“Montpellier BIC is a key tool for boosting entrepreneurship. By launching the Conquest program, the incubator expands its support offering by targeting scale-up companies that are ready to move up to the next level.”
On June 16 at the Halle de l’Innovation, Hind Emad, Montpellier Métropole Vice President in charge of Economic Development and Digital Technologies, welcomed the first cohort of the new Conquest program which complements the First Step, Embark, and Take-off programs.
With the program, four scale-ups will be able to take a strategic step forward. The companies are AquaTech Innovation, Renewr, Qiiro, and SCOP3. All of four met the selection criteria, including the following: having raised between €2 million and €5 million or having generated between €1 million and €5 million in revenue over the last financial year; having a team of between 10 and 50 employees or contractors; and offering a solution that addresses societal challenges.
“The Conquest program is a real opportunity to help us scale up,” , confirms Pierre Mera, CEO of Renewr.“Our challenge is related to external growth and acceleration. This program will be a huge help,” added Gaël Bill, CEO of Qiiro.
“This program is an opportunity for us to rethink our organization and innovation, gain visibility and impact, and exchange ideas with peers to avoid being alone when making structural decisions. The challenges evolve quickly: technology, uses, market expectations. It is particularly important to surround yourself with the right people!” says Frédéric Salles, co-founder of Scop3.
Created in partnership with French Tech Méditerranée and Village by CA, the Conquest program is open to innovative companies based in eastern Occitanie. Montpellier BIC’s two partners enrich the support offering by providing essential expertise to scale-up companies.
The first brings its program Scale Up Excellence. “It enables companies to increase their exposure, expand their network, and access new business opportunities, both on national and international markets,” said Tassadit Quivy, Vice President of French Tech Méditerranée. Le Village by CA Languedoc contributes its network and expertise in financing, among other areas. Combined with the expertise provided by Montpellier BIC, ranked among the world’s top five public incubators, these contributions give scale-ups access to the Conquest program, a 12-month course offering tailored, enhanced support.
Patrick Brusley, manager of Village by CA Languedoc, was pleased to praise “the ability of all three partners to jointly develop a program” that matches the goals of the selected companies.
“The next step for AquaTech Innovation is to expand its reach within France and abroad,” emphasized Geneviève Marais, the company’s CEO.
