VirtualExpo

VirtualExpo is a French company that operates business-to-business (B2B) online marketplaces. Founded in 1998 by Corentin Thiercelin and headquartered in Marseille, France, the company operates sector-specific marketplaces serving industrial, architectural, medical, agricultural, aviation and maritime industries.

History

VirtualExpo was founded in Marseille in 1998 by engineer Corentin Thiercelin.

Its first marketplace, DirectIndustry, was launched in 2000 as an online exhibition platform for industrial equipment and components. Following the launch of DirectIndustry, VirtualExpo expanded into other sectors by launching NauticExpo (boating and maritime) in 2003, ArchiExpo (architecture and design) in 2007, MedicalExpo (medical equipment) in 2012, and AeroExpo and AgriExpo in 2016.

Between 2017 and 2019, the company was included in the French Great Place to Work rankings.

In July 2020, VirtualExpo introduced marketplace functions across its six online exhibition platforms, allowing transactions and quotation requests to be conducted online. During the COVID-19 pandemic, French media reported increased interest in online sourcing platforms and virtual trade-show alternatives as many physical exhibitions and trade fairs were cancelled or postponed.

In 2020, Le Journal des Entreprises reported that VirtualExpo had opened the B2B marketplace of DirectIndustry to international markets.

In 2024, VirtualExpo established a regional headquarters in Wuhan, China, in the Optics Valley of China.

Operations

VirtualExpo operates online marketplaces for professional buyers and suppliers in several sectors, including industrial manufacturing, architecture and design, medical technology, agriculture, aviation and maritime equipment. Its portfolio includes the DirectIndustry, ArchiExpo, MedicalExpo, AeroExpo, AgriExpo and NauticExpo marketplaces, as well as sector-specific online magazines such as DirectIndustry e-Magazine, ArchiExpo e-Magazine and MedicalExpo e-Magazine. According to Le Journal des Entreprises, approximately 90% of the company's revenue was generated from international markets, particularly Germany, Italy and the United States.