Behind KÉFI — Meet Élodie Putteman, Founder of KÉFIIt all begins with a connection.
Before it was a company, KÉFI was a personal conviction: the best opportunities often begin with a meeting, a conversation, a shared moment.
I’m Élodie Putteman. My career has taken me through law, consulting and business development. And over the years, I learned one thing: behind every project, there are people first.
That conviction is what made me want to create KÉFI.
My journey
An unexpected path, one common thread: people.
My career began in law, with two master’s degrees, before I moved into training and then wealth management advisory.
I then spent eight years in business development for accounting and advisory firms: four years at DSO, an accounting firm in Nice, as business development manager, then four years at KPMG as business development manager for the South-East of France.
These roles brought me alongside business leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals from every background, and led me to organise many professional events. Above all, they showed me how much human connection matters in business.
A professional event is not just a date in the diary. It is a chance to build trust, spark ideas and, sometimes, start real collaborations.
That’s where my wish to create a different setting was born, warmer and more spontaneous: what would become KÉFI.
- Two master’s degrees in law
- Training
- Wealth management
- DSO · Business development · 4 years
- KPMG South-East · Business development & event organisation · 4 years
- Today · Entrepreneur, founder of KÉFI
Another perspective on my journey.
Parisian Chic Trotter published a portrait of me, tracing my story, my career and the birth of KÉFI. Another way to discover the person behind the adventure.
- My story, the personal sideRead my portrait (in French)
- My detailed professional backgroundView my LinkedIn profile
What drives me
A thousand ideas a minute.And the drive to make them happen.
People often tell me I move fast. That I have a thousand ideas a minute. And it’s true: my mind rarely stops!
I’ve always loved being on the move, working, meeting people and dreaming up new projects.
While studying law, I was already working in restaurants, organising parties and even working at markets. Very different experiences, but they taught me a great deal about work, human contact and adaptability.
I have a festive, spontaneous temperament, sometimes overflowing with ideas. But behind that energy there’s also a lot of rigour, a real sense of organisation and a need to move things forward.
I think it’s this mix that defines me best: loving life, but also loving to build, organise and make things happen.
And when I think about it, KÉFI is rather like me.
June 2021
The urge to do things differently.
In 2021, after a period that had deeply disrupted our habits and relationships, I felt the need to reconnect: to imagine a different kind of professional network, where people would come without sales pressure, to talk freely and simply for the pleasure of getting together.
That’s how the idea of KÉFI was born. In June 2021, I brought together a first team of volunteers around the project, and together we brought the association to life. I chaired it from the very start.
A collective story
None of this is built alone.
If KÉFI was born from a personal wish to bring people together, it grew thanks to everyone who believed in this adventure from the very beginning. A collective story made of encounters, commitment and wonderful energy.
Discover the Business Club storyκέφιKéfi · a Greek word
A philosophy
KÉFI. A name, a philosophy.
Kéfi is a Greek word that evokes joie de vivre, enthusiasm and that special energy you feel when sharing a good moment. It perfectly captures what I wanted to bring to my project.
Because I believe you can be serious about what you do and ambitious about what you build, while staying simple, approachable and deeply human.
“Doing business differently doesn’t mean doing less business. It means giving people more room.”
An entrepreneurial adventure
An idea that grew through encounters.
In late 2023, the association became a company: a new chapter to develop professional services while keeping the spirit of the early days. Today, three complementary activities rest on the same conviction: a network of trust and good human relationships opens up countless possibilities.
2024 · In the press
“Et si Kéfi changeait de dimension ?”
Tribune Côte d’Azur covered the move from association to company and the launch of the first Apéro des Créateurs.
2026 · On stage
The Trophées de l’Hypercroissance
On the mic at the Trophées, as part of my work with Rise Partners, the event’s organiser.
- 01Discover the Business Club
KÉFI Business Club
Creating encounters, building relationships and bringing a professional network to life, differently.
- 02Discover KÉFI Events
KÉFI Events
Designing and delivering bespoke events for companies and their guests.
- 03Discover VIP Services
KÉFI VIP Services
Drawing on a network of partners to handle particular requests and experiences.
A few moments
A few personal words
What’s next? It’s still being written.
When I look back on the road travelled since 2021, I tell myself the best things aren’t always the ones we planned.
I’ve met wonderful people, discovered worlds I didn’t know, shared powerful moments, and watched friendships, projects and great collaborations take shape.
Of course, building a business takes work, perseverance and a lot of energy. But what drives me today is quite close to what drove me at the start: meeting people, imagining, bringing people together and creating occasions to share something.
I love the idea that a simple encounter can change the rest of a story. And I hope KÉFI will keep sparking new ones for a long time.
Élodie
Élodie PuttemanFounder of KÉFI · LinkedIn ↗
What if our paths crossed?
An idea, a project, a wish to talk or simply to get to know each other? The best stories sometimes start with a conversation.
