CIJE - AJACCIO Coopérative Initiative Jeunes Entrepreneur.e.s

What CIJE - AJACCIO Coopérative Initiative Jeunes Entrepreneur.e.s does

CIJE - Coopérative Initiative Jeunes Entrepreneur.e.s is a French cooperative business incubator (Coopérative d'Activité et d'Emploi, or CAE) headquartered in Ajaccio, Corsica, that supports young people aged 18-35 in testing and launching business ventures through a secure legal framework. Operating under the CAPE (Contrat d'Appui au Projet d'Entreprise) contract, the cooperative allows aspiring entrepreneurs to develop and validate commercial activity under a cooperative umbrella with social protection benefits before formal business registration. Core services include structured training (Formation Entrepreneur de la TPE at Bac+3 level, Activ'Créa, Valoriser son image pro), skills assessment (Bilan de compétences), validation of prior experience (VAE), individual coaching, group workshops, and access to the NEOS resource center.

The organization maintains physical offices across five French territories: Ajaccio (HQ), Bastia, Marseille, Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe), and Cayenne (French Guiana), and is a member incubator of the Union des Couveuses d'Entreprises (UCE). It operates the Cit ésLab program under BPI France co-financing for residents of urban priority neighborhoods and runs CFA NEOS, an accredited apprenticeship training center. CIJE also participates in transnational European projects including the ECO-INN Interreg Italy-France Maritime initiative and multiple Erasmus+ and Europe for Citizens consortia spanning 12+ countries.

CIJE is funded almost entirely through European structural grants (FSE, FSE+, IEJ, LEADER, Interreg) and co-financing from BPI France and regional authorities, with no disclosed commercial pricing model or paying customer base. Disclosed grant commitments aggregate to approximately €1.75M across six operations spanning 2022-2027, with €1.25M+ tied to multi-year programs. The organization is a private cooperative — not publicly traded, not VC-backed, and not subject to traditional M&A dynamics; rather, its growth is governed by EU programming cycles and public-sector partnership renewals.

Name

CIJE - AJACCIO Coopérative Initiative Jeunes Entrepreneur.e.s

Legal name

Coopérative d'Initiative Jeunes Entrepreneur.e.s

Website

https://coop-jeunes.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CIJE is a French cooperative business incubator (CAE) headquartered in Ajaccio, Corsica, that helps young people aged 18-35 test and launch business ventures under a secure legal framework, operating across five French territories and funded primarily by European structural grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ajaccio

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. European Structural Fund Grants: The primary funding model is based on European regional development and social funds (FSE/FSE+, IEJ, LEADER, Interreg). These co-finance specific operations targeting youth entrepreneurship in defined regions (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, rural areas). Additional co-financing comes from the Collectivité Territoriale de Martinique. BPI France co-finances the CitésLab program.
2. Training and Incubation Services: CIJE offers structured programs including the 'Formation Entrepreneur de la TPE' certification (Bac+3 level), Valoriser son image pro, Activ'Créa, and skills assessments (Bilan de compétences) and VAE. These programs are primarily funded through European grants and may include learner fees depending on individual circumstances.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CIJE is a Coopérative d'Activité et d'Emploi (CAE) — a cooperative business incubator that provides aspiring young entrepreneurs with a legal framework (CAPE contract) to test, develop, and launch business projects in real conditions while maintaining social protection. The cooperative delivers structured training programs (Entrepreneur de la TPE certification, Activ'Créa, Valoriser son image pro), individual coaching, group workshops, skills assessments, Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience, and apprenticeship training via CFA NEOS, all primarily funded through European structural funds and BPI France.

Product overview

CIJE - AJACCIO Coopérative Initiative Jeunes Entrepreneur.e.s is a cooperative providing comprehensive support for young entrepreneurs through an integrated ecosystem of services. The core offering includes the CIJE Coopérative d'Initiative Jeunes (incubator/couveuse), CitésLab (support for entrepreneurs in priority urban areas), CIJE Accélérateurs (accelerator programs), and CFA NEOS (apprenticeship center). Additional services include Formation Entrepreneur de la TPE (professional certification), Bilan de compétences (skills assessment), VAE (experience validation), and a resource center with AI tools for SMEs. The cooperative also participates in multiple European projects including ECO-INN (sustainable innovation), DREAM (digitalization), GreenTour (eco-tourism), and MERAVIGLIA (recycling awareness). All services are coordinated to help young people test and launch their business projects in a secure environment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CitésLab: Service offering enabling inhabitants, business project holders, and entrepreneurs in priority urban policy neighborhoods (QPV) to benefit from support in structuring their business projects and securing their journey.
• TIMS
• Accélérateurs CIJE
• CFA NEOS

Products and services

• CIJE Coopérative d'Initiative Jeunes Entrepreneurs (CAE Incubator) A cooperative of activities and employment (Coopérative d'Activité et d'Emploi / CAE) dedicated to supporting young entrepreneurs, offering workspace, resources, training, and a secure framework under CAPE contracts to test business creation projects in real conditions. Targeted at young people aged 18-35, including NEETs, job seekers, RSA recipients, people with disabilities, and women underrepresented in entrepreneurship.
• CitésLab A service offering enabling inhabitants, business project holders, and entrepreneurs in priority urban policy neighborhoods (Quartiers Prioritaires de la politique de la Ville / QPV) to benefit from support in structuring their business projects and securing their pathway toward support networks. Delivered via BPI France co-financing at five locations.
• CIJE Accélérateurs Incubator/accelerator programs (couveuse) for young entrepreneurs to develop and accelerate their business projects within the cooperative framework.
• CFA NEOS - Centre de Formation d'Apprentis Apprenticeship training centre offering professional training programs for young people, with pathways for apprentices (apprenti) and partner enterprises (entreprise).
• Formation Entrepreneur de la TPE (Bac+3 certification) Professional certification training program for entrepreneurs of very small enterprises (TPE - Très Petites Entreprises) at Bac+3 level, providing structured competency certification recognized by the French state.
• Bilan de compétences Skills assessment service helping individuals identify their competencies and define professional development pathways, typically funded via French CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation).
• VAE - Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience Validation of prior experience service enabling individuals to obtain official certifications based on their accumulated professional experience.
• Activ'Créa Creative activity training program for aspiring entrepreneurs, designed to foster ideation and early-stage project development skills.
• Valoriser son image pro Professional image enhancement training designed to help entrepreneurs present themselves effectively to clients and partners.
• Coopératives éphémères Ephemeral cooperatives program where groups of 10-15 young people experiment with cooperative business management for three months.
• TIMS - Programme pour une mobilité durable et solidaire Program for sustainable and solidarity-based mobility supporting young entrepreneurs, integrating mobility solutions into the cooperative's youth support ecosystem.
• ECO-INN - Innovation support for SMEs European Interreg Italy-France Maritime project providing free personalized innovation support to SMEs in the Franco-Italian maritime basin, including innovation diagnosis, young technologist accompaniment, and implementation of eco-design and energy optimization solutions for the blue and green economy.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~40 young entrepreneurs supported (FSE operation, Jul 2022 – Jun 2023), ~50%+ expected to create a business or return to employment
• +4 more outcomes

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

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• YouRo Trip Consortium (Erasmus+ KA3)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018CIJE participated in the YouRo Trip project (2019–2021) alongside partners from Greece, Spain, Portugal, UK, Denmark, and Romania, focusing on youth democratic participation on climate change through local youth councils.
• Vote4Europe Consortium (Europe for Citizens)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018CIJE partnered in the Vote4Europe project (2018–2019) with organizations from Belgium, Poland, Romania, and Spain to encourage civic participation and EU debate among marginalized youth aged 16–35.
• CFLC – Cooperativa Formazione Lavoro e Cooperazione (Ligurie, Italie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFLC is the lead partner (chef de file) of the ECO-INN Interreg Italy–France Maritime project. CIJE works with CFLC alongside academic and territorial partners to deliver free innovation support to SMEs in the Franco-Italian maritime basin.
• Université de Gênes – Département DIME (Italie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Genoa's DIME department provides scientific and academic expertise to the ECO-INN project, contributing innovation diagnostics and follow-up methodologies for participating SMEs.
• Parco di Porto Conte (Sardaigne, Italie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParco di Porto Conte contributes territorial expertise and environmental innovation knowledge to the ECO-INN project, supporting sustainable innovation pathways for SMEs in the maritime border region.
• CDE Petra Patrimonia (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDE Petra Patrimonia serves as the French mainland partner in the ECO-INN consortium, complementing CIJE's Corsican activities with PACA-region coverage for SME innovation support.
• Union des Couveuses d'Entreprises (UCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIJE is a member incubator (couveuse adhérente) of the Union des Couveuses d'Entreprises, France's national federation of business incubators. This affiliation provides methodological standards, network access, and collective representation. CIJE references jetestemonentreprise.com, a platform associated with the UCE network.
• Ressource Handicap FormationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRessource Handicap Formation supports CIJE in ensuring training accessibility for people with disabilities, with specific accommodations available upon request through designated disability referral contacts.
• EYES Project Consortium (Erasmus+)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EYES project (Enlarging Youth Entrepreneurial Spirit) involved CIJE and European partners developing a training programme and e-learning platform to foster collective entrepreneurship among vulnerable youth under 25.
• News Start Ups Consortium (Erasmus+)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIJE partnered in the News Start Ups project led by Okresni hospodarska komora Prerov (Czech Republic) with Med.O.R.O. scarl (Italy) to promote practical entrepreneurship experiences in vocational schools across the EU.
• Myself&Europe Consortium (Erasmus+)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIJE participated in the Myself&Europe project (2017–2019) with Portuguese and Italian partners, addressing social inclusion, intercultural competence, and European citizenship through education and training for disadvantaged youth.
• Global Local Consortium (Erasmus+)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIJE partnered in Global Local (2021–2023) with organizations from France, Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Netherlands to address mobility barriers for youth and develop digital tools for educators and career guidance professionals.
• Entre-Forward Consortium (Erasmus+)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIJE participated in Entre-Forward alongside partners from Portugal, Italy, Cyprus, and Ireland to develop entrepreneurial competency frameworks, an online career orientation tool, and a training programme for youth entrepreneurship education.
• SEMINARE Consortium (European Territorial Cooperation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIJE participated in SEMINARE, a cross-border cooperation project focused on improving competencies, networking, and the development of 'territorial cooperatives' across European regions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Live for Good: French non-profit accelerating youth-led entrepreneurship through incubator programs and a national competition. Operates a younger-skewing entrepreneurship pipeline that intersects with CIJE's 18–35 primary segment.
• Les Premières: French social enterprise supporting entrepreneurship among underserved populations, notably women and marginalized youth. Shares CIJE's social-inclusion mission and partnership-based funding model, though with a more specific beneficiary focus.
• La Ruche: French coworking and entrepreneurship support network providing physical spaces, training, and community for entrepreneurs. Overlaps with CIJE's resource-center and accelerator programs but operates a more commercial, real-estate-driven model.

Others

• European Microfinance Network (EMN): Pan-European network supporting microfinance institutions and inclusive entrepreneurship. Adjacent ecosystem enabler connected to CIJE's work with disadvantaged young entrepreneurs and its European project portfolio.
• 100 000 Entrepreneurs: French association promoting entrepreneurship awareness among young people through school-based interventions. Adjacent rather than direct competition; complements CIJE's training offerings by feeding future entrepreneur beneficiaries into incubation.

Direct peers

• France Active: Network financing and supporting social and solidarity economy (ESS) enterprises, including cooperatives. France Active's cooperative-friendly funding approach and territorial coverage closely mirror CIJE's CAE model and public-grant-backed structure.
• Initiative France: National federation of business creation support platforms offering mentoring, financing, and networking to entrepreneurs. Operates a comparable geographic rollout model and targets similar beneficiaries to CIJE, including job seekers and underrepresented founders.
• ADIE (Association pour le Droit à l'Initiative Economique): Leading French microcredit and entrepreneurship support association targeting people excluded from traditional banking, including NEETs and RSA recipients. ADIE's beneficiary population and territorial coverage overlap materially with CIJE's young entrepreneur segments.
• BGE (Boutique de Gestion Entreprises): France's largest network of business incubators supporting aspiring entrepreneurs with similar test-in-real-conditions offerings. BGE operates across multiple French regions and overlaps directly with CIJE's couveuse/incubation mandate for young and vulnerable entrepreneurs.

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN France): EU-wide business support network providing internationalization, innovation, and SME growth services across Europe. Operates as a broader incumbent within the same European SME-support ecosystem in which CIJE participates through ECO-INN and other Interreg projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coop%C3%A9rative-initiative-jeunes-corsica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 CIJE - AJACCIO Coopérative Initiative Jeunes Entrepreneur.e.s