On September 20th, the three incubators of the Alpes Maritimes, TelecomParisTech Eurecom Entrepreneurs, Incubateur Paca-Est, and SKEMA Business School, launched their first collective action aimed at the project developers they support.
In the presence of the DIRECCTE, co-funder of the project, and their partners, the incubators unveiled their innovative support program that will be deployed from September 2011 to May 2012.
THE COLLECTIVE ACTION: INNOVATION AT THE SERVICE OF INNOVATION
The difficulty in finding the first customers is the main obstacle to the development of young companies.
Indeed, before the first sale is made, it is very difficult for startups to mobilize the resources they need (financial, human, etc.).
To address this issue, the three incubators are joining forces and offering 25 incubated companies a specific support program.
The originality of this collective action lies in organizing a confrontation between the perceptions of the project developers and the decision-makers in actual sales situations.
THE PROGRAM IN 4 PHASES
Collective training: 5 modules in 5 half-days of training on the SKEMA campus in Sophia Antipolis to prepare the projects to formalize their commercial strategy: validation of the offer, identification of priority targets, business model, commercial strategy, and sales team.
Individual coaching: finalization of the commercial plan within their incubator and establishment of the network of decision-makers.
Boot Camp: real sales situation with decision-makers from identified sectors: ICT, Life Sciences, Engineering Sciences, and Internet, potential buyers of their product or solution. This first practical application of theoretical knowledge will result in critical feedback from professionals.
Assessment: general assessment of the action, observation of the evolution of the projects’ commercial offers, progress in their prospecting, feedback on experience.
The success of this program relies on the ability to build a network of decision-makers and their personal involvement in guiding the projects.
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About Incubateur Paca-Est: As an association governed by the 1901 law, the incubator, labeled by the ministry in charge of research for the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var, supports business creation projects linked to public research.
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About Incubateur Telecom ParisTech Eurecom Entrepreneurs (leading the action): The incubator specializes in supporting innovative projects in ICT driven by young engineers or alumni who, after experience in the industrial environment, embark on a personal project.
