At 24, Josselin Portier has been co-developing UVeasy for several months, a booth capable of automatically applying sunscreen. The idea was born far from incubators and business plans, during an intensive boxing camp in Thailand with his co-founder, Hugo. After several weeks of training, the two friends finally took a day off to go to the beach. Fifteen minutes later, they were sunburnt. Yet they had applied sunscreen. “We looked at each other and thought: this is absurd. We know the risks, but even knowing them, we still do it badly.”
The anecdote could have ended there. Instead, it became the starting point for a broader reflection. Why does such an essential habit remain so inconvenient? Sometimes people forget, sometimes it is simply impractical, and in some cases it takes two people to apply it properly. The more they looked into it, the more they realised the issue went far beyond discomfort. Researching further, they discovered the scale of the public health challenges linked to sun protection, particularly skin cancer prevention. “We realised there was a genuine public health issue behind an everyday action.”
Our job today is mostly about dealing with problems every day and solving them.
Sitting in a beach club after that episode, they began imagining a solution. The idea seemed almost too simple: a booth capable of automatically applying the right amount of sunscreen in just a few seconds. “I still remember that conversation. We had no idea it would change the next few years of our lives.”
Having lived in Luxembourg between the ages of 8 and 18, Josselin Portier developed an early taste for projects and a desire to forge his own path. After completing preparatory classes, he joined Edhec Business School, where he gained hands-on project management experience while leading a student association. A several-month exchange programme in India later proved decisive. “That’s when I realised entrepreneurship was what suited me best.”
Build fast, test fast
Back in France, the two founders quickly decided to test their intuition. During the summer of 2025, they built a first prototype, largely by hand. The booth was then tested on three French beaches – Deauville, Cap d’Agde and Nice – with more than 200 users.
The system was still rudimentary, but user reactions surprised them. “We could see all the flaws. But people were mainly intrigued by the experience.” One comment kept coming back: “Why doesn’t this already exist?” Some users even returned several times a day during the trials. “That showed us the habit could genuinely fit into people’s routines.”
During the first public tests in Deauville, Nice and Cap d’Agde, beachgoers were able to try the UVeasy prototype directly on the beach. (Photo: provided by Josselin Portier)
The principle is straightforward: users step into the booth and receive a fine mist of sunscreen tailored to their needs in just a few seconds. Since the first trials, the product has evolved significantly, particularly its spraying system.
That evolution has also been shaped by observing similar solutions developed abroad. In the United States, some models rely on rotating platforms that allow users to turn in front of a handful of nozzles. In Asia, the founders identified a structure resembling a walk-through archway, designed primarily for private villas or luxury establishments.
UVeasy, however, is seeking to differentiate itself. The founders gradually moved away from the rotating systems used by some competitors and developed a booth equipped with nozzles at both the front and the back. The result is faster, more consistent and less wasteful in terms of product use. The team is also working on less visible aspects, such as non-slip flooring, to improve user safety and a design intended to minimise operational constraints.
Moving from prototype to product
The past few months have been the most challenging since the project began. “We’re discovering all the joys and headaches of hardware,” the co-founder says. Between suppliers, manufacturing, materials and technical constraints, every solution seems to create new challenges. “Our job today is mostly about dealing with problems every day and solving them.”
One unexpected setback perfectly illustrates that reality. In early March, UVeasy’s sunscreen partner announced it would no longer commercialise the sunscreen oil originally planned for the booth. The founders therefore had to adapt their system to a two-phase SPF50 sunscreen spray. “It required almost a month of additional testing and research,” explains Josselin Portier. Lighter than conventional sunscreen oils, the formula requires a continuous mixing system inside the booth to remain stable.
As a result, the young entrepreneur spent several months moving from a role focused largely on business development to a much more technical day-to-day reality. “At this point, I’ve practically become a full-time engineer.” Materials selection, metal structures, cleaning systems, drainage and safety considerations all had to be addressed. “The moment you dig into one issue, you realise there are ten more behind it.”
Finding the right market
Alongside product development, UVeasy has also refined its commercial positioning. After discussions with numerous tourism operators, the founders quickly identified premium campsites as their most relevant market. “You reach more families and much larger volumes,” he explains.
A first partner campsite in southern France is expected to host a pilot booth in summer 2026. Unlike the initial free trials, users will pay either per session or through family packages. In the longer term, the business model will rely on two revenue streams: seasonal rental of the booths to operators and user payments.
To finance development, UVeasy completed an initial friends-and-family funding round in early 2026, aimed at accelerating R&D and the production of its first industrial-grade booths.
If this works, it will truly be the result of our resilience.
Despite the challenges, market feedback remains encouraging. “The campsites we spoke to were very receptive.” A partnership with a sunscreen brand is also nearing completion, although discussions have taken time. “Everything has to be tested. Product stability, user safety and every potential concern must be addressed before signing.”
Summer 2026 will now represent a decisive milestone. For the first time, the objective is no longer simply to test the technology but to determine whether holidaymakers are willing to pay to incorporate the service into their routines. The founders plan to spend part of the summer on site themselves, overseeing the pilot and gathering as much user feedback as possible.
What comes next will depend heavily on those first months of operation. If the pilot succeeds, UVeasy is already planning a new version of the booth and a broader rollout the following summer.
In the meantime, the entrepreneur is also discovering the less glamorous side of entrepreneurship. “There are days when you wonder what you’re doing,” he admits. Between delays, unexpected setbacks and constant deadlines, the past few months have sometimes been exhausting. “But if this works, it will truly be the result of our resilience.”
