initiative gironde
Initiative Gironde is a French non-profit association providing interest-free honor loans, free advisory, and volunteer mentorship to small business creators, repreneurs, and growers in the Gironde department, as a member of the national Initiative France network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersFloirac, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What initiative gironde does
Initiative Gironde is a non-profit association (loi 1901) recognized as being of public utility, headquartered in Floirac, France, and operating exclusively within the Gironde department. Founded in 2000 and a member of the national Initiative France network (214 associations across metropolitan and overseas France, created in 1985), the organization supports entrepreneurs from initial business concept through launch and early-stage growth via a formal three-step program: free project reception and orientation, business plan finalization, and presentation to a comité d'agrément (approval committee) for an interest-free honor loan, followed by post-creation personalized sponsorship and follow-up.
The core offering is a portfolio of five interest-free honor loans (prêts d'honneur) covering creation (€1,500–€6,000), business takeover (€1,500–€6,000), growth for companies aged 3–8 years (€5,000–€15,000), agricultural projects under Prêt Aquitaine Agri (€5,000–€20,000), and business transmission in priority zones under Prêt Aquitaine Transmission Néoterra (€3,000–€5,000). These loans, averaging €10,000, function as supplemental catalytic capital intended to unlock complementary bank financing. Complementary non-financial products include the Club des Entrepreneurs networking platform and recurring workshops. The underlying technology is minimal: no proprietary platform, no AI components, no native mobile app, and no API; delivery runs on a standard OVH-hosted website plus social media channels.
The revenue model is non-commercial: services are free to entrepreneurs, with operations financed by public grants, Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine co-funding, and EU FSE co-financing routed through the Initiative France network. Distribution is exclusively community-led, delivered through 17 approved local antennas (CCI, CMA, Hauts de Garonne Développement, Bordeaux Technowest, CIDFF, and 11 communautés de communes) across the Gironde department. Cumulative impact stands at 3,626 businesses supported since inception, with 194 businesses and 451 jobs created/maintained in 2024, and a documented 92% business survival rate at three years and 85% at five years.
initiative gironde firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- initiative gironde
- Legal name
- Initiative Gironde
- Website
- https://initiative-gironde.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Initiative Gironde is a French non-profit association providing interest-free honor loans, free advisory, and volunteer mentorship to small business creators, repreneurs, and growers in the Gironde department, as a member of the national Initiative France network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
initiative gironde industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Business Support Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Direct Lending — Venture Debt (FSAHAJAD)
Keywords
Where initiative gironde is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Floirac
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
initiative gironde business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Public funding and membership contributions: Initiative Gironde operates as an associative non-profit (loi 1901) financed through public funding, co-financing from the European Union (FSE), and membership contributions within the Initiative France network. Services to entrepreneurs are provided free of charge. The organization does not generate commercial revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free access for all entrepreneurs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
initiative gironde product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Initiative Gironde is a non-profit association that grants zero-interest honor loans (prêts d'honneur) to entrepreneurs who want to create, take over, or grow a small business in Gironde, in amounts up to 90,000 euros depending on the program. It pairs these loans with free individual advisory, mentorship (parrainage), and access to the Club des Entrepreneurs network, helping beneficiaries strengthen their equity, secure bank financing, and increase business survival rates.
Product overview
Initiative Gironde offers a portfolio of interest-free honor loans (prêts d'honneur) targeting entrepreneurs at different stages: creation (Prêt d'honneur Création), business takeover (Prêt d'honneur Reprise), growth (Prêt d'honneur Croissance), agricultural projects (Prêt Aquitaine Agri), and business transmission (Prêt Aquitaine Transmission Néoterra). These loan products are complemented by free business support services including initial consultations, personalized follow-up with volunteer mentor partnerships (parrainage), and the Club des Entrepreneurs networking platform. The organization operates as part of the Initiative France national network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Prêt d'honneur Création Zero-interest honor loan granted to individuals in Gironde who want to create a new small business, used to strengthen personal equity and trigger partner-bank co-financing.
- Prêt d'honneur Reprise Zero-interest honor loan granted to individuals in Gironde to finance the takeover of an existing small business, providing equity-like capital to support a business transmission.
- Prêt d'honneur Croissance Zero-interest honor loan aimed at existing very small businesses in Gironde (typically 1-10 employees) to support growth, hiring, or investment projects.
- Prêt Aquitaine Agri Interest-free complementary loan program targeted at agricultural entrepreneurs in Gironde, deployed alongside the standard honor-loan tracks to address the specific financing needs of the farming sector.
- Prêt Aquitaine Transmission Néoterra Interest-free complementary loan program supporting business transmissions in Gironde, complementing the Prêt d'honneur Reprise track for buyers of existing small businesses.
- Accompagnement et Parrainage Free individual advisory and mentorship service pairing beneficiary entrepreneurs in Gironde with experienced volunteer mentors (parrains) to support them before, during, and after the loan decision.
- Club des Entrepreneurs Networking and peer-learning community for entrepreneurs supported by Initiative Gironde, providing access to events, peer exchange, and follow-up support after the loan phase.
Quantifiable outcome
- 92% of businesses supported by Initiative Gironde remain viable at 3 years; 85% at 5 years
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use initiative gironde
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
initiative gironde technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
initiative gironde partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Initiative FrancecoreInitiative Gironde is a member of Initiative France, the #1 associative network for financing business creators in France, created in 1985 with 214 associations across French territory (metropolitan and overseas). Initiative France is co-financed by the European Union and provides the national framework, brand, and peer network for Initiative Gironde.
- Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Bordeaux-Gironde (CCI)coreCCI Bordeaux-Gironde is an approved antenna of Initiative Gironde, providing first-line guidance to entrepreneurs, information on honor loans, and support in preparing financing dossiers. Located at 17 Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux.
- Chambre de Métiers et de l'Artisanat de la Gironde (CMA)coreCMA Gironde is an approved antenna providing guidance and dossier preparation support for artisan entrepreneurs. Located at 46 avenue du Général de Larminat, Bordeaux.
- Hauts de Garonne DéveloppementcoreEconomic development agency for the Right Bank of Bordeaux, acting as an approved antenna. Located at Centre d'Innovation et de Formation, Avenue Jean Alfonséa, Floirac.
- Bordeaux TechnowestcoreTechnopole of Bordeaux Métropole, acting as an approved antenna specializing in innovative and tech startups. Located at 25 rue Marcel Issartier, Mérignac.
- CIDFF (Centre d'Information sur le Droit des Femmes et des Familles)minorGender and family rights information center acting as an approved antenna, providing guidance particularly for female entrepreneurs. Located at 13 Rue Thiac, Bordeaux.
- Communauté d'agglomération du LibournaisminorLocal government community acting as an approved antenna for the Libourne area, providing local economic development support to entrepreneurs.
- Communauté de Communes du BazadaisminorLocal government community acting as an approved antenna for the Bazadais territory, supporting entrepreneurs in rural southwestern Gironde.
- Communauté de Communes Convergence GaronneminorLocal government community acting as an approved antenna serving the Convergence Garonne territory in southern Gironde.
- Communauté de Communes du CréonnaisminorLocal government community acting as an approved antenna serving the Créonnais territory in central Gironde.
- Communauté de Communes de MontesquieuminorLocal government community acting as an approved antenna serving the Montesquieu territory near Bordeaux.
- Communauté de Communes du Réolais en Sud GirondeminorLocal government community acting as an approved antenna serving the Réolais en Sud Gironde territory in southeastern Gironde.
- Communauté de Communes du Sud GirondeminorLocal government community acting as an approved antenna serving the Sud Gironde territory around Langon.
- Communauté de Communes Médoc AtlantiqueminorLocal government community acting as an approved antenna serving the Médoc Atlantique coastline territory.
- Communauté de Communes MédulienneminorLocal government community acting as an approved antenna serving the Médulienne territory in the Médoc region.
- Communauté de Communes de Jalle-Eau-BourdeminorLocal government community acting as an approved antenna serving the Jalle-Eau-Bourde territory (Cestas and surrounding area).
- Pôle Territorial Cœur Entre deux MersminorTerritorial development pole acting as an approved antenna serving the Entre deux Mers wine region between Bordeaux and Libourne.
- Région Nouvelle-AquitainecoreRégion Nouvelle-Aquitaine is a key institutional partner, providing the 'Entreprendre, la Région à vos côtés' support program for TPE creation and takeover. The region transferred entrepreneurial support responsibilities from the state in 2017 under the loi Notre and co-funds the Initiative Gironde ecosystem.
- EGE&Gironde (Entreprendre pour Gérer)minorPartnership visible in the logo section of the website. EGE is a network of active or former women managers providing mentoring and support to women entrepreneurs.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
initiative gironde competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
initiative gironde social profiles
Digital presenceinitiative gironde financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
initiative gironde leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
initiative gironde funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
initiative gironde 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 initiative gironde
What does initiative gironde do?
Initiative Gironde is a non-profit association that grants zero-interest honor loans (prêts d'honneur) to entrepreneurs who want to create, take over, or grow a small business in Gironde, in amounts up to 90,000 euros depending on the program. It pairs these loans with free individual advisory, mentorship (parrainage), and access to the Club des Entrepreneurs network, helping beneficiaries strengthen their equity, secure bank financing, and increase business survival rates.
Is initiative gironde a public or private company?
initiative gironde is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was initiative gironde founded?
initiative gironde was founded in 2000. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is initiative gironde based?
initiative gironde is headquartered in Floirac, France, in the Europe region.
How does initiative gironde make money?
One revenue line is on record: public funding and membership contributions.
Does initiative gironde have an API?
No public API is recorded for initiative gironde.
What industry is initiative gironde in?
initiative gironde's product category is Small Business Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations, with a secondary code of FSAHAJAD, Direct Lending — Venture Debt. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 6153.