Keeping the community of 1,000 alumni engaged well beyond the launch of their companies is the ambitious goal of the Montpellier BIC. This new series of events, designed to explore various themes, aims to strengthen exchanges and collaborations among the entrepreneurs it assists. This momentum reflects the maturity of an ecosystem that will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2027.
Investing in a startup: above all, a human journey
One point quickly becomes clear: investing involves more than just providing funding. It’s also about sharing experience and providing access to a network. Testimonials from several investor-entrepreneur duos illustrated this widely shared reality.
“I wanted to give something back to the area for what it had enabled me to build. Trust is what matters most. Everything changes when an entrepreneur feels that you believe in them,” summarizes Bruno Méline, founder of Diadom.
After selling his company in 2018, he became an investor. He explains that this is a way to give something back to the area that has given him so much.
The same idea applies to Sylvie Roussel, founder of Indatech and later Ondalys. She is now a deep-tech investor.
“It’s a way to pass the torch. Others helped us, so now it’s our turn to help entrepreneurs with their strategy and fundraising efforts.”
Claudia Zimmer, founder of Aquafadas and now an investor and co-founder of CYME, emphasizes the operational aspect of this assistance: “We share our experience, but it’s up to the entrepreneurs to adapt it to their own reality. That’s where the magic happens.”
For entrepreneurs receiving assistance, the added value goes far beyond funding. “They’ve become part of the team. I count on their skills and their network,” explains Mélanie Parnot, founder of the legal tech company Droits Quotidiens.
Robin Alauze, founder of Line’Up Ocean — in which Sylvie Roussel has invested — shares this perspective: “We were looking for someone who could challenge our decisions and help us take a step back and see the bigger picture. Sylvie is both kind and pragmatic.”
Business angel networks to prepare for the future
For Pauline Renard, founder of La Picorée and mentored by Philippe Nahoum, the value of these networks is above all practical: “We save time and gain access to a diverse range of profiles and skills. ”
Whatever they may be, these networks all champion a collective approach to business investment. Analyses are shared, expertise is pooled, decisions are enriched by the diversity of backgrounds, and investment capacity is potentially amplified.
”We invest first and foremost in a person. Business plans evolve constantly, but what remains is a team’s energy and ability to adapt. It takes both passion and reason to go far,” says Philippe Nahoum, serial entrepreneur and co-chair of Occitanie Angels.
The same conviction is shared by Femmes Business Angels, the leading women’s business angel network in France and Europe, which aims to broaden the investor base.
“Women represent less than 10% of business angels in France, even though their investments outperform the national average by a factor of four to five,” adds Marie-Pierre Sbardella, secretary general of the Femmes Business Angels network.
At the close of this first meeting, all participants praised the BIC’s initiative to create the right conditions for connecting investors and startups. They expressed a desire to sustain this positive momentum.
“I’ve received support from the BIC twice; the team is incredible. They know how to analyze needs and offer personalized assistance, which is quite remarkable.” Working together, we have the potential to achieve great things. Our goal is to see new generations of companies flourish,” emphasizes Claudia Zimmer of CYME.
Athanase Kollias, founder of Kinvent, adds, “Montpellier BIC helped us grow — from securing our first clients to hiring staff and raising funds. I received so much support. Now, it’s my turn to give back.”
This active, committed, and supportive community is undoubtedly one of Montpellier BIC's greatest achievements: seeing its entrepreneurs — both past and present — contribute to the area's development.
