What NQT Association does

NQT (Nos Quartiers ont des Talents) is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 2006 and headquartered in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, that operates a professional mentorship program connecting young graduates (BAC+3 minimum, under 30 years old) from modest backgrounds and priority neighborhoods (QPV/ZRR) with experienced volunteer mentors from French enterprises. The association has supported over 100,000 graduates toward employment and alternance since inception and now sustains a community of 55,000+ alumni, 15,000+ mentors, and 750+ partner companies, with a cumulative partner ecosystem of 1,058 organizations spanning enterprises (LVMH, BNP Paribas, Siemens, Airbus, Carrefour, Orange, Enedis, Crédit Mutuel, Nexans, Bayer, Groupe Henner), public institutions (France Travail, Apec, ANCT, multiple French ministries), 39 universities, 12 schools, social landlords, and territorial collectivities. The service is delivered through a cloud-hosted web platform (app.nqt.fr) and native iOS/Android applications, supplemented by more than 1,000 events per year, embedded third-party career tools (Cut-E assessments, Frantastique/Gymglish language learning, Test And Go self-assessment), a podcast ('Le Podcast pour l'Emploi'), and a self-serve Taxe d'Apprentissage Simulator for corporate partners.

The association is funded through three documented channels: the French 'solde de la taxe d'apprentissage' (apprenticeship tax balance) for which NQT is officially habilitated, corporate and individual donations eligible for French tax deductions, and European Social Fund (FSE/FSE+) and Youth Employment Initiative (IEJ) co-financing across multiple French regions since 2011. All services are free for beneficiaries and mentors. Reported outcomes include 66-70% of graduates finding employment matching their skills within six months, 3,510 alternance placements in 2025, and 10% of placed graduates being hired directly by their mentor's company. AI is used for candidate matching under a formal AI Charter, but no proprietary models or AI-native product capabilities are disclosed. Leadership transitioned in January 2025 with the appointment of Rose Marie Yonis (herself a former NQT mentee) as Directrice Générale, succeeding Guillaume Marmasse.

Name

NQT Association

Legal name

NQT (Nos Quartiers ont des Talents)

Website

https://nqt.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NQT is a French non-profit founded in 2006 that runs France's first large-scale professional mentorship network, pairing young graduates from modest backgrounds with corporate volunteer mentors to support employment, alternance, and entrepreneurship outcomes across metropolitan France and DOM.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Employment Mentorship Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching) (BPAEANAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks (BPADAKAL)

Keywords

• Youth employment mentorship
• Professional coaching services
• Equal opportunity programs
• Apprenticeship placement
• Graduate career support

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-denis

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Taxe d'Apprentissage (Learning Tax): French companies contribute 0.68% of their gross payroll as apprenticeship tax. Up to 30% of the 'solde' (balance portion, 13% of total) can be directed to approved associations like NQT. Companies search for 'NQT - Nos Quartiers ont des Talents' on SOLTéA platform using SIRET 492 330 683 00045 to make contributions.
2. Corporate Donations: NQT is habilitated to receive donations from companies and individuals. Donors receive tax receipts for deductions under French law.
3. European Union Co-financing: Co-financed by the European Social Fund (FSE/FSE+) in various French regions for youth employment initiatives. Multiple regional FSE co-financing agreements documented since 2011.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

NQT Association operates a free professional mentorship program (parrainage) that pairs young graduates from modest backgrounds (BAC+3 minimum, under 30) with experienced business professionals from 750+ partner companies to support them in finding employment, alternance, internships, or starting a business. The service is delivered through the jeunes.nqt.fr portal, the app.nqt.fr self-service platform, and native iOS/Android mobile applications, supplemented by free career development tools (Cut-E assessments, Frantastique/Gymglish language learning, Test And Go) and 1,000+ events annually. A separate partenaires.nqt.fr portal serves corporate partners who contribute mentors, apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage), and donations to fund the program.

Product overview

NQT (Nos Quartiers ont des Talents) is an association operating a professional mentorship/parrainage program that connects young graduates from modest backgrounds with experienced professionals in partner companies. The core offering consists of the NQT platform and mobile application (iOS/Android) where users register, access personalized mentorship, and manage their career development journey. Additional services include 'Le Podcast pour l'Emploi' (a career advice podcast series), a Taxe d'Apprentissage Simulator for corporate partners, free professional development tools (Cut-E, Frantastique, Gymglish, Test And Go), and entrepreneurship support with workshops and competitions. The ecosystem includes dedicated spaces for young people (jeunes.nqt.fr) and enterprise partners (partenaires.nqt.fr), with services covering employment search, apprenticeship placement, and business creation assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NQT Mobile Application Native mobile applications available on iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play) that allow young graduates and mentors to register, access mentorship services, manage their personal space, utilize career development tools, and engage with the NQT community.
• NQT Professional Mentorship Program (Parrainage) Free professional mentorship program pairing young graduates (BAC+3, under 30) from modest backgrounds or priority neighborhoods with experienced business professionals from partner companies, providing personalized career guidance including CV improvement, interview preparation, professional network access, job search methodology, and support toward employment, alternance, internships, or entrepreneurship.
• Le Podcast pour l'Emploi A podcast series providing career advice, job search tips, interview preparation guidance, and networking strategies for young graduates, available on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and PocketCast.
• Taxe d'Apprentissage Simulator An online calculator on the partenaires.nqt.fr portal that enables French companies to estimate the amount of apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage) they can contribute to NQT based on their gross payroll, supporting contributions via the SOLTÉA platform using SIRET 492 330 683 00045.
• Free Professional Development Tools Bundle (Cut-E, Frantastique, Gymglish, Test And Go) Complementary web-based tools offered free to NQT mentees including Cut-E evaluation tests (recruiter-preferred assessment practice), Frantastique and Gymglish language learning platforms, and the Test And Go self-assessment platform for evaluating job readiness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 66% of young graduates find employment matching their skills in under 6 months
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Institut National du Service Public (INSP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with INSP to help young graduates access careers in public service. NQT supports students of the INSP's Prépa Talents program through its three preparatory classes for civil service entrance exams, offering guidance regardless of exam outcome.
• 39 UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnhanced cooperation with 39 universities to facilitate graduate employment. Partnerships aim to sensitize students to professional integration and inform them about the NQT program to reduce job search duration.
• 12 SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 12 higher education schools for graduate employment support and career services integration.
• Local Authorities (Collectivités Territoriales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2009, territorial collectivities can engage in concrete actions supporting young graduates' employment. Partners strengthen local communication, complementarity with local actors, and organize events for graduate employability.
• Social Landlords (Bailleurs Sociaux)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial housing organizations partner with NQT to support residents' professional development. Aligns with social housing missions of participating in neighborhood economic and social development.
• France TravailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench public employment service partner supporting young graduate employment integration.
• Agence Nationale de la Cohésion des Territoires (ANCT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational agency for territorial cohesion, supporting NQT's mission of reducing inequalities through professional integration.
• Ministère de l'intérieur et des outre-mercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Ministry of the Interior and Overseas supporting equal opportunity employment initiatives.
• Ministère de l'éducation nationale et de la jeunessecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Ministry of National Education and Youth supporting education-to-employment transition programs.
• ApecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation pour l'emploi des cadres (Executive Employment Association) partner supporting graduate employment.
• NovapecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting employment initiatives for young graduates.
• Groupe HennercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner (conseil d'administration) of NQT, contributing to governance and strategic direction.
• SiemenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner contributing to NQT governance as a major corporate supporter.
• LVMHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner representing luxury goods sector in NQT governance.
• BNP ParibascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner representing banking sector in NQT governance.
• MEDEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench employers' federation represented on NQT board. Founding partner (Laurence Parisot, former MEDEF President, encouraged national expansion in 2006).
• NexansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner contributing to NQT governance.
• CarrefourminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner representing retail sector.
• OrangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner representing telecommunications sector.
• AirbusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner representing aerospace sector.
• Crédit MutuelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner representing banking sector.
• AFNORminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner, French standards organization.
• EnedisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner representing utilities/energy sector.
• Université Paris Dauphine-PSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner representing higher education.
• Université Paris-SaclayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner representing higher education.
• Mairie de Clichy-Sous-BoisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government board member partner from priority neighborhood territory.
• Bernard ControlsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner, industrial controls company.
• Genius TalentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner, HR/talent services company.
• Océane ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner, consulting firm.
• BPCEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner, French banking group.
• GexpertiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner, expertise/professional services firm.
• BayerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member partner representing pharmaceutical/healthcare sector.
• 1,058 Partner Organizations (Total)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner865 companies, 81 territorial collectivities, 55 higher education institutions, 27 public institutions, 18 associations/mutuals, 6 foundations, and other organizations. Total partner ecosystem.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Per Scholas: US non-profit providing tuition-free technology training and career support to individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Comparable free-to-beneficiary model with corporate employer partnerships for placement.
• Year Up: US-based non-profit providing young adults from low-income backgrounds with mentoring, skills training, and corporate internships leading to employment. Highly comparable training-plus-mentorship-to-employment model.
• Kodiko: French non-profit offering mentorship-driven professional integration programs, including for refugees and graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds. Directly comparable mentorship model and beneficiary population overlap.
• Frateli: French non-profit offering long-term mentoring programs pairing students from priority neighborhoods with professionals. Closely comparable mentorship-driven equal-opportunity model serving young graduates in France.
• Mentorat France: National French non-profit umbrella organization promoting mentoring as a tool for social and professional inclusion. Directly comparable French non-profit focused on mentoring programs, with overlap on youth employment.
• Mozaïk RH: French recruitment firm specializing in diversity hiring and equal-opportunity placement of graduates from priority neighborhoods. Comparable mission of bridging young graduates from modest backgrounds to enterprise employers.
• Article 1: French non-profit association focused on equal-opportunity education-to-employment pathways for young graduates from modest backgrounds. Operates a mentorship and scholarship program structurally comparable to NQT's model.
• FACE (Fondation Agir Contre l'Exclusion): French corporate foundation tackling exclusion through workplace integration, mentoring, and diversity initiatives. Comparable French non-profit with corporate-network-driven model for disadvantaged populations.

Emerging players

• Pro Bono Lab: French non-profit connecting professionals with non-profits through skills-based volunteering. Adjacent French model leveraging professional networks to support social-impact organizations, with overlapping mentor-network dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• Apprentis d'Auteuil: Large French youth foundation offering education, training, and family-support services. Comparable equal-opportunity youth mission but with a much broader service portfolio beyond graduate employment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NQTasso

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 NQT Association