Do you have to have your headquarters in Paris to guarantee your chances of success? Although the spotlight is often on start-ups based in the capital, the regions also have some great success stories to tell! This is particularly true of the Sud Provence Alpes Côte D'Azur region.
Here are 5 good reasons to locate your start-up here.
Lower costs than in Paris
Like many capital cities, Paris is known for its high cost of living. This is borne out by the recent announcement of a real estate boom: the price of a square meter in Paris recently broke the symbolic 10,000 euro barrier (+8% in 1 year).
By comparison, doing business in the South of France is inevitably financially advantageous. In addition to cheaper rents (between 30% and 50% less than in Paris), salaries are also lower.
As a result, contractors can benefit from more affordable premises and lower recruitment costs.
A dynamic ecosystem serving start-ups
As well as boasting two French Tech capitals (namely Aix-Marseille and Nice Côte d'Azur), the Southern Region is packed with top-level players to help entrepreneurs in their development.
Whether it's with incubators (Arbois, CEEI NCA), incubators (Belle de Mai, PACA EST, Impulse, Marseille Innovation...) or gas pedals(P.Factory, ZeBox, Obratori)... there's no shortage of support structures!
To help entrepreneurs find the most suitable accommodation, a guide has been created: " Where to set up your start-up in the Southern Region ".
And another of the region's strengths is that everyone knows everyone else! On a human scale, the region makes it easy for entrepreneurs to meet new people, thanks to its various events and networking opportunities.
The region also boasts a wide choice of coworking spaces, so you can work as close to home as possible and avoid the famous "Métro, boulot, dodo" ritual so common in Paris. A real time-saver when you're developing your start-up! An advantage that adds to the quality of the region's schools.
The region boasts the largest French-speaking university in the world, as well as a number of renowned schools (e.g. IAE Aix, Kedge, Centrale Marseille, UNICE, Edhec, Skema...). A pool of talent that can be a real asset when it comes to leading your company to success!
A land of success stories!
Speaking of success, the Sud Provence Alpes d'Azur region is not without its share of successes! In fact, many companies posted record fundraising in 2018 as they expanded under the southern sun. Notably Traxens, which offers a connected container and its €20M fundraising.
Other companies include MailinBlack, an anti-spam solution for professional mailboxes, which raised €14 million, and NawaTechnologies (€9 million), which designs sustainable fast-charging batteries. What do these 3 companies have in common? They are all headquartered in the Aix-Marseille region!
On the Côte d'Azur, successes are also multiplying, with handsome fund-raising campaigns.
In the first half of 2019, the region already boasts a fine track record, with the fundraising of hosting management specialist B-Network (€30M), Teach On Mars, a pioneering mobile learning company in France (€7M) and My coach sport, a leader in digital solutions for the sports industry (€6.6M).
The Southern Region has nothing to be ashamed of when compared to the capital! A gateway to the world In addition to benefiting from a dynamic ecosystem, the Southern Region boasts an ideal geographical location from which to conquer the world.
At the gateway to the Mediterranean, it has forged a special link with the African continent through the organization of numerous events (e.g. Emerging Valley...) and the presence of key players (e.g. Jokkolabs Marseille, AfricaLink...). The latter play a major role in attracting African entrepreneurs to develop their businesses in France, and vice versa, for French entrepreneurs wishing to conquer Africa.
This is without counting the numerous delegations of entrepreneurs who organize themselves on a regular basis to discover new markets and seize great international opportunities (e.g. CES in Las Vegas, Israel with the DLD Tel Aviv... etc).
The region also boasts an international airport (Nice Côte d'Azur) and France's1st autonomous port (Marseille Fos).
And another advantage: Marseille is only 3 hours from Paris by TGV and 1 hour by air! So, even if major events or meetings are taking place in the capital, entrepreneurs simply jump on the first TGV or plane to get there in no time.
Quality of life
How could we not end this article with the major asset of the Southern Region: its exceptional living environment? With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, the calanques, the sea, the proximity of the mountains... The South of France is the stuff of business dreams. It's enough to make you feel like you're on vacation all year round!
So, are you ready to trade in your umbrella for a parasol? Come and do business in the South of France!
Written by our expert La Rédaction
October 16, 2019
