25th November 14 @ l v l a x i m e

E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I PI N

F R A N C E

B y M a x i m e R e n a u l t

• I n t ro d u c t i o n

• H o w I b e c a m e a n e nt re p re n e u r

• E n t re p re n e u rs h i p i n F ra n c e

• F re n c h b a s h i n g a n d s t e re o t y p e s

• T h e F re n c h To u c h

@ l v l a x i m e

Summary

25th November 14

Student at French Grandes EcolesMsc in General Engineering

Msc in Business & Management

Myself

International experienceSan Francisco

Berlin

@ l v l a x i m e

Co-founder and CEODuBonPain

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L’exception culturelle française

A FRENCH TRADITION

Our goal

Bringing new technologies to the 33,000 French bakers

Promoting French bakery tradition in France and all over the world

DuBonPain

Our products

A unique web and mobile crowdsourced online guide for

bakeries

An online ordering platform

@ l v l a x i m e25th November 14

A PROBLEMI could not find a bakery using what I always have with me: my smartphone!

A PASSIONFor solving issues, new technologies and tradition

DETERMINATIONTo face people’s scepticism, to leave my comfort zone, to start doing something

PEOPLEAt university and in Paris eco-system, who inspired me

TEAM & VALUESAfter six month alone, two friends joined me because we shared common

valuesThat was the start of a great venture!

How I became an entrepreneur

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Entrepreneurship in France

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A RISING EUROPEAN HUB

Incubators and co-working spaces are everywhere!

In Paris, Silicon Sentier and The Family are shaping the French entrepreneurial eco-system.

In 2016, Paris will host the biggest incubator in the world with 1000 startups!

A NATIONAL PRIORITY

French government promotes entrepreneurship.

The State is a big player in funding rounds with public institution like BPI.

« Auto-entrepreneur » and « Student-entrepreneur » legal status facilitate firmcreation.

HIGH SKILLED TALENTS

France’s education system produces every year high skilled talents who are recognized internationally.

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YOU FAILED!

Fear of failing is a big cultural concern in France. As opposed to the US, where failingcan be valuable, French people have a hard time facing failure. It will take time to

change a whole culture, but current entrepreneurs learn from their mistakes!

YOU HAVE NO CHANCE, IT IS A BAD IDEA

France is known for being very sceptical about everything and especially towardsinnovation. While every new idea is « awesome » in the Valley, you will have a hard

time convincing people in France. Yet, that can be a good thing because it gives you the strenght to pursue until you reach your customers’ expectations.

MY PRODUCT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH

French are sceptical but also complain a lot, it’s part of the process! It will be hard to release a product if this one is not perfect! Selling anything is not really a cultural fit,

while it can slow down some startups it also contributes to better products. Scepticismalso contributes to the fact that people do not talk a lot about success stories, being

proud is bad for French!

French Bashing and Stereotypes 1/2

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IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RAISE FUNDS

It is a fact that there is less VC money in France, but no worries: if you have a good product, examplesshowed that you will find how to raise a good amount of money!

Seed funding might be difficult also, you might need to find 10 Business Angels to raise 250k€.

At the same time, especially for R&D, it is very easy to raise good amounts from institutional money!

BUREAUCRACY AND TAXES KILL YOU

Bureaucracy exists, taxes exist but a lot of efforts are made in that field! Creating a Limited Companyin France is very easy, also the « auto-entrepreneur » legal status provides you free-tax first revenues, ideal to start! Like everywhere administrative forms are a hassle but if they are the major obstacle to

start your business, question yourself!

FRENCH ARE ALWAYS ON HOLIDAYS

French social benefits are part of the culture, but working hard is also possible! Entrepreneurs are not constrained by a 35h policy!

I DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH

Speaking English was an issue for the past generations and sometimes a problem to scale a companyinternationally, but times change! Now, most of students leave school with correct English writting

skills and with an internationally famous accent!

French Bashing and Stereotypes 2/2

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La French Touch

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French entrepreneurs illustrate themselves in a variety of domains all across the globe. Theseare the main domains where French excellence is recognized, with their related success stories.

FRENCH TASTE

BIG DATA

HARDWARE

SHARING ECONOMY

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T h a n k y o u

Let’skeep in touch!

maxime@dubonpain.fr

Twitter : @lvlaximeLinkedin: renaultm

@ l v l a x i m e25th November 14