Baptiste Michaud

Baptiste Michaud is a French technology entrepreneur, media executive, and engineer, best known as the Co-founder and President of Humanoid, a leading digital media group in France focused on mobile technology, digital innovation, and technology culture. He co-founded Humanoid in October 2007 and has led the company for more than 18 years, overseeing its strategic direction, growth, operations, and development across editorial, technical, and commercial functions.

Under his leadership, Humanoid has become the publisher of several major French digital media platforms, including Frandroid.com, the leading French source for mobile and Android technology; Numerama.com, a major reference media for digital society and technology, acquired in 2015; Madmoizelle.com, a widely followed women-focused platform acquired in 2020; and Lemon.fr, a site dedicated to mobile news and product guidance. Baptiste is responsible for company vision, business strategy, editorial positioning, product development, acquisitions, partnerships, audience growth, SEO, analytics, monetisation, and platform performance. He has built and managed large multidisciplinary teams across editorial, technology, and business departments.

From 2019 to 2022, he served as President of 191 Media, the advertising sales company created by Humanoid and Futura, managing the commercial operations of several independent French media groups generating tens of millions of monthly sessions.

Previously, Baptiste founded Sidereo in 2013 and served as Founder and CTO until 2016, providing mobile application consulting and development services. Earlier in his career, he worked at Orange Labs Tokyo from 2008 to 2012 as a Research Engineer, where he led advanced mobile technology projects and research on Asian innovation, wireless technologies, wearables, 3D applications, and mobile devices. He also completed technical development roles at France Telecom Japan and ChronoServices.

Baptiste began his professional journey as President of the iTeam association (2007–2008), promoting free software and GNU/Linux education. He holds an engineering degree in Information Systems from ECE Paris and completed additional studies in Software Architecture and Security at Polytechnique Montréal. His career reflects long-term leadership in digital media, technology innovation, and mobile ecosystems.

Baptiste Michaud is a French technology entrepreneur, engineer, and media executive best known as the co-founder and President of Humanoid, one of France’s most influential digital media groups focused on mobile technology, digital innovation, and technology culture. He co-founded Humanoid in October 2007 and has remained in charge of the company’s strategic direction and operations for more than eighteen years. From its early beginnings, Humanoid was built around a strong focus on mobile technology and audience-driven digital publishing. Under his leadership, the group developed and expanded several major French online platforms, including Frandroid, Numerama, Madmoizelle, and Lemon.

Frandroid, launched in 2007, quickly became the main French reference platform for Android and mobile technology. In 2015, Baptiste led the acquisition of Numerama, a media outlet focused on digital society, innovation, and technology policy, significantly strengthening Humanoid’s editorial reach. In 2020, he oversaw the acquisition of Madmoizelle, a widely read online magazine with a large female audience, expanding the group’s coverage into lifestyle, culture, and social topics. Lemon was later added to the group’s portfolio, focusing on mobile news and consumer guidance. Throughout this growth, Baptiste has personally directed long-term company strategy, editorial positioning, product development, technical infrastructure, audience growth, SEO strategy, data analytics, advertising monetisation, and platform performance. He has also led mergers and acquisitions, structured partnerships, and built large multidisciplinary teams across editorial, technical, and commercial functions.

In January 2019, Baptiste became President of 191 Media, the advertising sales company created by Humanoid and Futura. The goal was to commercialise advertising for several independent French media groups within a single organisation. During his leadership until December 2022, 191 Media managed media portfolios that together generated tens of millions of monthly sessions, allowing independent publishers to strengthen their commercial position in the French digital advertising market.

Alongside his media career, Baptiste maintained strong technical involvement. In 2013, he founded Sidereo and served as Founder and Chief Technology Officer until 2016, providing mobile application consulting and development services. Earlier, from 2008 to 2012, he worked in Japan as a Research Engineer at Orange Labs Tokyo, where he conducted research on Asian technological innovation including set-top boxes, wireless video transmission, 3D stereo systems, application development, and wearable technologies. He led software and hardware projects involving advanced mobile concepts, tablet platforms, and 3D applications developed using Java and manufacturer prototypes.

In 2008, he also completed technical development work at France Telecom Japan, where he designed and built a 3D stereoscopic application during an extended internship. Before that, in 2006, he worked as a junior developer at ChronoServices, creating internal software systems using LAMP technologies and PHP frameworks. From 2007 to 2008, he served as President of the iTeam association, a non-profit organisation promoting free software and GNU/Linux through education, tutorials, and technical support. From 2004 to 2006, he acted as network administrator for the organisation, managing servers, databases, and infrastructure.

Baptiste holds an engineering degree in Information Systems from ECE Paris, completed in 2009. In 2008, he also studied Software Architecture and Security at Polytechnique Montréal in Canada. His career combines engineering, digital publishing, business leadership, and long-term development of major media platforms that continue to shape the French technology and digital information landscape.

Baptiste Michaud’s vision is to build strong, independent digital media platforms that help people understand technology, society, and innovation in a clear and practical way. He believes media should remain accessible, reliable, and focused on real user needs. His long-term goal is to develop media organisations that combine strong editorial work with solid technology, data, and sustainable business models. He aims to support informed public discussion on digital change while maintaining independence from major platforms and external influence. Through continuous product improvement, responsible growth, and skilled teams, his vision is to ensure digital media remains useful, trusted, and stable in a fast-changing technology environment.

Baptiste Michaud is widely recognised in the French digital media and technology sector for his long-term contribution to mobile publishing, digital innovation, and independent media development. While he has not focused on personal awards, the organisations he has built and led have received consistent industry recognition. Frandroid is regularly cited as the leading French platform for Android and mobile technology. Numerama is recognised as a key reference media for digital society and innovation in France. Madmoizelle is widely acknowledged for its strong community engagement and editorial influence. Under his leadership, Humanoid and 191 Media have earned strong reputations for editorial quality, audience growth, and sustainable digital business practices.