France

My Company

Name: De Particulier A Particulier Group

Activity: Press / Internet

My Life as an entrepreneur

An idea (media for direct real estate transactions) seemed to be to be a suitable basis for launching a business.

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Sharing success with others.

My next challenge:

Open the largest stationery store in Paris

My Company

Name: Orchestral Services

Main activity: supply of cleaning and associated services to professional and private clients.

Ancillary activity: Orchestral Services is also developing business lines centred around personal assistance services, business and automotive services. 

My Life as an entrepreneur

I am the son of an entrepreneur. I grew up in a business environment and therefore naturally wanted to continue this venture by taking over the family business. I have always been a leader, even since a very young age, so it is therefore logical for me to want to take up this challenge and show that I could do as well as my father, if not better.

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

• Creation of Hom Service in 2000.
• Takeover of the family business Enett Services in 2002.
• My international experience with the creation of Enett Services Tunisie in 2004.

My next challenge:

• Move into the Swiss market by acquiring a business that specialises in cleaning services.
• "Be involved in the G20"

My Company

Name: Trace TV (SA)

Activity: themed media group (music and sports celebrities)

My Life as an entrepreneur

With me, it was a question of temperament and personality. I was always class captain at school. I like leadership and its attendant attributes. When I was 16, I launched a newspaper at school that sold very well! It was a fascinating initial experience of entrepreneurship.

As a student, I had various internships in corporations, but always found it very difficult to accept being under management that, in my opinion, did not always take decision in the interest of the company. I therefore said to myself that, as soon as I could, I would make sure that I became my own manager!

At the end of my military service, several companies contacted me with job offers. I said to myself that in starting my own business, I could give a positive response to these various requests, while maintaining the freedom to which I am very attached.

The idea for TRACE, as it exists today, came to me following an analysis of the worldwide market for music television, in light of my various experiences in creating a local, low cost channel in Martinique and the frustration I had when I managed Secteur Ä, a hip hop label in Sarcelles (we could not get any air time on music channels such as MTV and MCM, yet our artists were selling hundreds of thousands of albums).

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Having succeeded in making TRACE a profitable business that is appreciated by millions of young people on all continents, in the space of four years.

My next challenge:

Make a success of the launch of TRACE Sports, the first channel in the world that is exclusively devoted to sports celebrities.

My Company

Name: JCPMY SAS

Activity: design and production of audio-visual disability-related programmes

My Life as an entrepreneur

I come from a family of champagne producers, so from a very young age I was used to hearing about things such as inventory management, accounts receivable, supplier payments and cash flow requirements.

It was not long before I was actively involved in a variety of organisations, such as the Stade de Reims soccer academy (I was team captain) and at my high school as well (as Junior Year Representative). Being an entrepreneur is above all a state of mind; as soon as I finished my university studies I started my first business.

Losing my sight at the age of 15 was probably an incentive to take control of my life and made me aware of my taste for entrepreneurship that much more quickly. I was driven by the desire to make disability a source of innovations that are useful for everyone (the remote control, which was originally invented for quadriplegics, is a prime example of this), so I started up two businesses in the IT sector. After these two technology ventures, I wanted to work on a less 'intensive' project entitled "J’en crois pas mes yeux" ["I can't believe my eyes"].

This series of light-hearted videos was inspired by what I observed during my studies: who has not felt awkward when not knowing how to behave in the company of a disabled person (e.g. after making apparently inappropriate statements: "Oh God, I just told a blind person the answer was staring him in the face")?

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

One of the most memorable moments was waiting with my partners and the first employees of Visual Friendly for the call from the investment fund, which, at the peak of the dot com implosion, would allow us to develop the business. The call came at 9pm and was followed by enthusiastic celebrations. We opened a few bottles that morning…

My next challenge:

For the video series J’en crois pas mes yeux: television broadcasting.

A new business activity: develop a range of services and a brand federated around the Stade de Reims soccer team (combine respect for an illustrious past and essential communication to new fans).

My Company

Name: WebMediaGroup

Activity: e commerce

My Life as an entrepreneur

After 10 years with Yahoo! I wanted another experience that was just as enthralling and unique.

What led you to take the first step? Being able to surround myself with experts and having knowledge of the market.

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Winning client trust, having an effective, efficient team and reaching goals.

My Company

Name: FILT SAS

Activity: Net and rope manufacturing

My Life as an entrepreneur

A need for independence and freedom. It is a personal challenge, a need to prove one's abilities. I never considered doing anything else.

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Being able to sell textile products that are made in France, without benefiting from a strong brand image.

My next challenge:

Pass on entrepreneurial values to our children.

My Company

Name: BARRAL SA

Activity: olives and olive oil

My Life as an entrepreneur

I wanted to take over the family business that was founded in 1883 by my great grandfather and then developed by my grandfather, my uncle and my father.

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Growing sales on the US market

My next challenge:

Rolling out new products. 

My Company

Name: Enhance Aero

Activity: aeronautical maintenance, consulting and engineering

My Life as an entrepreneur

I became an entrepreneur due to my taste for creativity, imagination and freedom. A professional opportunity combined with a propitious personal situation led me to take the first step.

Although I did not have a pre-defined concept, I have always given my colleagues a great deal of autonomy – the development of the business did the rest.

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

The signature of the first contract (Michelin!) and the opening of our industrial maintenance centre.

My next challenge:

Become a multinational with employees from a variety of countries. 

My Company

Name: Talend

Activity: publication of open source software packages

My Life as an entrepreneur

When I was still a child, I asked my parents for money in order to start my first business. Before setting up Talend with my business partner Fabrice Bonan, I had already had an experience as an entrepreneur. Starting and growing a business is in my nature!

 My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

When, after 3 years of development, we rolled out our first product in October 2006, and we saw the uptake statistics go through the roof, exceeding even our wildest expectations!

My next challenge:

Make Talend a group to rival the world leaders in software publication. We are moving in the right direction, but we have a long ways to go.

My Company

Name: O₂

Activity: personal services

My Life as an entrepreneur

Even as a young teenager I wanted to become an entrepreneur. I worked on several business start-ups before focusing on the O₂ project, which for me had the most potential and made the most sense.

The idea came to me while observing those around me: personal services concern everyone, from the youngest child who needs minding and early learning activities, through to the elderly person who needs assistance due to decreased autonomy, not forgetting busy professionals who need to outsource household chores.

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

The best is yet to come!

Some milestones: hiring the first employee, the hundredth employee and the thousandth employee, not to mention becoming the leading company for household cleaning services in France since 2008

My next challenge:

Develop an offering for seniors (and become the leader in France in this sector within 4 to 5 years at the most) and grow the business internationally.

My Company

Name: Constellation

Activity: e-travel platforms

My Life as an entrepreneur

For me, entrepreneurship is synonymous with creativity and freedom. Being driven by one's passions and one's imagination, then materialising them using one's intuition, is a form of freedom that comes at a relatively high price, but that brings unparalleled rewards. This is why I became an entrepreneur.

The idea for my business came to me during the birth of the Internet in the nineties. I immediately thought that it would be important to innovate in the travel industry, which, in my opinion, would go on to become one of the major sectors of e-trade. As France is the leading tourist definition in the world, I also thought that the person who managed to launch a successful business in France could quickly go on to expand successfully throughout the world!

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur: the next one!

My next challenge:

Expanding the business internationally and achieving a healthier work-life balance despite all the demands of being an entrepreneur.

"Brice Alzon, G20 YES 2011 French Delegation Sherpa"

My Company

Name: MDSAP

Activity: Domestic services

Before his entrepreneurship vocation Brice Alzon used to be marketer in the Telecom branch and management adviser, not finding in those experiences the excitation and motivation he was expecting when entering the working world!

He is now the happy Chairman of the MDSAP –Maison des Services A la Personne – one of the those French companies, which participated for a great part to the creation of one of the most increasing business line in 2009 and in 2010, domestic services.

He is also the CEO of Flexsoft a company developing softwares under flex technology.

Apart from his companies, Brice Alzon is very involved in the entrepreneurship clubs of his former schools Essec and Telecom ParisTech. Furthermore, he is board member of France Entrepreneurs, the Club gathering the entrepreneur clubs and member of the MEDEF Entrepreneurship Commission and of the "Journées de l’entrepreneur" association.

My Company

Name: Canalce

Activity: leading service provider for works councils and employees

My Life as an entrepreneur

In 2000, there was a lot of hype surrounding the Internet and this made me want to set up my company. This was confirmed when I watched "Capital" on the French channel M6. The report was about two young entrepreneurs who were raising funds: they had a structured business plan but their idea was nothing revolutionary.

At one point, the programme showed a financier who said: "This project interests me, I would invest 5 million francs". I got out of my seat and I said: "That's it! I am also going to start up a business". I did not yet have the idea, but I felt that it was the right time. I had progressed and learned during the 10 years I spent at Coca-Cola, and I had undeniable abilities. On the other hand, I had no idea what this involved and I did not know any entrepreneurs. The assignments that were given to me at Coca-Cola meant that I had contact with works councils, as they generally take the decision to install drinks machines.

The market appeared to be open and there was still plenty of potential for Internet-driven change. I wrote my business plan and started to look for investors. After 70 meetings, five financiers decided to back my venture and Canalce was born.

My most memorable moments as an entrepreneur:

Signing the first documents, such as the articles of association and the shareholders' agreement, opening the company bank account, writing cheques, etc. (with my name, my signature and my references).

My first recruitments and issuing the first pay slips (the employees wanted to be part of the venture!)

My first client and business partner (someone other than me who believed in the business!)

My first coverage in the press, on the radio and on television.

Closing off my first balance sheet and seeing that I had created value.

My next challenge:

Continue to grow all aspects of the business (e.g. revenue, profitability, headcount and market share). Move towards the world of major corporations while maintain an SME/family atmosphere, ensuring employee loyalty and not selling my soul!

My Company

Name: Micromania Group

Activity: Distributor specialised in the sale of video games, consoles and accessories.

My Life as an entrepreneur

I wanted to sale across the Atlantic, climb Kilimanjaro and start up a business before the age of 30. I was lucky enough to accomplish all three.

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Winning the HEC business school Mercures des Entrepreneurs prize in 2000, and the going through all the boom years with my team at my side. 

My next challenge: continue to find new growth drivers, while remaining a flexible, expanding organisation.

My Company

Name: L’Usine à Design

Activity: online sale of designer furniture and decorative objects at ex-works prices. Items can be customised for individuals and groups

My Life as an entrepreneur

I was lucky enough to accompany several entrepreneurs in their daily lives in Brazil and the UK. Their daily lives and their sense of fulfilment were simply staggering. I caught the bug from them. When I returned to France, I took the HEC Entrepreneur master's degree, which confirmed that I was made for action and creation.

The idea? A problem to be solved on the furniture market: before IKEA, you could find original, individual pieces of furniture, but they were expensive, often prohibitively so. With the IKEA revolution, design became affordable, but at the price of increasing uniformity. Why not reconcile design, accessibility and personalisation / personality? The solution for me is democratic design, where you allow clients to personalise their furniture and select the designers whose work will be manufactured, all at ex-works prices.

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

One of the most memorable moments was of course launching the business, when the site at last went live and I witnessed the first order with the founding team, in the garage we were using as premises.

The first time I appeared on television ("Capital" on the M6 channel, after only being in business for 3 months) was also highly memorable and true recognition of our efforts. In any case it was an excellent springboard for continued business development. I am also very proud that I was able to go on vacation after one year, and that the entire team did a fantastic job in my absence!

My next challenge:

I naturally want to expand L’Usine à Design to a European level by continuing to improve the experience of purchasing furniture and our products, by satisfying more and more clients, by developing our offering to corporate clients and working closely with designers.

My Company

Name: Gironde Secretariat

Activity: freelance secretarial services

My Life as an entrepreneur

I became an entrepreneur at the end of a contract. The idea of being freelance had attracted me for several years and the end of this contract, along with the status of auto-entrepreneur were the deciding factors. Being my own boss, being able to decide on my own schedule and getting up every morning with a specific goal is highly motivating and satisfying. 

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Being able to show that secretarial work is a genuine line of business and that it is possible to become a business manager at 25, even without extensive prior experience.

The most memorable moment is still the signature of my first contract, at which point you know that everything is possible and that you can be optimistic about the future!

And, of course, being selected as a delegate for YES 2011!

My next challenge:

Changing status, perhaps by setting up a company with a colleague.

My Company

Name: Ekibio Group

Activity: organic agro-food

My Life as an entrepreneur

Through a passion for business. A strong affinity for everything natural that is connected with health and the environment led me into the world of the distribution and manufacturing of organic products.

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

One of the most memorable moments was the 20-year anniversary of the founding of the Ekibio Group in 2008, attended by employees, clients, suppliers and business partners. Another memorable moment was my son joining Euro Nat.

My next challenge:

Make the teams as autonomous as possible in order to take a step back and work on other projects.

My Company

Name: Leetchi.com

Activity: Leetchi.com is an online service for organising cash pools among friends and colleagues – exactly what you need for a joint gift, a weekend among friends or a leaving gift!

My Life as an entrepreneur

I have always been fascinated by projects, whether class representation (Epita 2002-2003) during my studies, raising awareness among young people to vote in my hometown of Toulouse or organising cultural events. It was meeting Gilles Babinet, a serial entrepreneur for whom I worked for one year (2006-2007) that set me on the path to launching my own business venture. 

In September 2007 I started at HEC Paris and had to organise the induction weekend. This involved circulating a piece of paper on which each person's contribution was listed. The programme included a round trip to the market at Rungis, renting a house in Normandy and dividing tasks among 30 people. All that remained was to collect the money to do the shopping!

I had not reckoned on a major difficult: we were missing at least half the amount needed for the trip! The team doing the shopping advanced the cash for the rest of the class. Some of them never got back the money they had paid out! I asked myself, 'what if there was an online cash pooling site?' That would make a lot of situations easier. And friendships would no longer be spoiled by bad debts!

This was how Leetchi.com started!

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Seeing a team of 6 persons work around the clock for an idea in which they believe. It is always a pleasure to receive emails from clients who express their satisfaction.

My next challenge:

Take the company international!

Grégoire Sentilhes : G20 YES 2011 President

Grégoire Sentilhes was the CEO of Screaming Media, an added-value content-syndication company IPOed on the NASDAQ in 2000 and which recently merged with CBS Market Watch. He was previously based in New York as global marketing Vice-President of the e-commerce division of the German group Bertelsmann.

He was previously co-founder, chairman and CEO of the online division of the Lagardère group in Paris from 1993 to 1996.

He is a successful private equity investor in France, Spain, the US and China: four of his 15 investments have been listed. An alumnus of ISG, he studied at the Université de Paris-Dauphine. He has been part of the team of France III, the French challenger for the America’s Cup sailing race.

He is Chairman and co founder of “Les Journées de l’Entrepreneur”, the French arm of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, and he is a board member of France Investissement.

He is an active board member and share holder of the Yunus Movie Project, the feature movie about the life and the achievement of Mohamed Yunus, the 2006 Peace Nobel Price for his action against poverty through micro-credit.

My Company

Name: NetAffiliation (C2B Group)

Activity: affiliation platform, e-marketing consulting 

My Life as an entrepreneur

I have always had a strong desire to be an entrepreneur! The hard part is making the first step. For me everything started the day I imagined myself as a banker at the age of sixty, who had never had the courage to start up his own business.

For NetAffiliation, everything started with designing a website with tips and cash back offers that I set up with a partner in 2003. We used affiliation to promote the site, and we noticed that this was a potential growth market where we could contribute innovations.

Our taste for entrepreneurship, our fierce determination to succeed and the IT talents of my business partner did the rest!

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Most memorable moment: the last 8 years - My success: the next 8 years, I hope, and I am striving to achieve this. The life of an entrepreneur is filled with high points, and occasionally low points. I always focus on the positive aspects: excellent relations with my colleagues and the friendships that are forged with business partners, for example.

I also have two reasons to be proud:

• I was one of the few who believed in "small companies" when they were starting out, such as Spartoo, Betclic and Groupon
• I have remained loyal to our first clients and partners, such as Vistaprint, MaisMoinsCher, and Florajet.

My next challenge: Increase our revenue by 1,500% in the next 7 years!

My Company

Name: Babyloan

Activity: social microfinance platform

My Life as an entrepreneur

After 12 years spent working for banks in the wealth management sector, in 2004 I received an email from Amsterdam appointing me as responsible for sustainable development at the OBC bank, even though I didn't even know what "sustainable development" meant. In January 2005, a collection for the victims of the Tsunami put me in touch with ACTED and introduced me to microcredit. In March 2005, during a meeting with the ABN sustainable development manager, I was introduced to his intern Aurélie Duthoit, without whom nothing would have been possible.

In May 2006 I discovered Kiva through an article in "Courrier International". Kiva is the leading US site that allows the general public to grant social loans in order to support small-scale entrepreneurs who wish to develop an activity that generates income. The rest is history! 

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Having succeeded in changing banking laws so that Babyloan can be considered as a legal activity and fulfil its social function.

My next challenge:

Extend Babyloan beyond France so that ethical loans are not limited a North-South or North-North relation, but also South-South and why not even South-North?

My Company

Name: Collectibus

Activity: Passenger transport

My Life as an entrepreneur

The idea for Collectibus started after the 2003 heat wave, when France discovered the consequences of certain sectors of the population, such as the elderly and disabled persons, being isolated. 

In order to overcome this isolation, Collectibus first aimed to offer an on-demand passenger transport service for persons facing physical or geographical difficulties. In order to offer  competitive prices, Collectibus always tries to avoid empty seats in its vehicles (9-seater minibuses).  

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

We have won several competitions and we have been warmly congratulated by several organisations. These are unforgettable moments. However, I will never again feel the same emotion as when I transported our first passenger (an elderly lady).

My next challenge:

Employ more than 100 staff and generate revenue of more than €2,000,000 in 2012

My Company

Name: Secure-IC SAS

Activity: nanotechnologies

My Life as an entrepreneur

Becoming an entrepreneur is a longstanding ambition of mine, however I had to wait for the right time.

This turned out to be when I met three Télécom ParisTech researchers in 2009, who are behind the inventions marketed by Secure-IC. We form a highly complementary team, with strong mutual respect and a shared vision of the Secure-IC project.

My engineering background and my extensive experience of doing business internationally mean that I take great pleasure in converting an innovative technology into a business opportunity.

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Having succeeded in converting a proprietary technology into a de facto standard.

My next challenge:

Make Secure-IC an innovative, profitable source of job creation, with strong value-added and where the development of human capital is a priority.

My Company

Name: Booster Academy

Activity: sales training centre

My Life as an entrepreneur

I became an entrepreneur because I wanted to pass on my passion for sales to others.

Starting my own business appeared to me to be a natural choice in order to share this enthusiasm with others while retaining the freedom that is so important to me. Many people dream of being completely independent. It is not necessarily easy to achieve this, however I refuse to give up. Ultimately, my ambition is freedom-driven! 

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

In addition to growing Booster Academy, each day we assist sales representatives and job seekers, as well as many businesswomen and businessmen in their canvassing activities. I am proud that my students who apply the sales techniques learned at Booster Academy generate tangible results. This gives me real motivation to see them develop and make a success of their careers! To a certain extent, we help contribute to the economic development of France.

My next challenge:

Open many more centres in France, in particular in Lyon and Nantes, then abroad.

My Company

Name: Ferret Dream Company

Activity: Sale and manufacture of accessories for animals, particularly ferrets 

My Life as an entrepreneur

Everything started when I was 15. It was not at all my idea to set up a business at this age, even though I was planning to do so after finishing my studies. However, in doing online research to find good-value accessories for my ferret, I knew I wanted to launch a business venture. 

I saw that there was only one supplier for online retailers who sold cloth items for ferrets (and that there was only one supplier for the animal stores in my region). I then wanted to make my own small hammocks for my pet ferret. This is how I learnt how to sew, first by hand, and that I discovered that it was not so difficult to make this type of accessory. In consulting online forums I quickly realised that there was indeed a demand, and that other people had reached the same conclusions as me, or even ordered from the US to get the best prices, even if the items were not so reliable.

Once I knew this, I didn't want anyone to steal my idea! I carried out a market survey in secret, as I wanted to present something credible to my parents; although they are very open I knew that I was making a difficult request. Using this study, I was able to show them that only a small investment was needed and that there was a genuine market that had scarcely been explored (ferrets are the third most popular pet in both France and the US). Once I got past this stage, it took me one year to design the prototypes for the models, to find suppliers and sub-contractors, to make contact with banks, for example.

I should point out that I was managing this business in parallel with my studies, which are still my priority. The venture was primarily an experiment, which, if it had not worked, would not have involved too many financial commitments, and which, if successful, would be an incredibly rich learning experience. The risks were minimal, and as I found studying relatively easy I had the opportunity to start up a business at the age of 16. 

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

I am living the most memorable moments right now: I have met many different people, attended events such as the Salon des Entrepreneurs, spoken at a conference in front of more than 1,000 persons and been selected to represent the captains of business from my country via the G20 YES and other events. This is extremely fulfilling. For the business itself, I think that always receiving positive feedback on my products provides considerable satisfaction and already represents a form of success.

My next challenge:

Take this company as far as possible my making our accessories "must have" rather than "nice to have". In all probability I will start up another venture. There is a lot of work still to be done!

My Company

Name: Averia

Activity: processing of flat glass

My Life as an entrepreneur

I became an entrepreneur as a result of my taste for freedom and adventure. Building a corporate project that seeks to generate value on its chosen market, while creating enthusiasm within its teams is an exciting adventure.

 My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Each hiring, each promotion and each new site opening are genuine sources of satisfaction.

My next challenge:

Share as extensively as possible the vision of the corporate mission and ensure continued growth.

My Company

Name: Anim’ALIM® - Jouez pour mieux manger! (business started on 1 January 2010)

Activity: nutritional and dietary education

Anim’ALIM® (currently a sole proprietorship) is undergoing deep change and will soon become the brand Anim’ALIM®, which will link up with the Centre Ressources Éducation Nutritionnelle et Alimentation (CRÉNA®). This organisation should benefit from cooperative status by the end of 2011 or the start of 2012.

My Life as an entrepreneur

In March 2009, I did not have a job. I held a Master's degree in life sciences and health, majoring in nutrition, and with only 1 year's experience in general healthcare prevention (preventive nutrition, lifestyle health, oral and dental hygiene, for example). Very few jobs, if any, corresponded to my professional goals. I was fascinated by informing and raising the awareness of the general public and professionals, and basically wanted to pursue this line of work. This gave me the idea to promote FOOD for PLEASURE, to both young and old, so that they will want to cook, eat and protect their future health TOGETHER!

I presented my idea to the Adelfa entreprendre training organisation, on the advice of my local job centre, and was offered an independent contract for 18 months, with monitoring by the ADRET business start-up consulting network. This is how the project started! Eight months later, on 4 December 2009, after a period of intense work, Anim’ALIM® was launched!

After more than one year in business, and faced with an increasing number of demands, I had to consider the future of the venture. As I wanted to develop the idea, I approached a school friend, Sarah Boivin, in order to do this.

Our most memorable moments entrepreneurs:

I have never been as proud as I am of the work that was done on the day the Talents des Cités prizes were present, in the Senate itself! What an occasion this was! I was delighted to have been able to share this moment with my parents and my boyfriend. The announcement of our selection to represent France at the G20 YES was pretty good as well! These two moments highlight involvement with sectors of the public that I care about and that form the basis for my motivation.

You need to make the most of daily successes, which help you overcome daily difficulties: for example, a child who discovers that he or she likes mangosteen or a partner who believes in a project and decides to invest. Being selected for the G20 YES is the icing on the cake and recognition for what we have built.

Our next challenge:

The project for the Centre Ressources Education Nutritionnelle has been launched. For us, the ball is in the court of institutional investors, future partners and financial backers. The CRÉNA® will be launched regardless of what happens, sooner or later, depending on the investments we are able to attract. Implement the project in order to be able to create jobs! In the medium term we plan to hire 9 employees. The next step is to convince partners and financiers to invest!

My Company

Name: Atelier MWR des entrepreneurs / A l’aube d’une nouvelle ère

Activity: training and consulting

My Life as an entrepreneur

I started my career with a desire to start up my own business. 1,000 business ideas and 13 years later, a skills assessment confirmed my considerable need for independence and creativity. Time out from work while I was on maternity leave gave me the opportunity to fulfil my dream of learning how to design websites.

I needed people on whom to try out my ideas and my entrepreneur friends became my 'guinea pigs'. I then realised that my professional experience allowed me to offer these business managers numerous complementary services, such as brochure design, email campaign consulting, search engine optimisation, business partner recommendations, sales pitch advice and online advertising.

The launch of the status of auto-entrepreneur in France (simplified form of sole proprietorship) was what started everything: the reduced administrative formalities and lack of risks allowed me to launch my venture, become my own boss, make all the decisions and take up the challenge of entrepreneurship!

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur was my first interview on the web radio Widoobiz, which was obtained through the Fédération des auto-entrepreneurs, which helped me and supported me, as it does every day for so many other fledgling entrepreneurs and business managers.

At the end of the first one-day training course I ran, the seven trainees were delighted, their batteries were recharged and their minds were overflowing with ideas to develop their business activity: for me, this represented success and showed that I had reached my goal. Since then, each training session leaves me stimulated and eager to run the next course in order to help other entrepreneurs.

My next challenge:

I would like to "export" my training workshops outside the Paris region by offering sessions to business incubators, business hatcheries and entrepreneurs clubs based in other parts of France.

My Company

Name: Orolia

Activity: GPS-critical equipment and systems

My Life as an entrepreneur

In 2002, the sale of Thales Microsonics (a subsidiary of Thales of which I was the managing director) to Temex (a family-owned, medium-sized business), of which I became the CEO, placed me in the front line in the world of business ventures. I quickly caught the entrepreneurship bug due to the considerable freedom of action, speed of execution, immediate feedback on decisions and the intense challenge this provides.

The restructuring of Temex, which was in sere difficulties due to the 2002 high-tech market crisis, led me to change the business lines through sales and acquisitions, then to spin off Orolia (the equipment and systems division of Temex) with the aim of making it into a world leader for positioning, navigation and timing applications for GPS-critical uses (defence, space, security, aviation and marine uses), which did not have an equivalent and still does not today.

Orolia's specialised field is a result of my experience majoring in armament at the Ecole Polytechnique, as well as an understanding of all the barriers (technology, market, strategy and management) that need to be overcome in order to ensure the long-term development of a high-tech business. 

My most memorable moment as an entrepreneur:

Each time I manage to convince someone to invest major capital in my business, or a management team to join our group via an acquisition, or my employees on a daily basis, since they believe in and embrace my vision.

The stock market flotation of Orolia in 2007, acquisitions such as Spectracom (2007, USA) or McMurdo (2009, UK), or the mobilisation of the business during times of deep strategic change are times of considerable satisfaction.

My next challenge:

Federate Orolia's organisation and strategy around three market segments: Government, Aviation and Marine (as opposed to a structure based on technical product lines) in order to reach a new growth threshold and boost revenue over €100 million.