Initiative Eure-et-loir

What Initiative Eure-et-loir does

Initiative Eure-et-Loir is a non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 1999 in Le Coudray, France, operating as part of the Initiative France network, the country's leading associative network for financing and supporting business creators, repreneurs, and developers. The organization provides zero-interest personal loans (prêts d'honneur) ranging from €1,500 to €30,000 to entrepreneurs in the Eure-et-Loir department, alongside free business plan support, mentorship, and post-creation follow-up. Its core offering includes three principal loan products — Prêt d'Honneur Création (creation, €1,500-€20,000), Prêt d'Honneur Reprise (takeover, up to €30,000), and Prêt d'Honneur Croissance (growth, €1,500-€20,000) — complemented by regional programs (Prêt Innovation up to €100,000, Prêt Initiative Centre Reprise-Transmission), and specialized offerings (Prêt Santé for healthcare professionals up to €50,000, Prêt d'Honneur Solidaire for unemployed individuals). All loans are awarded by volunteer expert committees and must be paired with a bank loan, creating an 8.5x leverage effect where every €1 of honor loan generates approximately €8.5 in bank financing.

The organization is operated by 6 permanent staff led by Director Olivier Petrus and a Bureau headed by President Laurent Sureau, with 132 active volunteers participating in credit committees and mentorship. Since 1999, it has supported 1,216 enterprises, with 156 entrepreneurs financed in 2023 alone (€1,827,550 in honor loans, 437 jobs created or maintained) and a documented 91% three-year business survival rate versus the 66% national average. The business model is grant-funded: services are free to beneficiaries, with operating revenue sourced from public partners (European Union/FEDER, Région Centre-Val de Loire, Département d'Eure-et-Loir, Caisse des Dépôts, Bpifrance), banking partners (Banque Populaire Val de France, Crédit Agricole Val-de-France, CIC Ouest, Crédit Mutuel, Caisse d'Epargne Loire-Centre), accounting firms (In Extenso, TGS France, Baker Tilly, Fiducial), insurance partners (Groupama, AXA), and private donations. Geographic scope is the Eure-et-Loir department, with sectoral exclusions covering large retail chains, real estate agencies, transaction-only activities, and microenterprises (for reprise loans). The organization also runs the Initiative Business 28 alumni community, providing paid networking memberships to support post-creation development.

Name

Initiative Eure-et-loir

Legal name

Initiative Eure-et-Loir

Website

https://initiative-eureetloir.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Initiative Eure-et-Loir is a French non-profit association providing zero-interest honor loans and mentorship to entrepreneurs in the Eure-et-Loir department. It supports business creation, takeover, and growth, pairing €1,500-€30,000 personal loans with volunteer-led mentorship and achieving a 91% three-year survival rate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microfinance and Entrepreneur Support Services

NAICS

Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

Keywords

• Zero-interest honor loans
• Entrepreneur financing
• Business creation support
• Small business lending
• Nonprofit microlender

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Coudray

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. Association funding and support: Initiative Eure-et-Loir is a non-profit association (loi 1901) that does not generate revenue from entrepreneurs it serves. Services are provided free of charge. Funding comes from public partners (Department of Eure-et-Loir, Region Centre-Val de Loire, European Union, Caisse des Dépôts, Bpi France), banking institutions, and private donations from businesses and individuals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Initiative Eure-et-Loir provides zero-interest honor loans (prêts d'honneur) ranging from €1,500 to €50,000 to entrepreneurs in the Eure-et-Loir department for business creation, takeover, growth, innovation and healthcare professional installation, with all loans required to be paired with a bank loan of equal or greater amount. The association complements its financing with free business plan support, an expert volunteer accreditation committee, mentorship pairing with experienced business leaders, and post-creation follow-up services through the Initiative Business 28 beneficiary community.

Product overview

Initiative Eure-et-Loir operates as a unified financing and support platform offering multiple loan products centered on the Prêt d'Honneur (Honor Loan) at 0% interest. The core offering includes three principal loan types: Prêt d'Honneur Création (for new business creation, 1,500€-20,000€), Prêt d'Honneur Reprise (for business takeover), and Prêt d'Honneur Croissance (for existing business development, 1,500€-20,000€). These are complemented by regional programs including Prêt Innovation (up to 100,000€ for innovative projects) and Prêt Initiative Centre Reprise-Transmission (up to 30,000€ for business transmission). Specialized offerings include Prêt Santé for healthcare professionals (up to 50,000€) and Prêt d'Honneur Solidaire for unemployed individuals (1,000€-8,000€). All loan products must be paired with a bank loan. The platform pairs its financial products with comprehensive accompaniment services including mentorship (parrainage), post-creation/reprise support, and the Initiative Business 28 community network. The organization leverages an 8.5x multiplier effect where 1€ of honor loan generates 8.5€ in bank financing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Initiative Business 28: A community of beneficiaries of Initiative Eure-et-Loir, facilitating networking, mutual aid, and business development among entrepreneurs who have received honor loans.

Products and services

• Prêt d'Honneur Initiative (Prêt d'Honneur Création)

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of supported businesses remain active 3 years after creation (vs 66% national average)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• In ExtensocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting firm partner with dedicated Point Création service for business creators, assisting with business plans and financial planning.
• TGS FrancecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting and advisory firm partner with dedicated business creation/reprise advisor for project co-construction.
• Baker TillycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBusiness consulting firm partner providing accounting, tax, legal, and HR services to entrepreneurs.
• FiducialcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMulti-disciplinary services leader for small businesses, artisans, and professionals, supporting business creators with comprehensive service offerings.
• Groupama Centre MancheminorOthersInsurance partner providing coverage services to supported entrepreneurs.
• AXAminorOthersInsurance partner providing coverage and risk management solutions for entrepreneurs.
• BGE 28coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness support organization receiving and accompanying over 400 entrepreneurs annually in Eure-et-Loir, providing tailored support for project evaluation.
• France Active Centre-Val de LoirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial economy financing partner providing bank guarantees, 0% loans, and subsidies for young entrepreneurs and solidarity businesses.
• Réseau EntreprendrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network for human support and 0% interest financing of entrepreneurs creating jobs, with over 140 companies supported in Centre-Val de Loire.
• ADIEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicrocredit association helping people without access to traditional bank credit to create their own jobs.
• Réseau Initiative Centre-Val de LoirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional coordination grouping 6 local associations in Centre-Val de Loire region, managing regional reprise-transmission fund.
• Chartres MétropolecoreOthersUrban community partner detecting and accompanying business projects, providing local economic development support.
• Communauté d'Agglomération du Pays de DreuxcoreOthersUrban community partner supporting business development, recruitment, and training in Dreux territory.
• Région Centre-Val de LoirecoreOthersRegional council providing financial support through CAP (Contract d'Appui aux Projets) for artisanal businesses and local commerce.
• Conseil Départemental d'Eure-et-LoircoreOthersDepartmental council supporting rural development and Initiative Eure-et-Loir actions as part of economic policy.
• Chambre des Métiers et de l'Artisanat 28coreOthersChamber of trades supporting artisanal businesses with information, accompaniment, and honor loan applications.
• Chambre d'Agriculture d'Eure-et-LoirminorOthersAgricultural chamber as privileged contact for agriculture and rural issues.
• CaptusiteminorOthersWeb agency partner providing website development and digital transition services.
• Web StudiosminorOthersDigital communication agency partner specializing in website creation and online referencing.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Réseau Entreprendre: National network offering 0% interest loans and human support to entrepreneurs creating jobs, with 140+ companies supported in Centre-Val de Loire. Directly comparable in product (interest-free honor loans), customer segment, and pairing with mentorship.
• BGE (Boutique de Gestion / Réseau BGE): Network of business creation support associations providing business plan support, training, and financing across France, including BGE 28 in Eure-et-Loir. Directly comparable offering for SMB entrepreneur creation and development support.
• Initiative France: National umbrella network comprising 214 associations providing 0% interest honor loans to entrepreneurs across France. Initiative Eure-et-Loir is a local member association of Initiative France, sharing the same products, methodology, and brand.
• France Active: Social economy financing network providing bank guarantees, 0% loans, and subsidies for entrepreneurs and solidarity businesses. Operates a similar blended-capital model with public and private funding to serve under-served entrepreneurs.
• ADIE (Association pour le Droit à l'Initiative Économique): French microcredit association helping people without access to traditional bank credit create their own jobs. Directly comparable mission of financial inclusion for entrepreneurs unable to access mainstream bank financing.

Regional players

• Initiative Centre-Val de Loire: Regional coordination grouping 6 local Initiative associations in Centre-Val de Loire, including Initiative Eure-et-Loir. Manages the regional reprise-transmission fund and is the immediate parent/coordination structure for the subject company.

Broad incumbents

• Bpi France: French public investment bank providing direct financing, guarantees, and innovation funding to entrepreneurs. Operates broadly across the entire French SME/innovation market, overlapping with Initiative Eure-et-Loir on innovation and creation financing.
• Caisse des Dépôts: Public financial institution that co-funds Initiative Eure-et-Loir's honor loan fund and operates broadly in territorial economic development, urban policy, and inclusive finance. Comparable as a large public financier of the same end-beneficiaries.

Others

• Crédit Coopératif: Cooperative bank serving the social economy, with SME lending and impact-oriented financing products. Not a direct competitor but operates in the same ecosystem of values-driven SME financing and frequently partners with similar associations.

Emerging players

• Positive Planet France: Non-profit supporting entrepreneurship in under-served communities through financing and coaching programs. Comparable mission and target population, with broader geographic footprint but overlapping product set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/initiativeeureetloir/?fref=ts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/initiative-eureetloir
• Instagraminstagram.com/initiative_eureetloir

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Initiative Eure-et-loir