Gekomed: Giving Medical Devices a Second Life
What if medical devices could have more than one life? This is the ambition behind Gekomed, a young company committed to making healthcare more sustainable.
Founded in February 2024 by three co-founders, including two ESSCA graduates, Gekomed is emerging as an innovative player in the circular economy within the healthcare sector. The company has developed a practical solution to address a largely untapped issue: the refurbishment of orthopaedic braces.
An innovative and responsible approach
Gekomed specialises in the collection, refurbishment and design of eco-designed orthopaedic braces.
The company relies on a nationwide network of healthcare institutions to collect used devices, which are then processed in social inclusion workshops.
At the same time, Gekomed is developing its own range of new braces, designed from the outset to be reusable. This dual approach helps reduce medical waste while offering sustainable solutions to healthcare professionals.
Today, the company has:
- More than 650 partner healthcare facilities
- Over 15,000 braces collected
- 6 eco-designed products
- A team of 7 employees
An idea rooted in real-world observation
The project stemmed from a simple observation, made in collaboration with an orthopaedic surgeon: once used, braces are almost never reused.
Faced with this waste, the co-founders identified an opportunity to make a tangible impact. Gekomed fully embraces a circular economy model, offering both an environmental and economic solution for healthcare institutions.
Two ESSCA graduates behind the project
Mathieu Zuber and Gautier Corbineau (PGE 2023) are both graduates of ESSCA’s Grande École Programme, specialising in Banking and Financial Engineering. They worked on their first entrepreneurial projects together before co-founding Gekomed.
Within the company, their roles are complementary. Mathieu Zuber leads the commercial and financial aspects, while Gautier Corbineau oversees product development, particularly the eco-designed range, as well as the refurbishment workshop, which he manages alongside a workshop director. He is also responsible for marketing, communications, online presence and the e-commerce platform.
Supported by ESSCA
Gekomed benefited from the support of Incub’ESSCA from its early stages, before joining Paris Santé Campus.
The company has also raised funds and secured public support (Bpifrance, ADEME, Région Île-de-France) to accelerate its development.
Scaling up in the healthcare sector
Gekomed is now working with major healthcare groups such as AP-HP and Ramsay Santé. The company is entering a new phase of growth, with plans for an industrial production site currently underway.
“Our goal is clear: to make refurbishment an obvious choice for all healthcare institutions.”
A message to students
“Entrepreneurship is an exciting journey, but it is also a long-term commitment. It brings real autonomy and the satisfaction of building something of your own, something many students can relate to. At ESSCA, we were fortunate to benefit from an excellent incubator, whose support was invaluable, and I strongly encourage students to explore these opportunities. Above all, you have to go out and create opportunities rather than wait for them to come to you. When you work for yourself, no one holds your hand, you are the driving force behind your own project.”