Mehdi Adda-Benikhlef

A VISION SHAPE BY CHALLENGES
The founder’s story

Mehdi Adda-Benikhlef is the visionary founder behind a patented product that will transform his industry. But before he got there, his journey was marked by challenges, setbacks and an unshakeable determination to rewrite the rules of the game and shake up the status quo. Here’s his story of resilience, excellence and a personal quest for success.

A modest but ambitious childhood

Born in Dijon and raised in Quetigny, a small suburban town consisting mainly of social housing, Mehdi grew up in a modest environment. Despite the social and economic challenges, he describes his childhood as carefree and filled with parental love. However, things changed when he left his protective neighborhood for an inner-city high school. There, he was confronted with another world: social judgment, established norms and high expectations.

Mehdi soon realized that a traditional education was no match for his pace or ambitions. At the age of 15, he left general education for technical training, entering the world of work as an apprentice. The thankless tasks and condescending looks he received at the time didn’t stop him. On the contrary, they forged him. At the age of 18, with a driver’s license obtained on his own earnings and a precocious maturity, he made a decision that would change his trajectory: to move to Paris to build a better life.

A taste for risk and the audacity to keep moving forward

Paris was a turning point. Mehdi landed a well-paid job in installation and maintenance, and then obtained his CAP. But he didn’t stop there. He wanted to go faster, to challenge the status quo. This boldness led him to buy his first apartment at just 18, an impressive achievement that marked the beginning of his financial independence.

However, Mehdi was not one to settle for a linear life. With his wife, who shared his vision, they sold their apartment without profit and took the risk of starting afresh. This led them to Geneva, where Mehdi discovered a rewarding work culture. His talent was quickly recognized, and he was entrusted with top-level responsibilities, working with a prestigious and demanding clientele.

Entrepreneurship: successes, trials and lessons

On the strength of these experiences, Mehdi decided to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. He borrowed €20,000 from his father to set up his first company, but soon realized that his partner didn’t share his vision. After his partner bought out his shares, Mehdi set up his own company, which quickly became a success. But with success comes challenges.
While generating substantial revenues, Mehdi learned a painful lesson: personal environment is as crucial as professional expertise. Toxic relationships and an ill-intentioned entourage eventually bankrupted his company, despite promising sales.

Rather than give up, Mehdi bounced back. He launched a new company, Otoclimat, specializing in heat pumps. The company was thriving until the Covid-19 pandemic hit, bringing business to a screeching halt. During this difficult period, Mehdi discovered the harsh reality of fragile professional relationships and the absence of mutual support in critical moments.

The awakening of a revolutionary idea

Trials have only sharpened his vision. After a series of encounters, collaborations and disappointments, Mehdi was the victim of a burglary and saw part of his estate disappear. It was yet another ordeal in his long and eventful career, leading up to the fateful moment when Mehdi realized that a problem in his field of activity remained unresolved. He hired a security company to install a house-wide security system. He realized that he had no protection against water leaks, and that the valve systems could not prevent water leaks, nor block them, nor control them, let alone capture information and transmit it to the owner of the premises.

That’s when he came up with a brilliant idea: to create a product capable of solving a universal problem. The idea was born of personal experience and observation of unmet needs in the marketplace.

Encouraged by visionary partners, he patented the product, relying on rigorous testing to prove its value. This product, now at the heart of L’ma Network, embodies not only innovation, but also the resilience of a man determined to turn his trials into opportunities.

A clear vision for the future

Today, Mehdi is working hard to develop his product and build a company capable of conquering the market. With a combination of entrepreneurial experience, technical knowledge and sheer determination, he has attracted investors and partners ready to support his vision. He has brought together experts in their chosen fields to build a strong team, with the kindness and decades of experience to ensure the success of L’ma. His objective is clear: to bring an innovative solution to a global market, while remaining true to his values of boldness, transparency and excellence.