New companies innovating in terms of technology, usage, or business models, with strong growth potential, experimenting and testing in order to find their market and move forward: the stage is set for startups.
Dare to be an entrepreneur
Four entrepreneurs gathered for an initial roundtable discussion:
- Mehdi Fessiane and Karin Aït Si Amer, co-founders of Kitchef, the first social media-inspired cooking app
- Ayoub Benhamdi, founder of AIGLIA, which is currently developing a chatbot to help people find their career path by combining the Japanese concept of ikigai with artificial intelligence
- Rania Amami, founder of Vertizontal, a collective of freelancers specializing in design, development, and marketing
Some of these entrepreneurs have had previous ventures that didn’t work out, while others launched their businesses right after finishing their studies. They have varied backgrounds, different profiles, and come from all age groups, but they share one common trait: the desire to create.
“You have to try. Take that first difficult step, because in reality, there is no such thing as failure — you’re always learning.” Ayoub Benhamdi, Data Scientist
There is no such thing as the perfect moment or the perfect profile. Anyone can get started, with or without money. In these conversations, the focus was above all on desire, passion, and, above all, determination. As Rania Amami puts it, “No two days are the same; it’s demanding but exciting — I wake up every morning with a big smile!” Karin Aït Si Amer adds, “In a startup, rigid job descriptions don’t exist!” These are just a few real-life examples illustrating that boredom is never on the agenda.
The partners attending the event highlighted the quality and range of entrepreneurial support and training opportunities available in Montpellier, as well as the importance of building a strong network to maximize one’s chances of success.
Careers accessible to all
Beyond leadership roles, startups need to build teams that can adapt to hybrid career paths, where complementary skill sets are essential. Three alumni of the Rocket School in Montpellier, who now work at startups, share their experiences:
- Sara Chaboune: after a highly diverse career in sales, hospitality, and logistics, she became a growth hacker and is currently on a work-study program at Confero, which develops tax compliance solutions in the accounting sector.
- Ali Goual: after studying mathematics and computer science, and furthering his education with new skills, he is now a business developer at E-orgaformation.
- Marie Goimard: with a bachelor's degree in psychology and having passed the nursing exam, she became a music therapist before making a career change at age 38. She signed a full-time contract as a business developer at Multani, which automates work permits for public works contractors.
Soft skills took center stage during this second roundtable discussion: versatility, adaptability, agility, and resilience.
“We all have different ways of seeing things. In a startup, this diversity is an additional opportunity to move forward collectively,” explains Marie, while Sara and Ali agree that “if you’re a good fit for the company, they’ll talk to you about long-term plans very quickly.”
Once again, the message is clear: regardless of your level of qualifications and previous experience, training programs exist to help those who are interested in embarking on the startup adventure!
Software developer: a profession now powered by AI
A final segment focusing on the profession of web developer highlighted the diversity of opportunities and the ongoing revolution driven by artificial intelligence tools. Hery Rakotamana, a developer at Annexx following a career transition facilitated by the regional digital school BEWEB, insists: “Above all, you need curiosity. The field is evolving rapidly and extensively; coding alone is no longer enough — you have to bring other qualities to the table, a bit of your personality, while using AI as a new tool.”
Wrapping up the intense yet enriching morning, the various local assistance organizations and event partners presented their initiatives before continuing discussions with the audience during a casual get-together.
Rocket School, La Mêlée, French Tech Méditerranée, France Travail, La Mission Locale Jeunes, France Active Airdie, ADIE, Axents, and the Regional Digital School.
Note: The Financial Times recently ranked Montpellier BIC as the tenth best in Europe in its “Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs 2026” ranking and third nationally behind Station F and HEC Paris, confirming Montpellier as France’s leading innovation hub outside the Paris region.
Photo ©GIL
