Ile-de-France: Entrepreneur #Leader, the new business start-up support system

The Île-de-France region inaugurated its new "Entrepreneur #Leader" program at the start of 2018 to revamp its business financing and support scheme.

A single objective: simplicity and transparency. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to develop your project, or a business owner facing the challenges of growing your business, this support service is for you!

The aim is to offer personalized support at every stage of your company's life, whatever its needs. Your company is certainly eligible for this innovative program, which is designed to be a long-term process.

Here is all the information you need to understand the concrete benefits of the Entrepreneur #Leader program for your company, and how to make the most of it.

What are the objectives of Entrepreneur #Leader?

Is your business just a vague idea? Do you have an idea, but don't know how or where to start? Is your project ready to go, but you're looking for financing? Are you looking for operational support once you've launched your business?

In practical terms, this means offering customized support at every stage of your project, whatever your status.

The program offers a number of different schemes depending on your company's profile:

• Building your project: Entrepreneurs benefit from the expertise and advice of numerous industry professionals and program partner organizations. Regular personalized follow-up is provided during the first 36 months of existence.
• Financing your project: support throughout the life of your company. Entrepreneurs can benefit from a financing package designed to help them create, develop or conquer new markets.
• Piloting your business: assistance is available for three years to all companies wishing to continue to benefit from the advice of industry specialists.

Thanks to Entrepreneur #Leader, the number of files supported should increase by 55% to 15,000 each year (excluding auto-entrepreneurs).

Ile-de-France alone accounts for 27% of new businesses created in France.

Which organizations are involved in this program?

The program draws on the expertise of several partners, depending on the company's needs.

To help you build your project, the Entrepreneur #Leader program offers support from :

• BGE PaRIF ;
• Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• Chambre Régionale de Métiers et de l'Artisanat d'Île-de-France;
• Lab. incubators

They are the point of contact for all entrepreneurs during the start-up phase of their business, providing up to 12 hours of advice each!

To finance your project, you can benefit from the support of :

• France Active ;
• France Initiative ;
• The "Entreprendre" Network;
• ADIE.

Financing offers range from €8,000 to €120,000

There are also many partners to help you manage your business for up to three years after its creation:

• The Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• Chambre Régionale de Métiers et de l'Artisanat d'Île-de-France ;
• BGE PaRIF ;
• InitiActive Île-de-France ;
• ADIE.

Thanks to an investment of 27 million euros,the range of support services available to businesses is to be made more legible, accessible and coordinated to optimize its effectiveness. Above all, it now extends beyond the start-up phase.

What types of assistance are available?

Companies in the process of setting up will be able to benefit frominformation on the steps they need to take, analyze their strengths and weaknesses, and prepare for their entry into the market.

For example, drawing up a business plan or choosing the most appropriate legal status are questions regularly addressed at this stage.

Companies looking for financing can count on the Entreprendre #Leader program's solid network to mobilize the necessary funding via a number of innovative methods, or to obtain a bank guarantee. Honor loans are also available.

Launched projects wishing to pursue their growth receive support in building their strategic growth policies, implementing their commercial actions, finding new business opportunities, targeting and recruiting new talent, and ensuring the company's financial security.

The Île-de-France region wants 60% of new businesses to survive at least 5 years, thanks to the solidity of the support provided.

This scheme is a genuine innovation following the 2015 NOTRe law granting regions exclusive responsibility for defining economic development guidelines for its territory.

The number of business start-ups jumped by 4.8% in 2017, excluding sole proprietorships and microenterprises.

In all, almost 600,000 new businesses were created in France during the year, and two out of every five business start-ups in France are micro-entrepreneurs.