Sport dans la Ville accelerates the development of its "Entrepreneurs dans la Ville" program with the support of BPI France

Bpifrance has selected " Entrepreneurs dans la Ville ", a program supported by the organization Sport dans la Ville and EM Lyon Business School, to deploy the "Creation Accelerator" in six French cities Paris, March 6, 2020 - Marie Adeline-Peix, Executive Director of Bpifrance, in charge of Creation, Philippe Oddou, Managing Director of Sport dans la Ville and Fabien Guimtrandy, Director of Group Resources at EM Lyon Business school, have signed a partnership to support high-potential entrepreneurs from low-income neighborhoods of the Community Policy of the State in their business creation projects.

This national "Creation Accelerator" program is deployed by Bpifrance as part of the Skills Investment Plan (PIC), piloted by the Ministry of Labour.

Launched in January 2019 by Bpifrance at the request of the public authorities, the "Entrepreneurship for All" initiative strengthens support for entrepreneurial projects in the Community Policy of the State Priority Neighborhoods. It is based on three axes: facilitating access to support services, animating entrepreneurial communities and accelerating businesses. Within this framework, Bpifrance already offers two support programs dedicated to the managers of small businesses in the regions and to project leaders from the low-income neighborhoods.

To give young creators security and give them the keys to entrepreneurship, Bpifrance is launching the Creation Accelerator. This scheme, deployed by Bpifrance and operated by local players, aims to provide free support for 24 months to 1,000 entrepreneurs throughout France, 70% of whom come from low-income neighborhoods, in order to accelerate the development of their company at the beginning of its life. The program is based on three pillars: training, advice and networking.

Bpifrance has selected as the first operator of this Accelerator the " Entrepreneurs dans la Ville " program, jointly run by the organization Sport dans la Ville and emlyon business school, designed to support the process of business creation by young people from the low-income neighborhoods. Launched in 2007 in Lyon, it has helped 285 project leaders between 2007 and 2018, i.e. 198 companies and 430 jobs created.

The Creation Accelerator will be deployed by " Entrepreneurs dans la Ville " in 6 cities by 2021: Lyon, Lille, Paris, Marseille, Saint-Etienne and Grenoble. This means that 275 entrepreneurs from the low-income neighborhoods will be supported over the period, through 13 promotions lasting 24 months.

"Entrepreneurial energy is at the heart of the territories, which is why Bpifrance, through its Entrepreneurship For All initiative, relies on the players in the field, in its teams and among its partners, to develop ambitious programs. By entrusting the deployment of the Creation Accelerator to the " Entrepreneurs dans la Ville " program, we are taking up the challenge of offering solutions of excellence to all entrepreneurs, so that they can realise their full potential and participate fully in the development of their territories", says Marie Adeline-Peix, Executive Director in charge of territorial action and regional partnerships at Bpifrance

"The Entrepreneurs dans la Ville program has proven its worth for more than 10 years in the Lyon metropolis. Its development on a national scale is a great source of pride for Sport dans la Ville, and a promise for the future for more and more young people that we will be able to guide on the path to business creation. The pool of entrepreneurial talent in disadvantaged neighborhoods is as important as elsewhere. It is up to us to reveal it!"adds Philippe Oddou, Director General of Sport dans la Ville.

From left to right, Fabien Guimtrandy, emlyon business school, Marie Adeline-Peix, Bpifrance and Philippe Oddou, Sport dans la Ville