Exclusive interview | How Future Leaders changed my career
Among the Future Leaders 2026, Thomas Bernad stands out as one of the leading figures of a new generation of entrepreneurs who are rethinking the sector with ambition and conviction. His career path reflects an approach that is at once visionary, practical and resolutely forward-looking.
To start with, could you introduce yourself in a few words (your background)?
Thomas – I’m 27 years old and I’m the founder of Be Morpho.
I’m a mechanical engineer and I’m passionate about innovation and product development. For the past three years, I’ve been developing a new generation of spray cans powered by compressed air rather than the petroleum-based gases traditionally used.
But Be Morpho isn’t just about the technology. I’ve created a brand, developed the products, set up a small production unit and started marketing them.
I really enjoy research and development, but what I love most is taking an idea and turning it into a product that someone can actually buy and use.
When did the idea for your project first come about, and what problem were you trying to solve?
Thomas – I grew up in a family that was already working in the sector. My parents ran a small business manufacturing spray paint cans for industry.
This made me want, from a very early age, to understand how these products worked and, above all, to ask myself why certain things had been done in this way for decades.
Whilst I was at university, I decided to take the plunge and see how far I could take this idea. Initially, I simply wanted to know if it was technically feasible.
Then the project took on a whole new dimension. I developed the formulations, built the prototypes and set up a small cap
What role did the Future Leaders programme play in your entrepreneurial journey?
Thomas – I’d been familiar with the Paris Packaging Week trade fair for several years, and when I discovered the Future Leaders programme, I immediately felt it resonated with my own ethos. Thanks to this exposure, I was spotted by the fair’s organisers and had the opportunity to present my work to key players in the sector. And that completely changed the scale of the project.
For three years, I worked tirelessly in the lab to overcome the challenges associated with compressed air, whilst gradually building a proper business around this technology. And suddenly, I found myself talking directly to people who run companies in this market. It was both very rewarding and quite impressive.
What does Future Leaders mean to you today?
Thomas – I’d say it’s been a real springboard.
Not just because the programme gave me visibility, but above all because it allowed me to step out of my laboratory and put my work to the test with people who have a completely different perspective to my own.
I met people from various countries, with very different backgrounds and ways of thinking. And ultimately, that’s perhaps what I’ve taken away most: you can spend a huge amount of time working on an idea on your own, but it’s only when you put it to the test with others that it really starts to take on a whole new dimension.
I’m actually hoping to catch up with the other Future Leaders at the next Paris Packaging Week and see how far each of them has taken their projects.
Following this exposure and the various stages of your journey, companies have started to approach you. How did that go, and what opportunities has it created for you?
Thomas – After the event, several industry players came along to discover and test my products. Some then invited me to their offices to introduce me to their companies and teams.
It was quite a unique experience for me, because for a long time I’d mainly been working on a small scale, between my laboratory and my small production unit. And suddenly, I found myself face to face with companies that have decades of experience and considerable industrial resources. It naturally made me feel very humble, but also a certain sense of pride. Because behind these discussions lay recognition of the work I’d accomplished over the last three years.
Today, I’m continuing to develop my brand and my production, whilst engaging with various players in the market. I don’t yet know exactly where this adventure will take me, but that’s precisely what makes it so exciting: I started out simply wanting to create a technology, and now I have to learn how to build the business that goes with it.
