LA MADRE

What LA MADRE does

La MADRE (legal name: Association de préfiguration d'une maison de l'anthropocène à Grenoble; operating brand derived from Maison de l'Anthropocène, des Dérèglements et des REbonds) is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in 2023 and headquartered at La Correspondance, 30 bis avenue Marcelin Berthelot, Grenoble. Its mission is popular education on ecological transitions and the Anthropocene, delivered through a community-led portfolio of interactive workshops (Fresque des Frontières Planétaires, Fresque des Besoins, Où sont passés nos futurs ?, Inventons Nos Vies Bas Carbone, Atelier Points d'appui, Balade Au fil des temps), apéros-débats, theatrical performances (Point de bascule with Cie du Gravillon), and festivals (Printanières, Perds pas l'Nord !).

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its delivery stack is human-facilitated, supported by a Yeswiki website and the HelloAsso platform for membership and event registration. It monetizes only at the margins of its mission through small participation fees (€5-€10 standard, with solidarity rates), a €50 formation, and annual membership dues, supplemented by French state indemnization for hosting service civique volunteers via Ligue de l'Enseignement. Customers are primarily individual citizens, students (from secondary school through Université Grenoble Alpes), seniors (UIAD), and local community organizations in the Grenoble metropolitan area.

The go-to-market is community-led: programming is co-produced with an ecosystem of core partners (La Correspondance, Ligue de l'Enseignement, Petits Débrouillards AURA, Cie du Gravillon, INRIA/STEEP, GRAAL, Mairie de Seyssinet-Pariset) and promoted through the website, partner networks, local press (Dauphiné Libéré), in-person events, and word-of-mouth. There is no venture or institutional funding disclosed; the association operates on member dues, event fees, volunteer labor, and public-sector support for civic service hosting.

Name

LA MADRE

Legal name

Association de préfiguration d'une maison de l'anthropocene à Grenoble

Website

https://madre-grenoble.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

La MADRE is a Grenoble-based French non-profit association delivering popular-education workshops, fresques, apéros-débats, and festivals on ecological transitions and the Anthropocene for citizens, students, seniors, and local community organizations in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and popular education services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAN

Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYTHAHAJAO

Nonprofit, Social Services & Community Development Congresses

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Association, Government & Academic Congresses

Keywords

• Popular education
• Ecological transition
• Participatory workshops
• Climate awareness
• Community engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Grenoble

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees (Adhésion): La MADRE collects annual membership fees from supporters through its HelloAsso platform. The association promotes membership as a way to support the organization's mission of popular education around ecological transitions.
2. Event participation fees: Some events charge participation fees (e.g., Fresque des Frontières Planétaires at 10€ standard / 5€ solidarity rate). Many events are free with optional registration.
3. Service civique (French civic service): La MADRE hosts service civique volunteers, partially funded by the French state. The association receives indemnization from the state for hosting volunteers aged 16-25.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

La MADRE is a non-profit association that designs and delivers participatory educational workshops, discussion evenings (apéros-débats), theater-integrated learning sessions, and facilitator training programs to help citizens, students, and community groups understand ecological transitions, planetary boundaries, and climate-related systemic crises. Activities are mostly free or low-cost (with solidarity rates) and are hosted at the La Correspondance venue in Grenoble and at partner locations.

Product overview

LA MADRE (Maison de l'Anthropocène, des Dérèglements et des REbonds) is a non-profit association offering a portfolio of educational and participatory services focused on environmental awareness and ecological transition. The core offerings include interactive workshops such as the Fresque des Frontières Planétaires (Planetary Boundaries Workshop), Fresque des Besoins (Needs Workshop), and 'Où sont passés nos futurs?' participatory workshops. These are complemented by themed events like apéros-débats (discussion evenings), theatrical workshops (Atelier Points d'appui), and the Inventons Nos Vives Bas Carbone program. LA MADRE positions itself as a citizen science and popular education hub, hosting events, conferences, and training sessions primarily at La Correspondance venue in Grenoble.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fresque des Frontières Planétaires (Planetary Boundaries Workshop) An interactive workshop that helps participants discover the 9 planetary boundaries, map causes and consequences of ecological crises, and understand environmental issues through a systemic approach. Open to the general public; priced at 10€ standard / 5€ solidarity rate.
• Fresque des Besoins (Needs Workshop) A collaborative workshop inviting participants to reflect on the relevance and ecological impacts of human needs, helping to rethink lifestyles for a more responsible, sustainable, and emancipatory society. Also offered as a facilitator training program.
• Où sont passés nos futurs? A series of three interactive workshops that accompany participants in understanding the links between planetary history and current environmental upheavals, using games and co-construction activities.
• Atelier Points d'appui A workshop following the 'Point de bascule' theatrical performance, designed for participants to share and discuss their concerns about climate change and explore collective solutions. Produced in cooperation with Cie du Gravillon.
• Inventons Nos Vies Bas Carbone An original workshop that allows participants to understand essential orders of magnitude and collectively imagine actions for the climate, focused on food themes.
• Balade Au fil des temps A playful walk through Parc Paul Mistral exploring the evolution of matter, life, and humanity from the Big Bang to today, using games to better understand time and current planetary challenges.
• Créons ensemble la MADRE! A card-based creative workshop using an evolving game to present the project's philosophy and objectives, test audience reactions, and collect proposals to enrich the project.
• Formation Initiation Animation Scientifique A 5-day facilitator training program offered in partnership with Petits Débouillards AURA, priced at 50€ plus a 5€ or 15€ membership. Designed to train animators in scientific mediation and participatory methods.
• Apéros-débats (Discussion Evenings) Regular themed discussion evenings bringing together citizens, researchers, and practitioners to debate topics such as local currencies, climate projections to 2050, the social and solidarity economy, and food systems. Held at La Correspondance and partner venues, often free with optional registration.
• Les Printanières Festival Two-day festival combining artistic and educational activities on ecological transitions, including the 'Point de Bascule' theater performance, fresques, and participatory workshops. Launched in spring 2025 with over 530 participants.
• Service Civique Volunteer Program A French civic service placement program for young people aged 16-25, managed in partnership with Ligue de l'Enseignement. Volunteers assist with communications, event organization, and community outreach at La MADRE.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 530 participants at major events
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• La CorrespondancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Correspondance is the host venue and primary co-organizer for La MADRE's activities. This shared community space in Grenoble provides the physical location for workshops, apéros-débats, and office functions. The two organizations co-produce major events including the Printanières festival.
• Ligue de l'Enseignement de l'IsèrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the seminar 'Quelle éducation populaire à l'heure de l'anthropocène?' held in Autrans. The Ligue provides institutional support, hosting facilities (Vertaco center), and access to its network of educational organizations.
• Petits Débrouillards Auvergne Rhône-AlpescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to reactivate a local Petits Débrouillards center in Grenoble. Joint efforts include organizing the Formation Initiation Animation Scientifique and summer programming 'L'été Oh! Parcs'. The partnership aims to create a network of educators trained in systemic thinking about transitions.
• Enjeux CommunsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-exhibitor at the Salon 2Tonnes50 held at Alpexpo. Both associations shared a stand in the 'Eduquer' (Educate) section and collaborated on activities including fresques and workshops during the 5-day event.
• Cie du GravilloncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater company collaboration producing 'Point de bascule' (a scientific performance about climate change) and follow-up 'Points d'appui' workshops. La MADRE co-hosts performances and provides post-show discussion facilitation. This innovative format combines artistic expression with scientific mediation.
• GRAAL (Grande Région Grenobloise – Recherches, Actions, Agricultures et Alimentations Locales)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLa MADRE participates in efforts to create a local committee for Sécurité Sociale de l'Alimentation (SSA) in Grenoble. GRAAL leads the initiative, and La MADRE supports outreach and educational activities around food systems transformation.
• INRIA / équipe STEEPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner providing expertise for the 'Comprendre et Agir' conference series. Researchers from INRIA contribute as speakers and facilitators for public discussions on climate, energy, and systemic transitions.
• Atelier PaysanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAgricultural cooperative invited as speaker for apéros-débats on food systems and agroecology. Represents the peasant agriculture perspective in discussions about sustainable food production.
• Ligue de l'Enseignement (national civic education federation)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerManages the service civique program that places volunteers with La MADRE. Provides training, legal framework, and support for young volunteers (16-25 years) undertaking civic engagement at the association.
• Mairie de Seyssinet-ParisetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal partner for the conference cycle 'Cycle de conférences avec l'UIAD'. Provides venue support and promotional assistance for public discussions on ecological and social transitions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Direct peers

• La Fresque du Climat: France's flagship popular education workshop on climate change, directly inspiring La MADRE's Fresque des Frontières Planétaires. Both train facilitators and run participatory workshops for citizens, students, and corporates, with overlapping content (planetary boundaries, systemic thinking).
• Enjeux Communs: Isère-based association focused on ecological and social transition workshops, co-exhibits with La MADRE at Salon 2Tonnes50 and runs overlapping formats. Highly comparable as a local educational nonprofit with shared mission and geography.
• Petits Débrouillards: National network for scientific popular education, with a regional AURA branch that is a strategic partner of La MADRE. Both run hands-on science workshops for youth and the general public using participatory pedagogy, and share formats like L'Été Oh! Parcs.
• 2tonnes50: Workshop-based initiative that helps individuals and groups understand pathways to a low-carbon future. La MADRE co-exhibits at the Salon 2Tonnes50 in Grenoble; very close overlap in workshop format and target audience.

Broad incumbents

• ADEME (Agence de la transition écologique): France's national ecological transition agency, a structural counterpart to La MADRE's mission. ADEME funds and orchestrates large-scale public education on environmental topics that La MADRE delivers at hyper-local level.
• Alternatiba: National movement of citizen-led climate action groups with local chapters, organizing festivals and educational events (Villages des Alternatives). Wider geographic scope than La MADRE but comparable citizen-engagement model.
• La Ligue de l'Enseignement: National civic education federation that co-organizes La MADRE's Autrans seminar and runs the service civique pipeline. Wider scope (secular education for all ages) but shared popular-education DNA and explicit partnership.

Regional players

• La Biennale des Villes en Transition: Grenoble-based biennial festival where La MADRE runs workshops. Comparable as a community gathering platform for ecological transition actors in the same city, though event-driven rather than year-round.

Others

• Atelier Paysan: Cooperative supporting small-scale farming through open-source agricultural tools and peer training. Listed as a La MADRE speaker partner; comparable as a popular-education shaped organization around ecological transition, though focused on agriculture.

Emerging players

• Les Shifters: Volunteer-led French movement decarbonizing the economy, with local 'Shifters' chapters that run workshops and awareness events. Overlapping mission and educational formats, though more focused on The Shift Project advocacy rather than popular education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/madre-grenoble

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about LA MADRE