered your entrepreneurial spirit and started your first company. How did that entrepreneurial drive develop in you, and what pushed you toward saying, “Let’s go, let’s start this company”?

Quentin Sannié: During my studies in Paris, I felt an appeal, an excitement, to build something on my own—to invent my own life. I didn’t see myself sending resumes to existing companies. I wanted to create something by myself.

I believe this is often the case for entrepreneurs. If you feel the urge to create something by yourself, regardless of your skills or personality—whether you’re great at organizing, inventing, or selling—you’ll feel that drive. At the time, it was the early days of the Macintosh, and during my studies, I started helping companies integrate this new tool into their businesses—working with architects and small businesses to adopt this technology.

Alejandro Cremades: So, you got into consulting and did it in two instances. First, helping companies integrate computers in 1984 when you started as an entrepreneur. Then, later, you worked with larger corporations like Coca-Cola and Danone, helping them with strategy and business models. As someone who had access to these larger players early on, what did you learn about what works, what doesn’t, and how to develop a repeatable, scalable business model?

Quentin Sannié: As a young entrepreneur and consultant, it was very exciting to influence and help experienced, skilled people embrace change. When you’re new to an industry, you bring fresh perspectives, tools, and capacities that can change the way people think about their businesses.

For example, today, people with knowledge of AI are influencing large companies, helping them integrate new technologies and enter new worlds. In the ’80s, it was the same with computers, and later with globalization. I worked with companies navigating telecommunications and technological convergence. As a newcomer who was deeply curious, I was able to help these companies because everything was new and uncharted.

Alejandro Cremades: After over a decade of consulting, what changed for you to say, “I want to try entrepreneurship with a different approach,” which eventually led to the founding of Devialet?

Quentin Sannié: By the time I was 40, influencing others became less fulfilling. I wanted to create something myself—not just advise others. Devialet actually stemmed from a childhood dream. As a teenager, sound technology fascinated me. My cousin and I dreamed of creating a company centered around sound, combining new technologies with innovative design.

In 2007, we started Devialet. Our conviction was to bring together people with very different skills to break barriers in sound reproduction. We united experts in signal processing, acoustics, electronics, microelectronics, and software. By putting them in the same room to solve specific problems—like delivering deep bass in small devices or eliminating sound distortion—we created something greater than the sum of our parts.

Alejandro Cremades: At Devialet, you realized the importance of building an incredible team and not trying to do it alone. How did you go about assembling the right team?

Quentin Sannié: Building the right team is critical. The partners you choose when creating a company could become a challenge in the future if you’re not aligned. So, you need to choose your partners carefully. At the same time, it’s crucial to partner with people who complement your skills. You cannot achieve something truly great alone.

Understanding your own weaknesses is essential, as is finding people who fill those gaps. Working with people who have different skills makes for a stronger partnership. But even with a great team, conflicts will arise. Having a third party—whether it’s a board member, consultant, or psychologist—can help resolve conflicts and keep the team strong over time.

Alejandro Cremades: What was the business model for Devialet, and how did you generate revenue?

Quentin Sannié: From the beginning, our goal was to make money through the products we sold—highly advanced, top-tier products in terms of price, experience, and technology. At the same time, we developed the technologies embedded in those products and licensed them to other companies to generate royalties.

We also established Devialet as a luxury brand, selling directly through our own stores to maintain control over the customer experience. This dual business model—product sales and technology licensing—helped us remain innovative and profitable.

Alejandro Cremades: How much capital did you raise for Devialet, and what was your experience raising funds?

Quentin Sannié: We raised about 200 million euros, which was a significant amount back then. Our business model was capital-intensive, requiring investment in manufacturing, technology, and more. While raising that much money allowed us to pursue our dreams, it also meant gradually losing some control of the company. It’s a trade-off every entrepreneur needs to consider.

Alejandro Cremades: You traveled frequently to California, and during one family trip, everything changed. What happened?

Quentin Sannié: I’ve always been passionate about agriculture—my father was an agronomist. During a summer trip to California, we were struck by the environmental challenges there. The farming model was highly demanding on water and other resources, and the impact on nature was evident, even in national parks.

After that trip, I realized I wanted to focus on solving environmental issues. I decided to leave Devialet and start Genesis, a company dedicated to measuring the real impact of farming practices on the environment. Our goal is to provide actionable data to actors in agriculture—farmers, cooperatives, and big companies like Nestlé and LVMH—so they can make informed decisions that reduce their environmental footprint.

Alejandro Cremades: If the vision for Genesis is fully realized, what does that world look like?

Quentin Sannié: It’s a world with more diversity—more trees, varied crops, and vibrant ecosystems. You’d hear more birds, see more insects, and feel the richness of a balanced environment. Agriculture would respect the soil, and landscapes would be alive and thriving. We’d be producing in harmony with nature, rather than at its expense.

Alejandro Cremades: Imagine going back to 1984 when you were starting your first company. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Quentin Sannié: I would tell myself to believe in my dreams, but not to do it alone. I’d advise myself to find partners who complement my skills, especially in areas like organization. It’s also important to stay pragmatic and learn to balance the intensity of your dreams with the realities of execution. Surrounding yourself with the right people and being open to advice can make all the difference.

Alejandro Cremades: Amazing, Quentin. For the folks that are listening, what is the best way for them to reach out and say hi?

Quentin Sannié: Sure, they can reach me via email at qu************@ge*****.com. I’d be happy to connect.

*****

If you like the show, make sure that you hit that subscribe button. If you can leave a review as well, that would be fantastic. And if you got any value either from this episode or from the show itself, share it with a friend. Perhaps they will also appreciate it. Also, remember, if you need any help, whether it is with your fundraising efforts or with selling your business, you can reach me at al*******@pa**************.com“>al*******@pa**************.com

 

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