Developed by GC Tech, the parent company of Génération Voyage, Exod aims to encourage users to discover heritage, especially through walking.
The concept is based on gamification. By walking, visiting places, collecting cards or completing missions, users earn “obols,” a virtual currency. The steps are captured from the phone or a connected watch, then converted within the app.
Each day, between 6 p.m. and midnight, users can participate in a communal collection. At the end of the month, Exod converts the sum into euros and donates it to a heritage restoration project.
« It’s a form of micro-philanthropy, summarizes Sylvain Morel, COO of the platform. The system aims to link a daily activity, walking, with cultural discovery and funding for local projects.»
To boost engagement, Exod draws on several successful games and apps. « We have adopted mechanics that work, such as collection, rewards and missions, but without aiming to give it a childish or fight-based angle», details Sylvain Morel.
Users can notably collect virtual stamps representing historical figures, architects, inventors or even résistants. Each card is accompanied by an anecdote. « The objective is also to transmit knowledge. We learn things without feeling like we’re taking a course », continues the company COO.
The concept is based on gamification. By walking, visiting places, collecting cards or completing missions, users earn “obols,” a virtual currency. The steps are captured from the phone or a connected watch, then converted within the app.
Each day, between 6 p.m. and midnight, users can participate in a communal collection. At the end of the month, Exod converts the sum into euros and donates it to a heritage restoration project.
« It’s a form of micro-philanthropy, summarizes Sylvain Morel, COO of the platform. The system aims to link a daily activity, walking, with cultural discovery and funding for local projects.»
To boost engagement, Exod draws on several successful games and apps. « We have adopted mechanics that work, such as collection, rewards and missions, but without aiming to give it a childish or fight-based angle», details Sylvain Morel.
Users can notably collect virtual stamps representing historical figures, architects, inventors or even résistants. Each card is accompanied by an anecdote. « The objective is also to transmit knowledge. We learn things without feeling like we’re taking a course », continues the company COO.
An initial donation of 708 euros
To feed its app, Exod has a catalog of approximately 20,000 points of interest in France. Built heritage sits alongside natural heritage: churches, castles, fountains, statues, forests or rivers.
« We already have a substantial base thanks to the work carried out over the past decade by Génération Voyage », indicates the COO. The existing contents are augmented by research on the sites of tourism offices and other online sources.
The platform also intends to involve its community in enriching the catalog. A feature will allow players to propose new places. « Contributions will then be moderated and validated by our team », notes Sylvain Morel.
The first donation made by Exod amounted to 708.24 euros. It was dedicated to renovating the roof of a church in Aveyron. « We try to highlight projects that are not necessarily the most publicized », stresses Sylvain Morel. However, recipients must have a structure capable of receiving donations, notably through the Fondation du patrimoine.
Users also participate in choosing projects. Each week, several operations are organized as a tournament, with selection phases up to the final. This voting system is meant to strengthen players’ involvement and also contribute to the app’s notoriety. « The idea is that users want to have their friends vote and discover Exod, » explains Sylvain Morel.
« We already have a substantial base thanks to the work carried out over the past decade by Génération Voyage », indicates the COO. The existing contents are augmented by research on the sites of tourism offices and other online sources.
The platform also intends to involve its community in enriching the catalog. A feature will allow players to propose new places. « Contributions will then be moderated and validated by our team », notes Sylvain Morel.
The first donation made by Exod amounted to 708.24 euros. It was dedicated to renovating the roof of a church in Aveyron. « We try to highlight projects that are not necessarily the most publicized », stresses Sylvain Morel. However, recipients must have a structure capable of receiving donations, notably through the Fondation du patrimoine.
Users also participate in choosing projects. Each week, several operations are organized as a tournament, with selection phases up to the final. This voting system is meant to strengthen players’ involvement and also contribute to the app’s notoriety. « The idea is that users want to have their friends vote and discover Exod, » explains Sylvain Morel.
A business model still under construction
To fund its development, Exod is testing several revenue streams. Consent-based advertising is one avenue: users can choose to watch advertisements in exchange for in-game rewards.
The platform also plans to offer paid narrative visits. Users will be able to buy single tickets for 6.99 euros or opt for a pack of ten tickets at 39.99 euros. A premium subscription is also contemplated.
« We want to offer a more advanced experience, with narrative content and routes that allow deeper exploration », explains Sylvain Morel.
In the longer term, Exod aims to develop affiliations with travel and leisure players. The platform is considering collaborations with activity booking sites, such as GetYourGuide, Civitatis or Viator, but also with accommodation and transport providers.
« We look at everything that makes sense for our users, whether it’s booking an activity, a place to stay, or transport », says the COO. Contacts are being considered with brands such as Airbnb, Booking, Transavia or Air France, but these partnerships are still to be built.
The team first wants to stabilize the first version of the app and continue user acquisition. « Our priority is to finish the V1 and reach around 10,000 players before accelerating through the different monetization phases, » says Sylvain Morel.
The platform also plans to offer paid narrative visits. Users will be able to buy single tickets for 6.99 euros or opt for a pack of ten tickets at 39.99 euros. A premium subscription is also contemplated.
« We want to offer a more advanced experience, with narrative content and routes that allow deeper exploration », explains Sylvain Morel.
In the longer term, Exod aims to develop affiliations with travel and leisure players. The platform is considering collaborations with activity booking sites, such as GetYourGuide, Civitatis or Viator, but also with accommodation and transport providers.
« We look at everything that makes sense for our users, whether it’s booking an activity, a place to stay, or transport », says the COO. Contacts are being considered with brands such as Airbnb, Booking, Transavia or Air France, but these partnerships are still to be built.
The team first wants to stabilize the first version of the app and continue user acquisition. « Our priority is to finish the V1 and reach around 10,000 players before accelerating through the different monetization phases, » says Sylvain Morel.
Towards partnerships with tourism offices
In September 2026, one month after its launch, Exod counts around 6,000 to 6,500 players and records more than one million steps claimed daily. The total number of steps is expected to exceed 200 million soon.
To grow its community, the platform relies in particular on the visibility of Génération Voyage, as well as on social networks. It has also entered into its first partnership with the Montpellier tourism office.
« Tourism offices have an important role to play, because they know the places and the stories that must be discovered », says Sylvain Morel. Exod therefore wants to multiply collaborations with institutional and tourism players, in France and abroad.
The app is also beginning to open up to other markets, notably in Greece. For now, it remains available in French, but a translation is planned. « We need to adapt the content and the experience to the countries where we want to develop », emphasizes the COO.
In the long term, Exod intends to broaden its action beyond built heritage. « We would also like to support projects related to wildlife, flora, but also to the transmission of know-how and education », concludes Sylvain Morel. The challenge will now be to transform the platform’s early results into a sustainable business model, while keeping its initial objective: to showcase territories by walking and playing.
To grow its community, the platform relies in particular on the visibility of Génération Voyage, as well as on social networks. It has also entered into its first partnership with the Montpellier tourism office.
« Tourism offices have an important role to play, because they know the places and the stories that must be discovered », says Sylvain Morel. Exod therefore wants to multiply collaborations with institutional and tourism players, in France and abroad.
The app is also beginning to open up to other markets, notably in Greece. For now, it remains available in French, but a translation is planned. « We need to adapt the content and the experience to the countries where we want to develop », emphasizes the COO.
In the long term, Exod intends to broaden its action beyond built heritage. « We would also like to support projects related to wildlife, flora, but also to the transmission of know-how and education », concludes Sylvain Morel. The challenge will now be to transform the platform’s early results into a sustainable business model, while keeping its initial objective: to showcase territories by walking and playing.
Publié par Caroline Lelievre Journaliste – TourMaG.com Voir tous les articles de Caroline Lelievre
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Published by Amelia Brille 