Entreprendre, innover, créer. Jean Michel Karam partage sa vision dans Qui veut être mon associé ? sur M6

Entrepreneur franco-libanais, JEAN MICHEL KARAM est passionné par l'innovation et le développement de solutions technologiques qui transforment les industries. Son parcours est guidé par la curiosité, l’audace, et l’envie de repousser les limites.


Ses réalisations :

🚀 Fondateur de MEMSCAP (1997), leader mondial des technologies MEMS utilisées dans l’aéronautique, la santé et les télécoms.
🧴 Créateur d'IOMA (2010), marque pionnière en cosmétique personnalisée basée sur des diagnostics précis et des soins sur mesure.
🤖 Fondateur d’IEVA Group (2016), alliant microélectronique, capteurs intelligents et IA pour offrir des solutions innovantes en bien-être et cosmétique.
🎥 Juré dans Qui veut être mon associé ? sur M6, accompagnant les entrepreneurs dans leurs projets ambitieux.
✍️ Inventeur de +80 brevets et auteur de +250 publications scientifiques.
❤️ Président de l’association LEYLA, dédiée à la lutte contre les maladies rares et orphelines.


Quelques repères :

🏆 Introduction en bourse historique de MEMSCAP (2001), l'une des trois seules entreprises cotées cette année-là, aux côtés d’Orange et Alstom.
🌍 Présence internationale avec des projets et collaborations aux États-Unis, en Europe et au Moyen-Orient.
💡 Ambassadeur de l’entrepreneuriat et de l’innovation technologique.
💼 Rachat de L’Atelier du Sourcil (2020), marque iconique dédiée à la beauté du regard et à l’expertise en soins esthétiques.

Jean Michel Karam (born in 1969) is a Lebanese engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. His work includes microelectronics, telecommunications, Information Technology, mobile device repair software, hardware engineering, and cosmetics
Karam was born in Lebanon and was the third of four children. His father initially served in the army before transitioning into business.
In 1990, he moved to France to pursue higher education, obtaining an Electrical Engineering degree in 1993 from the École Supérieure d'Ingénieurs en Électrotechnique et Électronique de Paris (ESIEE Paris) and a master's degree in Microelectronics from Université de Paris VII. In 1996, he completed a PhD in Microelectronics at the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (INPG).

In 1994, Karam began his career as a research engineer at the TIMA-CM (Techniques de l'Informatique et de la Micro-électronique pour l'Architecture Informatique) laboratory in Grenoble, France. This Research & Development center, affiliated with the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the INPG, provided him with experience in research.

credit photo Yves Botalico

He later became a Research Director, overseeing a team focused on developing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Within three years, the MEMS research team grew to include 35 researchers.

In November 1997, Karam founded his first company, MEMSCAP, a supplier of products based on MEMS technology. During its early years, MEMSCAP secured €13 million in venture capital funding.

On March 2, 2001, MEMSCAP became a publicly traded company on Eurolist C of the NYSE Euronext, Paris, raising €101 million, which supported the company's expansion in the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) market.

In 2010, Karam spun off INTUISKIN from MEMSCAP, launching the skincare brand IOMA, which combines technology with dermatological research to develop personalized skincare solutions. Véra Strubi, former president of Thierry Mugler, joined the board of directors of MEMSCAP in 2007. As of 2024, Karam serves as the Chairman and CEO of both MEMSCAP and INTUISKIN/IOMA. He is also the president of the LEYLA charity, a non-profit association focused on combating orphan or rare diseases.

Karam holds over 80 patents and has contributed to scientific and economic publications.

In 2016, Karam founded IEVA alongside David Moulinier, who currently serves as Managing Director. IEVA combines expertise in microelectronics, sensors, and artificial intelligence with personalized cosmetics research.

Karam and his company have received awards including:

    EU Business News award for ‘Best Personalised Beauty CEO’ in 2023
    U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) of the United States Department of Commerce – Award of Excellence for international commercial development (2012)
    SEMICON MicroNanoSystems Innovation Award (2009)
    European Semiconductor/Wacker Siltronics Award for best European start-up company (2001)
    Deloitte & Touche Technology “Fast 50” First Prize for Rhone-Alps region, France (2001 and 2002)
    Euronext Special Prize for “First listed company in Rhone-Alpes Region” (2002)
    AGEFI Grand Prize of Venture Capitalist (2002)
    The French Stock-IT Award for the company with the highest growth (2001 and 2002)