From Google to Momi — How Two Founders Are Reshaping the Way Companies Hire Technical Talent

In the fast-paced corridors of Google France, innovation was the norm. But for Chérif Khaled and Mickaël Rieg, who first met there in 2017, the most compelling opportunity lay not in the digital realm they knew so well, but in the traditional industries that form the backbone of our economy—construction, energy, real estate, and transportation.

Their story is one of vision meeting market need, of two tech veterans who recognized that the freelance revolution had largely bypassed some of the most critical sectors of our economy.

The Google Connection: Where Innovation Meets Reality

Working at Google France immersed both founders in a culture defined by speed, innovation, and measurable impact. This environment taught them to think big, move fast, and focus relentlessly on solving real problems. But it also gave them a unique vantage point to observe the broader business landscape.

While the tech world had embraced flexible talent models and on-demand expertise, traditional industries were still struggling with outdated hiring practices. Companies in construction, energy, and real estate—sectors essential to urban development and the energy transition—found themselves locked out of the freelance economy that was transforming other industries.

Identifying the Gap: Beyond Traditional Platforms

The existing freelance platforms, designed primarily for digital services, simply weren't built for the specialized needs of technical industries. These sectors required not just different skills, but different approaches to vetting, project management, and client relationships.

Khaled and Rieg recognized that companies in these traditional sectors faced unique challenges:

• Specialized Technical Requirements: Projects often required niche expertise that general platforms couldn't properly evaluate
• Regulatory Compliance: Many roles required specific certifications and industry knowledge
• High-Stakes Projects: Infrastructure and construction projects demanded higher levels of trust and accountability
• Complex Project Structures: Traditional industries often work with longer timelines and more complex stakeholder relationships

The Birth of Momi: November 2021

Armed with insights from their Google experience and a deep understanding of market gaps, Khaled and Rieg launched Momi in November 2021. The platform was built on a bold mission: transform access to talent in essential, underappreciated industries that are fundamental to our cities, infrastructure, and energy transition.

The name "Momi" itself tells the story of their focus. It's a fusion of "maîtrise d'œuvre" (project management) and "management immobilier" (real estate management)—a linguistic symbol of their commitment to serving the specific needs of technical industries rather than trying to be everything to everyone.

The Momi Difference: Tech-Enabled, Human-First

What sets Momi apart isn't just its sector focus, but its approach to building trust in high-stakes professional relationships. The platform combines technological efficiency with human judgment, recognizing that in technical fields, reputation and expertise can't be reduced to simple algorithms.

This philosophy has proven remarkably successful. Momi quickly attracted major clients including:

• SNCF: France's national railway company, requiring specialized transport infrastructure expertise
• Constructa: Representing the construction sector's embrace of flexible talent models
• Perial: Demonstrating real estate industry adoption of innovative hiring approaches

Scaling Success: International Expansion and Strategic Partnerships

Momi's growth trajectory reflects the universal nature of the problem they're solving. The platform's expansion into the UAE demonstrates that the gap between traditional industries and modern talent solutions isn't unique to France—it's a global opportunity.

Strategic partnerships with companies like Qonto and Indy further validate Momi's approach. These relationships indicate that the broader business ecosystem recognizes the value of specialized, sector-focused talent platforms.

The Broader Vision: Elevating Technical Freelancing

Beyond individual success metrics, Momi represents a fundamental shift in how we think about professional services in traditional industries. The platform is proving that technical freelancing can be elevated into a high-trust, high-impact career path that serves both individual professionals and the companies that need their expertise.

This vision addresses several critical market needs:

• For Professionals: Creating sustainable, high-value freelance careers in technical fields
• For Companies: Access to specialized expertise without the overhead of permanent hiring
• For Industries: Accelerating innovation and project delivery through flexible talent models

Looking Forward: The Future of Technical Talent

The success of Momi suggests that we're witnessing the early stages of a broader transformation. As traditional industries face increasing pressure to innovate—driven by sustainability requirements, digital transformation, and changing market dynamics—the need for flexible, specialized talent will only grow.

Khaled and Rieg's journey from Google to Momi illustrates how deep industry insight, combined with technological capability, can create entirely new market categories. They've demonstrated that the principles of the freelance economy can be successfully adapted to serve sectors that were previously underserved by existing platforms.

Connect with the Vision

The story of Momi continues to unfold as the platform expands its reach and deepens its impact across technical industries. For those interested in following this transformation of technical freelancing, the founders remain accessible and engaged with their community.

Get in touch with Momi's founders:

Mickael Rieg - LinkedIn Profile

Cherif Khaled - LinkedIn Profile

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From the innovation labs of Google to the construction sites and energy projects that power our future, Momi represents the evolution of how we connect talent with opportunity in the industries that matter most.