GREGORY BERNARD
Gregory Bernard is a film producer, angel investor and socially-committed entrepreneur in Telecom, Digital, Fashion, Leisure and Arts.
As an entrepreneur, he has founded, developed, managed and restructured several companies in Europe, America and Africa.
All of the work of Gregory Bernard is driven by innovation, both artistic and technological and the will to unlock human potential through equitable opportunities and technological empowerment.
VISION
Individuals and groups have great potential that can be unlocked with fair opportunity, free access to financial and technological tools, and smart use of telecommunications as an empowering force.
The focus of all the entrepreneurial activity of Gregory Bernard is on emerging markets, emerging technology and emerging talents.
EDUCATION &
EARLY CAREER
Originally trained at Ecole Centrale de Paris one of the 3 top French science and management schools and in Political Science at the renowned SCIENCES PO Paris, home of the government and high administration leaders in France.
Gregory Bernard soon choses to confront international markets, studying at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Washington DC.
After that, he became a visiting researcher at School of Foreign Services, for the SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS program (STIA) in Georgetown.
The major focus of his research was on technology and ethics: working closely on the bioethics council and analyzing the potential consequences of the first cloning of a mammal (the sheep Dolly).
During his stay in Washington DC Gregory Bernard was a teacher (“maître de conference”) for exchange students of Sciences Po on the STIA basics and developed a TV program to make these issues accessible to a wider audience.
His studies led him to work worldwide as a high level consultant in management, strategy and corporate finance.
Between 1997 and 1999 Gregory Bernard was a science attaché for the French Embassy in Washington DC and a US office manager of ADIT (Agence pour la Diffusion de l'Information Technologique).
In 1997 he worked for the Embassy on the first diplomatic summit on global warming and carbon emission markets.
From there on he worked in the US congress and Senate hearings and was responsible for a daily newsletter on science and technology addressed to the top government officials and top companies in France.
After the US experience Gregory Bernard worked as a consultant internationally on Telco and Media and helped the French Cinematheque go digital and change location to the Franck Gehry building in the East of Paris.
entrepreneurship endeavour
TALENT MANAGEMENT &
DIGITAL STARTUPS
CC.communication // AgencesArtistiques.com
Gregory Bernard founded his first digital startup, CC.Communication, in Paris in 1999. After 25 years of activity, the software he developed for the platform still holds a monopoly on the artistic agent market in France.
CC.Communication offers online collaborative digital platforms tailored for audiovisual, arts, and entertainment professionals. These platforms host artistic agents, casting directors, producers, and talents, providing access to information, search engines, specialized web software, and online tools, both publicly and privately.
Additionally, the agency offers personalized website creation based on tailored assessments, specific requirements, and software suites adapted to the industry's needs.
One of CC.Communication's flagship offerings is www.agencesartistiques.com. The platform is designed to provide access to the most comprehensive and dynamic database of artists and agents in the sector. It search engine is utilized by thousands of industry professionals daily, enabling the consultation of hundreds of thousands of talent profiles each month and facilitating daily connections between casting directors and agents.
TELECOMUNICATION
TELO // TELO PAY // emerge angola
Gregory Bernard began focusing on emerging markets and telecommunications in 2003, particularly in Africa, a region he had been familiar with since his youth.
Maintaining a close relationship with the culture, he became a strong advocate for social business in Africa and he strongly believed that telecommunications could be instrumental in advancing philanthropic objectives. Inspired by the work of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus at the Grameen Bank, who had empowered thousands of women in Bangladesh with microcredit solutions, Bernard aimed to bring similar solutions to micro-entrepreneurs.
In 2005, Bernard initiated TELO, transforming the payphone business model into a social enterprise. TELO became the sole public payphone service in Angola, serving the entire Angolan population, particularly those unable to acquire their own mobile phones. Payphones were strategically placed in TELO booths, mobile stands, and small shops, reaching over 800,000 end consumers per month.
TELO also provides sustainable social business opportunities for more than 8.000 micro- entrepreneurs and remunerates them with margins up to 55%, in order to economically and socially empower them and their families.
In 15 years, Gregory Bernard put together a team of over 80 local employees at the service of a network of 8.000 franchised dealers who have developed a strong trust for the company.
After the growth of TELO, in 2014 the company was unified under EMERGE ANGOLA a renowned Angolan corporate group and major shareholder of seven Angolan companies operating in the Telecommunications, Media and Information Technology.
EMERGE ANGOLA is the only MVNO-like in Angola and the major supplier of telecom equipment in Angola.
In 2015 Gregory Bernard added to the umbrella of telecommunication brands TELOPAY, a solution to address the need for additional services and income streams for the TELO network, which spans approximately 8,000 points of sale across Angola.
TELOPAY facilitates the sale of prepaid recharges and payment of various services from major providers in the country. Operators of TELOPAY can establish sub-operators with sub-resellers, facilitating business expansion and have access to comprehensive reporting tools to enhance sales, profit, and account management.
FILM PRODUCTION
REALITISM FILMS
Realitism Films is Film production company founded by Gregory Bernard, with more then 7 movies selected at major International Festivals like Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Sundance. Headquartered in Paris, Realitism Films has produced feature movies in Los Angeles and across the world.
The producer-led inspiration for Realitism comes from challenging the way reality is explored and portrayed in both fiction and documentaries.
Gregory Bernard produced Quentin Dupieux’s first movies, RUBBER, WRONG COPS, WRONG, and REALITY. Realitism Films first film is LAGERFELD CONFIDENTIEL, a documentary that delves into the life and legacy of Karl Lagerfeld. Later in 2016 Realitism Films has produced CASABLANCAS: THE MAN WHO LOVED WOMEN, a documentary that delved into the invention of the top model star business, identifying the origins a whole industry.
Gregory Bernard’s company also produced a stop motion animation, TO DIE BY YOUR SIDE, directed by Spike Jonze and Simon Cahn, selected in numerous festivals such as the Critic’s Week in Cannes and Locarno in 2010.
FASHION
OLYMPIA LE-TAN
In 2009 Gregory Bernard invested in emerging talent Olympia Le-Tan.Renowned for its creation of original clutch bags, blending embroidery and literature, the brand rose to iconic status in the luxury realm.
Crafted by highly skilled artisans in Italy, Olympia Le-Tan products are retailed in over 100 luxury stores worldwide as well as leading e-commerce platforms.
The brand's distinctive feminine and intellectual style has attracted collaborations with numerous art, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands, including Uniqlo, Diptyque, Lancôme, Pierre Marcolini, and Damien Hirst. Noteworthy collaborations include projects at the Louis Vuitton Foundation with Basquiat and partnerships with iconic brands like My Little Pony, Monopoly, and Transformers in collaboration with Hasbro.
Olympia Le-Tan has also garnered spontaneous endorsements from various movie stars and artists, including Tilda Swinton, Natalie Portman, Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian, and Michelle Williams.
WELL BEING
DR. BERNARD
Gregory Bernard’s latest journey delves in personal development, wellness practices and health habits. In 2017, he established a wellness center on the beachfront in Costa Caparica, Portugal, with a simple belief: "to change the world, start with yourself."
Named after his father, the health resort, Dr. Bernard is a place of wellbeing. Members of Dr. Bernard have access to a variety of activities, including yoga, Pilates, surfing, natural spa treatments, physiotherapy, massages, accommodations, excursions, vegan-friendly and organic foods sourced from local sustainable farming and fishing practices, environmental awareness programs, coworking spaces, conference facilities, and a kids' club, among others. The center also hosts special events such as international music and wellness festivals, conferences, private gatherings, workshops, and retreats.
Furthermore, Dr. Bernard will develop its own brand of health products and provide short-cycle food supplies, emphasizing its commitment to promoting health and wellness both within the center and beyond.
INVESTMENT VENTURES
Under the milky way // V-Interactive // wildflame.com
Under The Milky Way Under The Milky Way collaborates with numerous Video on Demand (VoD) platforms and was awarded the prestigious global iTunes preferred aggregator status in 2011. Operating across over 100 territories, the company serves various rights-holders through 13 regional offices in Europe, North America, and Asia. Under The Milky Way's main activities include aggregating and distributing international rights on global VoD platforms, developing software solutions for online and social media marketing, and coordinating a European professional network focused on cross-border digital distribution.
V-Interactive is a web agency founded by Peter Vogelaar that has helped over 50 businesses with services including Internet consultancy, website design & re-design, e-commerce, audio development, upgrade & maintenance, website promotion & marketing, and content management systems.
Wildflame.com provides a full service approach to Influence Marketing, managing digital marketing campaigns on all social networks, from brief to reporting. International companies such as Samsung, Seiko, Make Up For Ever or JBL count among their clients.