The French AI startup Mistral, valued at $6 billion, has been making waves in the industry, but a recent Bloomberg story has shed light on a lesser-known figure instrumental in its success: Jean-Charles Samuelian-Werve, co-founder and CEO of health insurance unicorn Alan. Samuelian-Werve's role as a co-founding advisor to Mistral has been crucial to the company's growth, and his connection to the AI startup goes beyond just an advisory position.

Samuelian-Werve's involvement with Mistral dates back to before the release of ChatGPT, when he foresaw the AI boom and reached out to telecom billionaire Xavier Niel to create an AI non-profit. However, after meeting Mistral's co-founders, including Arthur Mensch, Samuelian-Werve dropped the non-profit idea and instead became a driving force behind Mistral's creation. He convinced Lightspeed to lead Mistral's seed round and brought in many of the investors who would eventually back the AI startup.

Samuelian-Werve's connection to Mistral is not a secret, but the extent of his involvement has been largely underreported until now. As a co-founder and board member of Mistral, Samuelian-Werve has been instrumental in shaping the company's strategy. He still meets with Mensch once a week to discuss Mistral's direction, and Alan is also a shareholder in the AI startup. The two companies are physically close as well, with Mistral's office located in the same building as Alan's office in Paris.

Samuelian-Werve's interest in artificial intelligence is not limited to his role at Mistral. At Alan, he has been investing in AI for some time, aiming to reduce management costs, increase efficiency, and create new services. In November 2024, Alan introduced an AI-powered chatbot called Mo, which provides medical advice checked by a doctor within 15 minutes. Samuelian-Werve has hinted at announcing new services related to generative AI in 2024, which could have significant implications for the health insurance industry.

The Bloomberg story raises questions about the future of Mistral, with Samuelian-Werve reiterating that the company is not for sale. However, as the article notes, this statement is often made when a company is, in fact, open to sale or under pressure from shareholders to sell. The connection between Alan and Mistral will likely be a topic of discussion at the upcoming AI Action Summit in Paris, where the industry will gather to explore the latest developments in AI.

The revelation of Samuelian-Werve's role in Mistral's founding and growth provides a new perspective on the French AI startup's success. As the industry continues to evolve, the connection between Mistral and Alan serves as a reminder of the interconnected nature of innovation and entrepreneurship in the tech world.