Meet our team
Elsa Nicol
CO-FOUNDER, CEO
Since 2019, Falco's foundation, Elsa has been leading the company's strategy with a clear mission: to facilitate the necessary technological evolution of marinas while preserving their cultural identity and enhancing the boating experience in a sustainable way.
Engineer graduated from INSA ,Elsa has trained in management and entrepreneurship at the University of California-Berkley, the London Business School and the EM Lyon Business School. For over 10 years, Elsa lead the development of high-tech products in the maritime, aerospace and defense sectors in the USA, UK and Scandinavia.
Keoma Laguna
CO-FOUNDER, CTO
Ph.D. in computer sciences graduated from Paris 6 University, specialised in wireless networks, Keoma has been involved in the setting up of several data collection systems in three continents. Curious and motivated, he helps marinas address new issues through his knowledge in the deploiment of high-reliability wireless networks.
Thomas Watteyne
CO-FOUNDER, SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
Internationally renown expert in low-power wireless mesh technologies, Thomas supports Wattson Elements as a scientific advisor.
Thomas has deploied more than 1 000 sensors in three continents. He is head of a research team at Inria Paris research center and gives his contribution as network architect at Analog Devices, the market leader.
Thomas leads the standardisation effort of this technology – IETF 6TiSCH working group – in order to allow this branch of IoT to develop securly and in an optimised way in different sectors of the industry.
Olivier Laporte
CO-FOUNDER, CUSTOMER SUPPORT MANAGER
Merchant Navy Captain and Environmental Engineer, Olivier has been involved for over 20 years in sustainable development of the marin environment.
Chief Expeditioner and Project Manager for several major stakeholders of the scientific (CNRS, CEA, Conservatoire du Littoral) and technical (Ecotank, Monaco Marine) community, Olivier provides Wattson Elements with his expertise, his network and his enthousiasme.
Specialised in harbor environmental managment, Olivier is convinced that the Falco solution will allow ports to combine digital and ecological transition and to become more efficient and resilient.
Anna Bednárik
OFFICE MANAGER
Trained translator, Anna worked several years as research team assistant at the Inria research center, where Falco was born.
Since October 2020, she has joined Falco to help with accountancy, human resources, communication, follow-up of the operations etc. where her organisational skills and her taste for the details are important assets.
Jim Lamarche
PARTNER - GENERAL MANAGER NORTH AMERICA
Jim combines a unique entrepreneurial background as the co-founder and CEO of an AI startup as well being a small business owner and commercial tuna captain. Prior to branching out on his own, he spent 16 years at Cisco Systems in Sales, Business Development, Corp Finance, and Channel Management. Along with his love for the water, he is passionate about creating unique solutions and building value for his customers.
Martin Gaspaillard
CTO
Paola Galvan Tornel
VP of Sales
Telecoms engineer graduated from ECE and Sorbonne, Paola has over 10 years of experience in business development in the field of telecoms and new technologies.
After five years managing teams in engineering consulting, she has been leading teams and projects on digital challenges, notably at Google.
Lila Gazeau
FRONT-END ENGENEER
IT Engineer, graduated from IMAC Paris, Lila joins Falco after a first successful professional experience.
Millenial, Lila shares with Falco her culture of the web and her outlook on usages. Glad to integrate a multidisciplinary team, she is looking forward to discovering the boating industry.
Albin Billochon
DIRECTOR of OPERATIONS & SUPPORT
Albin has over 25 years of experience in the marine sector. He worked as a sailing instructor, boat preparer and after-sales service manager. He brings Falco his industry knowledge and his background in customer relationship.