Graines de SOL
Graines de SOL is a French cooperative of activities and employment (SCIC SAS), founded in 2009 in Lyon, providing 280 entrepreneur-members with shared administrative, accounting, training, and accompaniment services in exchange for an 11% cooperative contribution on their business turnover.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersOullins-Pierre-Bénite, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Graines de SOL does
Graines de SOL is a Cooperative of Activities and Employment (CAE) structured as a SCIC SAS \u00e0 capital variable, founded in 2009 in the South-West Lyon metropolitan area at the initiative of the municipalities of Pierre-B\u00e9nite, Oullins, and Saint-Genis-Laval. The cooperative operates a multi-faceted model in which approximately 280 entrepreneur-members maintain their independent business activity while benefiting from the cooperative's administrative, accounting, fiscal, and legal infrastructure, training, and accompaniment services. Members pay a cooperative contribution of 11% of their business turnover (CA HT, excluding subcontracting and resale), which funds the shared platform and support functions. The cooperative is governed by four colleges (280 entrepreneurs, 19 support staff, 3 territorial collectivities, 5 partners) on a one-person-one-vote democratic basis.
The company operates through several integrated sub-brands: Azelar (artistic and cultural pole), Cit\u00e9sLab SOL and Cit\u00e9sLab Givors-Grigny (free project incubation for aspiring entrepreneurs), GDS Formation (professional training), and La Serre (coworking space). It is part of the Co'Hop collective, a network of 5 Lyon-area CAEs, and participates in Pros Coop Chez Vous, a cross-cooperative directory. Technology is described as a cooperative management platform and shared services infrastructure; no proprietary AI or advanced technology features are disclosed. Members are distributed across consulting, training, communication, IT, wellness, culture, commerce, crafts, and personal services.
The business model is a transaction-fee take rate on member turnover, supplemented by public co-financing from the European Social Fund (FSE), R\u00e9gion Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes, M\u00e9tropole de Lyon, CCVG, and founding municipalities. Customer acquisition is community-led and event-driven: monthly information sessions, annual general assemblies, regional CAE open days, and word-of-mouth referrals from existing entrepreneurs. Pricing is uniform (single 11% tier) with no public tiering. The cooperative has grown from 3 staff members in 2010 to 19 support staff and ~280 entrepreneur-members by 2024, with consistent new-member intake (~26-30 per year recently) and 15 years of continuous operation.
Graines de SOL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Graines de SOL
- Legal name
- Graines de SOL
- Website
- https://grainesdesol.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Graines de SOL is a French cooperative of activities and employment (SCIC SAS), founded in 2009 in Lyon, providing 280 entrepreneur-members with shared administrative, accounting, training, and accompaniment services in exchange for an 11% cooperative contribution on their business turnover.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Graines de SOL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oullins-Pierre-Bénite
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Graines de SOL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Cooperative contribution (cotisation): Entrepreneur-members pay a cooperative contribution of 11% of their business turnover (excluding subcontracting and resale purchases). This funds the cooperative's operations, accompaniment services, collective workshops, and support functions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Cooperative contribution at 11% of business turnover |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Graines de SOL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Graines de SOL is a Cooperative of Activities and Employment (SCIC SAS) that hosts approximately 280 entrepreneur-members who operate independent businesses while benefiting from the cooperative's shared administrative, accounting, legal, and fiscal services. The cooperative also provides individual accompaniment, collective workshops, professional training, networking events, and physical coworking space through sub-brands (Azelar for culture, CitésLab for pre-creation support, GDS Formation, La Serre). Entrepreneur-members pay a cooperative contribution of 11% of their business turnover in exchange for these shared services and the cooperative employment framework.
Product overview
Graines de SOL operates as a multi-faceted Cooperative of Activities and Employment (CAE) structured around a core platform with several integrated sub-brands and specialized services. The main Graines de SOL multi-activities pole supports 280+ entrepreneurs across diverse sectors including consulting, IT, wellness, culture, crafts, and more. Azelar serves as the dedicated artistic and cultural pole. CitésLab services (SOL and Givors-Grigny) provide free project incubation across different territories. GDS Formation delivers professional training, while La Serre offers coworking space. The ecosystem is interconnected through shared infrastructure (directory, mutualized services) and partner platforms like Pros Coop Chez Vous and the Co'Hop collective network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Azelar: Pole artistique et culturel (artistic and cultural cooperative)
- GDS Formation
- La Serre
- Co'Hop
Products and services
- Graines de SOL Multi-Activities Cooperative Core cooperative activity providing 280+ entrepreneur-members with shared administrative, accounting, fiscal, and legal services; individual accompaniment; collective workshops; training; and community networking across diverse sectors including consulting, IT, wellness, culture, and crafts.
- Azelar Artistic and cultural pole within Graines de SOL, providing dedicated support, incubation, and development services for artists, cultural professionals, and creative entrepreneurs.
- CitésLab SOL Free, unlimited project incubation service helping aspiring entrepreneurs develop and launch business ideas in the Sud-Ouest Lyonnais territory.
- CitésLab Givors-Grigny Free, unlimited pre-creation support service for entrepreneurs in the Givors and Grigny territories, helping them define business ideas and connect with appropriate partners.
- GDS Formation Professional training services offering workshops, thematic monthly sessions, and skill development opportunities for cooperative members and external participants.
- Pros Coop Chez Vous Cooperative platform connecting entrepreneurs from multiple Cooperatives of Activities and Employment (CAEs), featuring a directory and promoting cooperative business across the network.
- Co'Hop Online Directory Online entrepreneur directory created for the Co'Hop collective of 5 Lyonnais CAEs, enabling visibility and networking for member entrepreneurs across the cooperative network.
- La Serre Coworking and incubation space within the Graines de SOL ecosystem providing physical workspace for entrepreneurs and hosting cooperative activities.
- Graines de SOL Entrepreneur Directory Online searchable directory of 280+ entrepreneurs within the cooperative, allowing clients to find and contact service providers across all cooperative sectors.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15 years of operation with continuous growth since founding in 2009
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Graines de SOL
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments11 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Graines de SOL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Graines de SOL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Pros Coop Chez VousminorA cooperative network connecting entrepreneurs from multiple CAEs, with a shared website and directory launched to promote member services across cooperatives.
- Co'HopcoreCo'Hop is a collective of 5 CAEs in the Lyon metropolitan area (Cabestan, Cap Services, Elycoop, Escale Création, and Graines de SOL). The community facilitates business referrals, networking, and knowledge sharing among member entrepreneurs.
- AzelarcoreAzelar is the artistic and cultural pole of Graines de SOL, dedicated to supporting professionals in arts and culture. It operates as a specialized branch of the cooperative focused on the cultural sector.
- Pierre-BénitecoreOne of the founding municipalities that initiated Graines de SOL in the Sud-Ouest Lyonnais. Active municipal partner supporting local economic development.
- OullinscoreOne of the founding municipalities that initiated Graines de SOL in the Sud-Ouest Lyonnais. Active municipal partner and current headquarters location.
- Saint-Genis-LavalcoreMunicipal partner supporting the cooperative's development in the Sud-Ouest Lyonnais. Active in solidarity initiatives with the cooperative.
- Métropole de LyoncoreMetropolitan authority supporting regional economic development initiatives including the cooperative.
- CCVG (Communauté de Communes Vallée du Garon)minorIntercommunal community partnered with the cooperative, notably for transportation initiatives and local development.
- Fédération des CAEcoreNational federation of CAEs (Cooperatives d'Activités et d'Emploi) promoting cooperative entrepreneurship and supporting member organizations.
- Coopérer pour EntreprendreminorNetwork of cooperatives fostering exchange on practices, aspirations, and development among member organizations.
- CabestanminorCAE member of the Co'Hop collective, enabling business referrals and networking among member entrepreneurs.
- Cap ServicesminorCAE member of the Co'Hop collective, enabling business referrals and networking among member entrepreneurs.
- ElycoopminorCAE member of the Co'Hop collective, enabling business referrals and networking among member entrepreneurs.
- Escale CréationminorCAE member of the Co'Hop collective, enabling business referrals and networking among member entrepreneurs. Partnered on shared practices and process development.
- CRESSminorChambre Régionale de l'Économie Sociale et Solidaire, regional representative body for social economy organizations.
- Mix CoworkingminorCoworking space in Tassin used for team events and collaborative sessions. Photos have been taken at this location.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Graines de SOL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Coopaname: Paris-based Coopérative d'Activités et d'Emploi and SCIC providing the same shared-services, multi-stakeholder cooperative model for independent entrepreneurs. Most comparable peer — same legal form, same revenue model (contribution on turnover), same member-support activities, but operating at significantly larger national scale.
- Elycoop: CAE and Co'Hop collective member operating in the Lyon metropolitan area. Same multi-stakeholder cooperative structure and entrepreneur-support mission as Graines de SOL.
- Escale Création: CAE cooperative and Co'Hop collective member in the Lyon metropolitan area. Direct comparable offering identical entrepreneur-incubation services and has partnered with Graines de SOL on shared practices and process development.
- Oxalis: Lyon-based SCOP/CAE providing cooperative business support and shared services to entrepreneurs in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Directly comparable as a regional CAE peer operating in overlapping territory within the same national cooperative federation.
- Cabestan: Lyon-area CAE and Co'Hop collective member alongside Graines de SOL. Directly comparable as a regional multi-stakeholder cooperative offering the same entrepreneur-member model and contribution-based revenue structure.
- Cap Services: CAE cooperative in the Lyon metropolitan area, part of the same Co'Hop collective. Comparable CAE model serving independent entrepreneurs with shared administrative services and contribution-based funding.
- Mosaïque Coopérative: French CAE cooperative providing shared administrative, accounting, and accompaniment services to entrepreneur-members using the same contribution-based model. Comparable as a regional CAE peer under the same national federation.
Broad incumbents
- BGE (Boutiques de Gestion): National federation of business-creation support associations providing incubation, training, and financing support across France. Broader incumbent in the entrepreneurship-support space that overlaps with Graines de SOL's CitèsLab activities but operates under an association rather than cooperative structure.
Others
- Coopérer pour Entreprendre: National network of cooperatives (including Graines de SOL as a member) supporting cooperative entrepreneurship and exchange of practices. Ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.
- Fédération des CAE: National federation of Coopératives d'Activités et d'Emploi of which Graines de SOL is a member. Sectoral representative body rather than a competitor — enables benchmarking, advocacy, and shared services across CAE peers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Graines de SOL social profiles
Digital presenceGraines de SOL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Graines de SOL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Graines de SOL subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Graines de SOL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Graines de SOL M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Graines de SOL
What does Graines de SOL do?
Graines de SOL is a Cooperative of Activities and Employment (SCIC SAS) that hosts approximately 280 entrepreneur-members who operate independent businesses while benefiting from the cooperative's shared administrative, accounting, legal, and fiscal services. The cooperative also provides individual accompaniment, collective workshops, professional training, networking events, and physical coworking space through sub-brands (Azelar for culture, CitésLab for pre-creation support, GDS Formation, La Serre). Entrepreneur-members pay a cooperative contribution of 11% of their business turnover in exchange for these shared services and the cooperative employment framework.
Is Graines de SOL a public or private company?
Graines de SOL is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Graines de SOL founded?
Graines de SOL was founded in 2009. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Graines de SOL based?
Graines de SOL is headquartered in Oullins-Pierre-Bénite, France, in the Europe region.
How does Graines de SOL make money?
One revenue line is on record: cooperative contribution (cotisation).
Who are Graines de SOL's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Coopaname, Elycoop, Escale Création, Oxalis, Cabestan, Cap Services and Mosaïque Coopérative. BGE (Boutiques de Gestion) is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are Coopérer pour Entreprendre and Fédération des CAE.
Does Graines de SOL have an API?
No public API is recorded for Graines de SOL.