Entrepreneurial support to be further democratized
How manyentrepreneurs actually benefit from mentoring in France? Programs such as "Qui veut être mon associé?" (Who wants to be my partner?) show certain aspects of this practice, and sometimes give the impression that it is the prerogative of successful businessmen and women, and that it is only accessible to project leaders with high growth potential.
Karim Messeghem, University of MontpellierConstance Banc, University of Montpellier; Justine Valette, University of Montpellier and Sophie Casanova, University of Montpellier
When it comes to entrepreneurial ecosystems, France doesn't seem to be so badly positioned in the world. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, it currently ranks5th among the world's richest countries in terms of government promotion and support of entrepreneurship. But in reality? How many actually benefit from this support?
Entrepreneurialsupport aims to create the right conditions for the emergence and success of entrepreneurial projects. It calls on a variety of methods, such as mentoring, or structures, such as gas pedals. More precisely, it can be defined as a long-term process organized by a third party, enabling a project leader or entrepreneur to benefit from a learning dynamic, access to resources, networking, services and decision-making support.
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France has seen an unprecedented increase in the number of entrepreneurs over the past decade. A recent study by the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Lab chair of Labex Entreprendre has attempted to objectivize the reality of their support.
Less than a quarter of entrepreneurs supported
We drew on the data collected as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor in 2023, inserting questions on support. The study focused on what might be termed "emerging" entrepreneurs, i.e. those who set up a business in the three and a half years preceding the survey. They represent 10.8% of the population aged 18 to 64.
It shows that 23.5% of emerging entrepreneurs are supported. This rate is very close to that measured by theFrench Entrepreneurial Index in 2023. In this study, the proportion of project leaders who have "requested and received support" is 22%. In other words, less than a quarter of emerging entrepreneurs currently benefit from support.
Entrepreneurial support can take many forms. Emerging entrepreneurs mainly emphasize the benefits of decision support and learning dynamics, through advice (80%), a critical eye (63%), strategic information (51%) and moral support (47%). Networking is a major function enjoyed by a small majority of supported entrepreneurs (51%). However, only 29% of these entrepreneurs had access to financial support. Finally, accommodation is a relatively underdeveloped practice. Only 18% have benefited from it.
There are also a wide variety of entrepreneurial support structures. The major players are consular organizations, such as chambers of commerce and industry. 29% of emerging entrepreneurs benefited primarily from this type of support. Structures such as incubators or "tiers lieux" attract 21% of entrepreneurs, compared with only 13% for the major networks (Adie, BGE, CRESS, France Active, France Angels, Initiative France, Réseau entreprendre, Pépite...). Lastly, job placement and return-to-work structures (Apec, Pôle emploi) provide support for 18% of emerging entrepreneurs.
Redirecting support to those who need it?
Looking at the socio-demographic characteristics of emerging entrepreneurs, the proportion of women entrepreneurs is lower (40.7%). However, the support rate is 25.3% for female entrepreneurs, versus 22.3% for male entrepreneurs.
The age group that mobilizes the most support is the 25 to 34 age group. The support rate (31%) is very high compared to the rest of the population. This result should be seen in the context of the rejuvenation of the entrepreneurial population in France, and the strong interest of this age group in coaching. Older entrepreneurs tend to make less use of support services, with only one in five. The fact that they are more experienced and have better access to professional networks could explain this lower level of interest.
Lastly, level of education seems to be a determining factor in the use of support services. Entrepreneurs with a high level of education tend to rely more on support services. For those with a baccalaureate or less, the rate is only 17.8%. This result raises questions about the ability of support providers to better target this audience, which paradoxically would need them most.
With the lack of support, and the fact that it is sometimes poorly targeted, players such as the Banque Publique d'Investissement (BPI) have become aware of these discrepancies, and have proposed coordinating the main players in the field of entrepreneurial support. Cap Créa now brings together 27 players committed to promoting entrepreneurship. The aim is to make the support ecosystem even more inclusive for under-qualified and older entrepreneurs.
This research, financed by Labex Entreprendre, benefits from government funding managed by the Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR) under the Investissements d'Avenir program. The ANR finances project-based research in France. Its mission is to support and promote the development of fundamental and applied research in all disciplines, and to strengthen the dialogue between science and society. To find out more, visit theANR website.
Karim Messeghem, Associate Professor, University of MontpellierConstance Banc, Lecturer and researcher, University of MontpellierJustine Valette, Senior Lecturer in Management Sciences, University of Montpellier and Sophie Casanova, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, University of Montpellier
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read theoriginal article.