France Active Loire

What France Active Loire does

France Active Loire is a nonprofit association (under the French law of July 1, 1901) and the territorial branch of the France Active national network serving the Loire department within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The organization supports and finances entrepreneurs and associations operating in the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), with a stated mission of accelerating the success of engaged entrepreneurs. Its service offering is organized around the PACTE framework, which combines three pillars: advice (financial strategy), financing (loans, guarantees, and solidarity investment to facilitate bank inclusion), and connection (networking through events and partner introductions). Supporting services include the Dispositif Local d'Accompagnement (DLA) for personalized coaching of associations, a training center for economic and financial management of social economy leaders, regular networking events (Rencontr'Active, Jabiasseries, AGORA des Financeurs), and a public interactive cartography of financed structures. Services are provided free of charge to entrepreneurs; the organization's own operating budget is funded by partner contributions from banks, public institutions, European funds, and foundations.

The core technology is fundamentally a human-relationship-driven service delivery model rather than a software platform. Underlying infrastructure consists of a WordPress-based website, a public cartography/mapping tool of supported enterprises, downloadable guides on association management, and standard social media channels. There is no proprietary technology stack, no public or partner-facing API, and no AI or ML components disclosed. The organization is led by a team of approximately 10 people under President Chantal David, operating from its headquarters in Saint-Étienne and through multiple reception points across the Loire department. In 2024, the organization accompanied 210 projects (per the engagement report) and financed 110 structures while mobilizing 2.2 million euros; the 2025 activity report cites 110 projects securing 750+ jobs, and 2023 saw 207 structures accompanied and financed with 1,680 jobs created or consolidated.

The business model is that of a publicly funded, mission-driven intermediary: France Active Loire does not earn revenue from end beneficiaries (services are free) and does not generate traditional product revenue. Instead, it is sustained by partner financial contributions from a deep ecosystem that includes the European Union, Banque des Territoires, BPI France, the European Investment Fund (FEI), Crédit Mutuel, Crédit Agricole Loire Haute Loire, Banque Populaire Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, La NEF, Crédit Coopératif, Malakoff Humanis, the Mirova Foundation, and the Préfète de Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Its go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct personal consultations across five entrepreneur stages (emergence, creation, development, transformation, restart), supplemented by content marketing, events, and partner referrals. Customer segments are hybrid: SSE entrepreneurs and associations are the primary beneficiaries, with secondary segments in cooperative networks (URSCOP, Les Scop et Scic) and existing social economy leaders targeted through training.

Name

France Active Loire

Legal name

France Active

Website

https://franceactive-loire.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

France Active Loire is a nonprofit territorial branch of the France Active national network that provides free advisory, solidarity financing, and networking services to social and solidarity economy entrepreneurs and associations across the Loire department in France, funded by partner banks, public institutions, and EU funds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social and Solidarity Finance Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

Keywords

• Solidarity financing
• Social enterprise advisory
• Impact investment
• Nonprofit consulting
• Entrepreneur support

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Etienne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Solidary financing facilitation: France Active Loire facilitates financing for entrepreneurs engaged in social and environmental transitions. They mobilize funds from partners including banks, public institutions, and European funds to provide loans, guarantees, and support to entrepreneurs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

France Active Loire is a nonprofit territorial organization that supports and finances Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) entrepreneurs across the Loire department in France. Its core offering is the PACTE framework, which combines advisory services (financial strategy), financing solutions (solidarity loans, guarantees, and equity investments to facilitate bank inclusion), and network connections (partner introductions and events). Supporting offerings include the Dispositif Local d'Accompagnement (DLA) coaching for associations, training programs in economic and financial management, entrepreneur networking events, and a public cartography of financed structures.

Product overview

France Active Loire operates as a unified portfolio of solidarity finance and entrepreneurial support services rather than a modular software platform. The core offering centers on the PACTE framework, which integrates three pillars: advisory services (financial strategy building), financing solutions (loans, guarantees, and solidarity investment to facilitate bank inclusion), and connection services (networking through events and the partner ecosystem). Supporting services include the Dispositif Local d'Accompagnement (DLA) for personalized coaching, training programs for economic and financial management, entrepreneur networking events (Rencontr'Active, Jabiasseries, Agora des Financeurs), and a public cartography tool for discovering supported enterprises.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PACTE (France Active Loire core support framework) Structured support framework for entrepreneurs offering three integrated pillars: advice (financial strategy), financing (bank inclusion facilitation), and connection (access to a quality network of partners). Available to entrepreneurs across five stages: emergence, creation, development, transformation, and restart.
• Solidarity Financing Solutions Solidarity-based financing products including loans, guarantees, and equity investments designed to support entrepreneurs engaged in social and environmental transitions. Provided to facilitate bank inclusion.
• Dispositif Local d'Accompagnement (DLA) Local support device providing personalized coaching and consulting services to associations and social enterprises to help them develop and improve their management, governance, and strategic planning.
• Training Programs (Centre de formation) Educational and training offerings including economic and financial management courses for solidarity economy leaders and entrepreneurs, delivered in partnership with other regional organizations.
• Entrepreneur Networking Events Regular networking events such as Rencontr'Active, Jabiasseries, and the Agora des Financeurs, designed to connect entrepreneurs with partners and foster collaboration within the solidarity economy ecosystem.
• Cartography of Financed Structures An interactive mapping tool showcasing enterprises and associations supported by France Active Loire across the Loire territory, promoting local engagement and responsible consumption.

Quantifiable outcome

• 110 projects financed in 2024, injecting 2.2 million euros
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• RonalpiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of AGORA des Financeurs and partner in territorial development initiatives
• France Active Auvergne-Rhône-AlpescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network partner for training and entrepreneur support across the region
• Les Scop et Scic Auvergne-Rhône-AlpesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative network partner for training and support programs for social economy enterprises
• URSCOP Auvergne-Rhône-AlpesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative and participatory enterprise network partner participating in financeur events
• Réseau EntreprendremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntrepreneur support network participating in financeur events and mentoring programs

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• La Nef: Ethical cooperative bank providing financing for projects with social, environmental, or cultural value. Highly overlapping mission focus and partner-position with France Active Loire on solidarity-finance distribution.
• BPI France: France's public investment bank providing financing, guarantees, and innovation support across a far broader mandate. Both a key partner of France Active Loire and an adjacent institution serving overlapping entrepreneur segments.
• Crédit Coopératif: Cooperative bank specialized in the social and solidarity economy. Shared customer universe (SSE associations and cooperatives) and active financing partner of France Active Loire, though operating at national scale as a regulated bank.

Direct peers

• France Active Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Regional sister network that coordinates with France Active Loire across the broader Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Shares the same mission, products (solidarity loans, DLA, training), and partner ecosystem.
• Initiative France: National network of locally-attached associations financing and supporting entrepreneurs through 0% interest loans and mentorship. Highly comparable in model — local non-profit affiliate, partner-funded, no-cost-for-entrepreneur — and operates in overlapping geographies including Loire.
• France Active (national network): National parent network of which France Active Loire is a territorial branch. Operates the same solidarity-finance mission, methodology (PACTE), and impact-tracking framework across France, making it the closest structural and operational peer.
• Réseau Entreprendre: National entrepreneur-support network pairing business leaders with creating/acquiring entrepreneurs. Closely comparable in providing free advisory services and partner-funded accompaniment, with regional chapters.
• ADIE (Association pour le Droit à l'Initiative Économique): France's leading microfinance association supporting entrepreneurs excluded from traditional banking. Shares France Active Loire's advisory-plus-financing model and commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship.
• Les Cigales: Federation of citizen-investment clubs pooling savings to finance small, local, ethical businesses. Highly comparable model — member-funded, locally-attached, partnership-driven — and listed as a France Active Loire partner.
• Ronalpia: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes-based solidarity finance and entrepreneur-support organization. Co-organizes AGORA des Financeurs with France Active Loire and serves the same regional SSE segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCoUtTyPQPW37JJ4HDfmLGEA
• Facebookfacebook.com/franceactiveloire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/france-active-loire
• Instagraminstagram.com/france_active_loire
• Xx.com/fa_loire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 France Active Loire