CEAS72

What CEAS72 does

CEAS 72 (Centre d'Etude et d'Action Sociale de la Sarthe) is a non-profit popular education association founded in 1937 in Le Mans, France, operating as a territorial development facilitator for the Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS). Headquartered at 7 avenue René Laennec in Le Mans, the organization runs a small salaried team of approximately 6-8 staff plus two co-presidents (Géraldine Durand and Gaëlle Violet) and a 7-member board, and delivers its services exclusively in the Sarthe department. Its offering is structured as a multi-program service portfolio rather than a technology product: core accompaniment programs include DLA 72 (Local Support Device, operated since 2004 with 300+ employer ESS structures accompanied), the IS'CUB Innovation Sociale Cub' device (comprising Cub'Idées workshops, Pré Incub' pre-incubation, and Incub' incubation), Guid'Asso (national associative life network, departmental co-animation with the State), and the Boussole animation program launched in 2024. The 2026-launched Club des collectivités adds a dedicated membership offering for elected officials and territorial technicians.

CEAS 72 serves three primary segments: project holders and social entrepreneurs (through Pré Incub' and Incub'), ESS structures and associations (through DLA 72, social utility evaluation, CRIB), and local authorities and institutions (through participatory diagnostics, territorial project co-construction, and policy evaluation). The underlying "technology" is methodological — participatory approaches, collective intelligence facilitation, social utility evaluation frameworks, and territorial diagnosis — with no proprietary software or AI components developed in-house. The organization federates the Club des entreprises de l'ESS du Pays du Mans (40+ ESS associations, cooperatives, mutuals, foundations) and is engaged in a statutory merger with this network scheduled for June 2026, following new statutes adopted in March 2026. CEAS 72 co-animates this Club and the annual Local Impact event (270+ participants in 2026), and is a member of the Culture et Promotion national network alongside sister CEAS associations in Mayenne and Vendée.

The revenue model is predominantly public institutional funding, with services to associations, ESS structures, and project holders largely free or subsidized thanks to grants and partnerships with the French State, Région Pays de la Loire, Département de la Sarthe, Le Mans Métropole, Caisse des Dépôts, ADEME, and FEDER (European Regional Development Fund). A smaller fee-based revenue stream covers consulting offerings such as Diag&Strat (strategic diagnosis), Cub'Idées (idea development), and Impact Measurement (social utility evaluation). Philanthropic support (Fondation Macif) underwrites the Local Impact event. Distribution is primarily direct accompaniment, augmented by national referral networks (Guid'Asso, Avise, ESSOR portal, Hub ESS, RTES, Le Labo ESS).

Name

CEAS72

Legal name

Centre d'Etude et d'Action Sociale de la Sarthe

Website

https://ceas72.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CEAS 72 is a non-profit territorial development association founded in 1937 in Le Mans, France, providing accompaniment, training, and facilitation services to Social and Solidarity Economy structures, project holders, and local authorities across the Sarthe department.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Mans

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public institutional funding: CEAS 72 is primarily funded through partnerships with public institutions: French State, Région Pays de la Loire, Département de la Sarthe, Le Mans Métropole, Caisse des Dépôts, ADEME, and European funds (FEDER). A large portion of accompaniment services for project holders, associations, and ESS structures are free or low-cost thanks to these institutional partners.
2. Paid consulting services: Some services are provided as paid consulting engagements: Diag&Strat (strategic diagnosis), Cub'Idées (idea development), and Impact Measurement (social utility evaluation). These are fee-based professional services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CEAS 72 is a non-profit association that facilitates and accompanies social innovation projects, Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) structures, and local authorities in the Sarthe department. Its core offering is structured around support programs (Pré Incub', Incub', CUB'IDÉES, DLA 72, Guid'Asso, social utility evaluation), membership clubs (Club de l'ESS du Pays du Mans, Club des collectivités), and the annual Local Impact territorial cooperation forum.

Product overview

CEAS72 is a social studies and action center (Centre d'étude et d'Action Sociale) operating as a service organization rather than a software product. Its offering is structured as a multi-program ecosystem centered on two pillars: (1) support for Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) structures and associations, via DLA 72, IS'CUB (encompassing CUB'IDÉES, Pré Incub', and Incub'), and social utility evaluation; and (2) support for local authorities and institutions, via participatory approaches, diagnostic studies, and policy evaluation. Cross-cutting services span social innovation, circular economy, sustainable food, responsible purchasing, economic cooperation (PTCE), and a Boussole animation program. CEAS72 also animates two membership clubs — Club de l'ESS (open to ESS enterprises) and Club des collectivités (open to local authorities) — and organizes the annual Local Impact forum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IS'CUB – Innovation Sociale Cub': Innovation Social Cub' is a comprehensive device offering structured support for social innovation projects in Sarthe, including Cub'idées (creative workshops), Pré Incub' (pre-incubation), and Incub' (incubation) programs
• DLA 72 – Dispositif Local d'Accompagnement
• Guid'Asso
• Pré Incub'
• Boussole
• Club des entreprises de l'ESS du Pays du Mans

Products and services

• Pré Incub' Pre-incubation program accompanying project carriers of social innovation at the idea stage through collective workshops, personalized follow-up, and networking sessions. Designed for individuals or groups in Sarthe with projects addressing unmet social needs.
• IS'CUB – Innovation Sociale Cub' Structured support ecosystem for social innovation in Sarthe combining CUB'IDÉES (creative workshops), Pré Incub' (pre-incubation), and Incub' (full incubation). Offers collective and individual support to move socially innovative projects from idea to launch.
• DLA 72 – Dispositif Local d'Accompagnement Public support scheme for ESS employer structures (associations, insertion structures, ESUS-licensed enterprises). Free for beneficiaries, it consolidates economic models, sustains employment, develops partnerships, and balances social mission with financial viability.
• Guid'Asso National proximity network providing reception, orientation, information, and accompaniment services for associations. CEAS 72 is the associative partner of the Guid'Asso scheme in Sarthe, co-animating the departmental network alongside State services.
• CUB'IDÉES – La Fabrique à initiatives Creative and prospective workshops that generate innovative solutions in response to territorial issues by combining social need analysis with ecosystem mobilization. Component of the IS'CUB ecosystem.
• Boussole – Programme d'animations Acculturation and inspiration program offering workshops for citizens, ESS structures, collectives, and project carriers. Includes theoretical discovery sessions, learning games, visits, testimonials, and project support, organized around themes of social innovation, ESS, and citizen engagement.
• Club de l'ESS du Pays du Mans Membership club federating 40+ ESS associations, cooperatives, mutuals, and foundations active on the Le Mans territory. Provides network animation, thematic meetings, member promotion, and ESS development support.
• Club des collectivités Dedicated membership space for elected officials and technicians from local and intercommunal authorities, offering a forum for reflection, inspiration, and collective construction around territorial challenges.
• Accompagnement des collectivités et institutions Support service for local authorities and institutions covering participatory approaches, co-construction of territorial projects, evaluation of local development schemes, actor networking, consultation facilitation, socio-demographic studies, social needs analyses, diagnostic studies, and public policy evaluation.
• Accompagnement des associations et de l'ESS Comprehensive accompaniment for ESS structures and associations, bundling CRIB (Centre of Resources and Information for Volunteers), DLA for employer structures, social utility evaluation, economic cooperation support, and training programs for associative leaders.
• Évaluation de l'utilité sociale Methodology and service enabling associations and ESS structures to measure and communicate their social impact, support ESUS certification applications, and reinforce internal and partnership cohesion. Includes self-evaluation tools and shared evaluation approaches.
• Local Impact Annual forum dedicated to territorial cooperation and social innovation, gathering associations, enterprises, collectives, project carriers, ESS actors, funders, and citizens. Features a Solutions Fair, Mécénat Café, and Funders' Place for project networking and support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ employer structures accompanied by DLA 72 since 2004
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Club des entreprises de l'ESS du Pays du ManscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Co-founded in 2014, the Club federates 40+ ESS associations, cooperatives, mutuals, and foundations. CEAS 72 is co-founder and co-animator. Since 2023, the two structures have engaged in a joint reflection for a new associative model, with planned statutory merger in June 2026. The Club opened to departmental scale in September 2025.
• Culture et PromotioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network connecting 3 CEAS associations (Mayenne, Sarthe, Vendée). Over 40 years of collaboration, resource sharing, and joint projects including DLA, associative life, evaluation, and social utility themes. CEAS 72 is a member of this network.
• Guid'Asso (co-animation with State services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational associative support network co-animated by State services and partner associations. CEAS 72 is the associative partner in Sarthe for the Guid'Asso label, co-animating the departmental network alongside Benoît Doré, Délégué Départemental à la Vie Associative.
• RTES (Réseau Territorial de l'Economie Sociale)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network for territorial social economy. CEAS 72 participates in RTES activities and knowledge sharing on PTCE (Pôles Territoriaux de Coopération Economique) and territorial cooperation.
• Le Labo ESSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational laboratory for social economy. CEAS 72 participates as member, contributing to research and reflection on ESS development and PTCE structuring.
• CRESS Pays de la LoireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Chamber of Social Economy. CEAS 72 participates in CRESS regional network of ESS poles and benefits from other territories' experiences.
• Dispositif Local d'Accompagnement (DLA) - institutionalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEAS 72 has been animating the DLA in Sarthe since 2004. This is a public accompaniment device for ESS structures, funded by institutional partners. 300+ employer structures have been accompanied.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RTES (Réseau Territorial de l'Économie Sociale et Solidaire): National network of local authorities engaged in ESS. CEAS 72 is itself a member, and both organizations animate territorial ESS ecosystems and support local-government involvement in social economy.
• Culture et Promotion: National network federating the CEAS associations of Mayenne, Sarthe, and Vendée. The most direct peer in terms of model — same DNA, complementary geographies, joint methodology and resource sharing.
• CRESS Pays de la Loire: Regional Chamber of the Social and Solidarity Economy for Pays de la Loire. CEAS 72 participates in CRESS activities. Directly comparable as an ESS chamber and territorial development counterpart at regional level.
• Le Mouvement Associatif: National coordination body for associative life in France. Comparable in mission to advocate for and support associations and ESS structures; CEAS 72 participates as the Guid'Asso partner in Sarthe.
• Le Labo ESS: National research and experimentation laboratory for the social economy. CEAS 72 is a member; comparable as a peer lab contributing to PTCE structuring and ESS research at territorial level.

Emerging players

• France Tiers-Lieux: National network supporting the development of "tiers-lieux" (third places) such as IlotCO, a CEAS 72-incubated project. Comparable in mission to animate emerging community spaces and project holders within the ESS/social innovation field.

Broad incumbents

• Banque des Territoires (Caisse des Dépôts): Public financial institution backing territorial development and ESS projects. CEAS 72 receives Caisse des Dépôts funding; directly comparable as a partner-funder operating in CEAS 72's territorial ecosystem.
• ESS France (Chambre française de l'ESS): National chamber representing ESS actors across France. Comparable as an ESS institutional umbrella that coordinates the CRESS regional chambers with which CEAS 72 partners.
• France Active: National network financing and accompanying social economy enterprises, including associations and ESUS-certified structures. Comparable as an ESS accompaniment and financing actor with departmental-level coverage.
• Avise: National agency supporting development of the social and solidarity economy (ESS) in France. Comparable as a national-level infrastructure body providing methodology, resources, and program animation for ESS actors — operates one level above CEAS 72's territorial focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ceas72
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ceas72

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 CEAS72