In 2003, after an internship within a video game development studio, he found out that there were no market indicators that executive management and board directors could use to drive their strategic decisions. Indeed, each development studio develops its proprietary IP for each specific genre of game, and these assets are developed for an entire console cycle which lasts between 6 to 10 years. He decided to start ViGaO with a simple mission: deliver key market data and dashboards to video game development studios. He published his first market report in September 2004 and started to offer his expertise to video game development studios (Take Two Interactive, Ubisoft, Atari…). The same year he started his MBA in Corporate Finance at ESSEC with a unique objective: join a US investment bank as a merger and acquisition banker.

In April 2005, Jonathan joined Calyon as junior analyst in M&A. After 9 months of intensive financial modeling and slide deck preparations, he found out that this job was not what he was looking for. He decided to quit his position. During these 9 months, Jonathan continued to work as a consultant at ViGaO. During this period, Jonathan thought that video games growth and penetration rate were impressive and that this medium should have enough power to make it an advertising media. When he resigned, he decided to start Connect’In Advertising, a dynamic in game advertising company. He raised 500k€, hired 15 people and started to develop a unique ad server dedicated to video games. The mission here was simple: being the clearchannel of video games. In march 2006, when he decided to raise 10M$ to develop the business, Connect’In competitor in the US (Massive Incoporated) has been acquired by Microsoft and therefore blocked the in game advertising market (back in 2006, the Xbox was the only connected console and consoles represented 80% of the market). Jonathan, without knowing anything of the Chinese market, decided to move the company to Beijing in China, one of the fastest growing market for online video games. This tough decision appeared to be the right one when in December 2006, Jonathan sold the company to NGI, its Chinese partner.

In January 2007, his future partner, Daniel Marhely, informed him of several legal issues he was experiencing with Blogmusik.net his music streaming service. Jonathan decided to jump on board an started to close the website. After almost 8 months of intensive negotiations, the website Deezer.com officially launched with the announcement of the signature of the first ever agreement between the SACEM and a website for on demand ad supported streaming. The website topped the 1# position within French music website in less than 9 months and today reaches almost 20 million registered users worldwide making Deezer one of the top 10 music website in the world. The site has now more than 200 agreements with major and indie labels representing a catalog of more than 6,5 million tracks. In 2009, Deezer has been awarded “Best Website” by CNET, and in 2010 Deezer mobile application has been awarded “Best Music Mobile application” at the Mobile World Congress. In its perpetual innovative development, Deezer and Oui FM a French radio, announced Oui Love Deezer a new concept where Deezer users manage the radio programming everyday making Oui FM the world first radio being programmed by users. In June 2009, Deezer activities has been diversified with the launch of SoundDeezer, a sister company of Deezer, dedicated to in store music broadcast with its first client being McDonald France.

Between January 2007 and January 2010, Jonathan and his team of 50 folks developed Deezer and its affiliates to a leading position in France and in Europe thanks to their passion for innovation. The company raised more than 20M$ in 2 rounds of financings with Xavier Niel, the French tech mogul, Dotcorp Asset Management, AGF Private Equity & CIC Capital Privé. In 2007, Jonathan was voted one of the ten most influential people by the French magazine Musique Info Hebdo. In 2008, he’s been named for the Marketing Man Award by French Marketing Magazine. In 2009, is been awarded Entrepreneur of the year by Ivy Search, one of the best executive search firm in France.

In January 2010, after building a 10M€ revenue business, he decided to step down as CEO of the company to focus on his chairman position and named a new CEO to bring the company to the next level.

His mojo: “Think big or don’t”

Jonathan holds a MS in Mechanical Engineering from ENSAM (Paris) and a MBA in corporate finance from ESSEC (Paris).

He is entrepreholic, loves challenges, focus and pragmatic. He defines himself has a wide thinker.

He likes technology, design, all kind of vehicles and especially classic cars. He plays tennis and likes cooking. He is a young father (since May 2010) and his wife is a lawyer in IP.

Jonathan is involved as a mentor at the Founder Institute and participates to several think tanks such as L’Institut Montaigne in Paris or the National Museum Association of Paris.