Innovact

What Innovact does

Innovact is a public-sector business incubator headquartered in Reims, France, operating since 1995 as a secondary establishment of Association Quest For Change (Strasbourg-headquartered non-profit). The incubator provides structured startup acceleration services to early-stage project holders and pre-seed-to-Series A companies in the Grand Est region, organized through a two-phase methodology: a 3-month collective Starter Class program (10 participants, 2 cohorts/year) followed by unlimited-duration individual incubation with a dedicated Startup Manager. Its core technology is not a software product but a codified incubation methodology combining collective training modules, an Engagement Committee gatekeeping process, and sector-specialized expertise tracks across three filieres: Quest for Health (biotech, medtech, e-health), Quest for Industry (industrial transition, new materials, energy), and Quest for Bioeconomy (agricultural production, biomass valorization), plus Digital sector support.

The organization monetizes minimally through participant fees (€500 HT for Starter Class, €100 HT/month for individual incubation), with the majority of operating costs covered by public funding from FEDER (European Regional Development Fund), Région Grand Est, CCI Marne Ardennes, and Le Grand Reims. Its go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, relying on bi-annual competitive calls for projects, application-based selection, and ecosystem activation through the Le Club platform (600 entrepreneurs), recurring Investor Days, Grand Pitch competitions, and the flagship annual Fête de l'Innovation. Distribution occurs exclusively through direct application to a regional self-serve portal and in-person selection processes.

Innovact is a founding member of the Quest for Change network — the first excellence incubator network in Grand Est — comprising 5 territorial incubators serving 315 startups region-wide. The incubator is labeled 'Incubateur d'excellence' by Région Grand Est since 2018 and has produced 20+ i-Lab national competition laureates since 2021, plus the 2024 National Pépite Prize winner Mately. It operates free co-working space (10 workstations) exclusively for incubates and connects startups to a network of 45 sector-specific experts across the broader Quest for Change ecosystem.

Name

Innovact

Legal name

Association Quest For Change

Website

https://innovact.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Innovact is a publicly-funded business incubator in Reims, France, operating since 1995 as part of the Quest for Change network. It provides structured two-phase incubation (Starter Class + individual coaching) with sector specialization in Health, Industry, Bioeconomy, and Digital, serving early-stage startups across the Grand Est region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Innovation & Design Thinking Programs (EDAMAHAD)

Keywords

• Startup incubation services
• Innovation consulting
• Entrepreneurship development programs
• Pre-seed startup support
• Startup community platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Reims

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: Primary funding model. Innovact is a public incubator financed by FEDER (European Regional Development Fund), Région Grand Est, CCI (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie), and Le Grand Reims (local authority). These public funds cover the majority of incubation program costs.
2. Incubation Fees: Minimal participant contribution. Collective incubation: 500€ HT per project for 3 months. Individual incubation: 100€ HT per month per project. These fees represent minimal cost-sharing given heavy public subsidy.
3. Free Co-working Access: Free co-working space (10 workstations) provided exclusively to incubates as part of incubation benefits, not a revenue-generating service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Innovact is a public incubator of excellence in Reims, France, providing structured early-stage startup incubation through a 3-month collective Starter Class program (twice yearly, 10 projects per cohort) followed by long-term individualized incubation with a dedicated Startup Manager. Services include personalized coaching, financing strategy support (dilutive and non-dilutive), sector-specific expertise across Health, Industry, Bioeconomy, and Digital tracks, free co-working space, and access to a community platform and investor network.

Product overview

INNOVACT is a public incubator of excellence in Reims, France, offering a structured two-phase incubation program: collective Starter Class (3-month intensive program for up to 10 projects, twice yearly) followed by individualized incubation with dedicated startup managers. The organization provides physical infrastructure (co-working space at Reims Nouvel'R), a digital community platform (Le Club with 600+ entrepreneurs), and regular events (Grand Pitch competitions, Investor Days, Masterclasses, Start&Up conferences, and the flagship Fête de l'Innovation). As part of the Quest for Change network, it connects startups to five regional incubators across Grand Est and three sectoral excellence tracks: Health (Quest for Health), Industry (Quest for Industry), and Bioeconomy (Quest for Bioeconomy). Funding support includes access to both dilutive (fundraising) and non-dilutive financing (grants, loans), with dedicated coaching on financing strategy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Starter Class Collective incubation program lasting 3 months with 2 days per week of in-person training in Reims, designed to help entrepreneurs structure their startup with fundamental knowledge combining theory and practice, covering value proposition, market study, business model, KPIs, financial forecasting, storytelling, and pitch deck development. Open to early-stage project holders applying through bi-annual calls. Priced at €500 HT per project for the 3-month program.
• Individual Incubation Personalized long-term incubation program with a dedicated startup manager providing ongoing support to accelerate market access, generate revenue, succeed in fundraising, secure intellectual property, finalize prototyping, and build a solid strategy. Duration is indeterminate; pricing €100 HT per month per project.
• Le Club Digital community platform connecting over 600 entrepreneurs (incubated or alumni) with a catalog of partner enterprise offerings and content including webinars and white papers.
• Co-working Space Free co-working space with 10 workstations at Reims Nouvel'R exclusively reserved for incubated startups, offering Wi-Fi, printer access, meeting rooms, coffee corner, creativity room, and access to networking events.
• Grand Pitch Quarterly pitching competition organized with CCI Marne Ardennes where incubated startups present their projects in 3 minutes to Business Angels (BAMA) and an audience of investors and ecosystem actors.
• Investor Day Quarterly event (2-4 times per year) reserved for startups in fundraising phase, featuring speed dating with Business Angels and venture capital investors interested in their projects.
• Fête de l'Innovation Flagship annual event showcasing incubated startups to the local ecosystem including funders, institutions, communities, service providers, and businesses, held at Villa Douce in Reims.
• Masterclass Thematic two-hour workshops led by external experts, part of Innovact's post-Starter Class programming for continued startup development.
• Quest for Change Network Regional network of five excellence incubators in Grand Est: Innovact (Reims), Quai Alpha (Epinal), Rimbaud'Tech (Charleville-Mézières), Sémia (Mulhouse/Strasbourg), and The Pool (Metz), supporting 315 startups with sectoral excellence tracks in Health, Industry, and Bioeconomy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Startups receiving incubation support have 2x lower risk of bankruptcy within 5 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Quest for Change NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovact is the secondary establishment of Association Quest For Change and a founding member of the Quest for Change network, the first excellence incubator network in Grand Est region. Network comprises 5 territorial incubators: Innovact (Reims), Quai Alpha (Epinal), Rimbaud'Tech (Charleville-Mézières), Sémia (Mulhouse and Strasbourg), and The Pool (Metz). The network provides cross-regional synergies, shared investor access through the Le Club platform, joint events like Immersion Quest for Change and Investor Day, and combined startup pipeline.
• Quest for HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSector-specific excellence program for healthcare innovation covering biotech (medications, treatments), medtech (medical devices, equipment), and e-health (software, platforms). Provides sector-specific expertise, expert networks, adapted financing mechanisms, and ecosystem connections for health-focused startups.
• Quest for IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSector-specific excellence program for industrial transition, new materials, energy system performance, and physical goods production with industrial challenges. Provides sector expertise, expert networks, and industry-specific financing pathways.
• Quest for BioeconomycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSector-specific excellence program for sustainable agricultural production and biomass valorization. Supports startups in agricultural innovation and bio-based product development with sector expertise and adapted financing mechanisms.
• La French Tech EstmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional La French Tech association co-organizing events including Start&Up conferences and networking activities. Provides visibility and ecosystem connections for startups.
• Creativ'Labz URCAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Reims Champagne-Ardenne incubator co-organizing Start&Up events and providing academic connections and student talent access.
• Village by CA ReimsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCredit Agricole startup village co-organizing networking events and providing additional ecosystem connections for startups.
• PUI InnoRemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPôle Universitaire d'Innovation de Reims co-organizing events and providing university-industry connection opportunities.
• Oenotourisme LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWine tourism innovation lab co-organizing events connecting wine industry innovation with broader startup ecosystem.
• Reims Legend'RminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTerritorial attractivity initiative connecting startups with broader regional development and talent attraction programs.
• CEBB (Centre européen de biotechnologie et bioéconomie)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean biotechnology and bioeconomy center supporting Syntetica's development and providing specialized expertise for bioeconomy sector startups.
• ROMEO Supercomputer (Université de Reims)majorTechnology or IntegrationHigh-performance computing resource at University of Reims supporting BlueSpine's advanced cathodic protection simulations and industrial technology development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bpifrance Le Hub: Bpifrance's national innovation and startup hub, the public investment bank that runs i-Lab and broader deeptech funding programs. Broad incumbent because Innovact's incubates rely on Bpifrance for downstream funding and the i-Lab competition is a key milestone, but Bpifrance operates nationwide and at much larger scale.
• Station F: Largest startup campus in the world, located in Paris, hosting 1,000+ startups and dozens of partner programs. Broad incumbent operating at national/international scale with deeper capital and mentor networks; competes with regional incubators for top founders.
• Village by CA: Credit Agricole's nationwide network of startup villages that Innovact already partners with for events. Broad incumbent offering incubation, networking, and banking services to early-stage companies across France with overlapping target founder base.

Direct peers

• Creativ'Labz URCA: University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne student incubator co-organizing events with Innovact and serving overlapping founder segments in Reims. Direct peer for early-stage entrepreneurship support within the same geographic and academic ecosystem.
• Wilco: French startup accelerator operating programs across multiple French regions (including Île-de-France and Lyon) with a similar collective-to-individual incubation model. Direct peer in the same startup acceleration category serving French early-stage founders with comparable methodology.
• The Pool: Metz-based incubator member of the Quest for Change network offering comparable startup incubation and acceleration services to Grand Est founders. Direct peer given shared methodology, shared investor access via Le Club, and overlapping sector focus.
• Rimbaud'Tech: Charleville-Mézières incubator and Quest for Change network member offering comparable startup acceleration services. Direct peer with shared methodology and ecosystem access across the same Grand Est territory.
• Quai Alpha: Epinal-based incubator and Quest for Change network member providing collective and individual startup incubation in Grand Est. Direct peer operating the same regional incubator framework with shared branding and program structure.
• Sémia: Sister incubator in the Quest for Change network covering Mulhouse and Strasbourg, providing comparable collective and individual incubation services in the Grand Est region across biotech, digital, and industry verticals. Direct peer because it operates the same program methodology within the same regional alliance.

Regional players

• Euratechnologies: Lille-based innovation hub and incubator serving the Hauts-de-France region with comparable incubation, acceleration, and ecosystem activation programs. Regional peer providing similar public-funded incubation services but in a different French territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Innovact
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innovact-incubateur
• Instagraminstagram.com/_Innovact_
• Xx.com/innovact_center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Innovact