Charleroi Entreprendre
Charleroi Entreprendre is a Belgian public-private economic development agency providing free entrepreneurship advisory, business growth support, and coworking services to project creators, SMEs, and student entrepreneurs across Charleroi Métropole's 30 communes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersCharleroi, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Charleroi Entreprendre does
Charleroi Entreprendre SA is a Belgian economic development agency and public-private partnership (dispositif coupole) headquartered in Charleroi, Belgium, providing entrepreneurship support, business growth advisory, and coworking services to project holders and SMEs across the 30 communes of Charleroi Métropole. Founded in 1985 as GISAC and rebranded through 3E and CEEI Héraclès before assuming its current form in 2019 (with the integration of IGRETEC and Sambrinvest) and converting to an SA structure in 2023, the organization employs approximately 30 collaborators and accompanied 450 projects in 2023, supporting 50 business creations and 200 jobs.
The organization's offering is organized into four core lines: project creation advisory (idea validation, partner introductions, market testing, financing navigation, and workspace placement), business development advisory (growth strategy, ESG integration, circular economy transition, international expansion, and innovation), the StudentLab student entrepreneurship incubator (for students aged 18-25), and physical workspace services (coworking, meeting rooms for 2-60 persons, and creative spaces across 200m² in the Caserne Trésignies). It does not build proprietary technology; its operating model is service-based and human-advisor-led.
Revenue is primarily derived from public funding sources, principally European Regional Development Fund (FEDER 2021-2027) and European Social Fund Plus (FSE+ 2021-2027) programs, co-funded by the Walloon Region, with ancillary recurring revenue from coworking subscriptions priced at €20-195 per month. Core entrepreneurship support services are delivered free of charge to entrepreneurs, positioning the organization as a publicly-funded regional accelerator rather than a commercial venture.
Charleroi Entreprendre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Charleroi Entreprendre
- Legal name
- Charleroi Entreprendre SA
- Website
- https://charleroi-entreprendre.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Charleroi Entreprendre is a Belgian public-private economic development agency providing free entrepreneurship advisory, business growth support, and coworking services to project creators, SMEs, and student entrepreneurs across Charleroi Métropole's 30 communes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Charleroi Entreprendre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Entrepreneurship Support Services
- NAICS
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)
Keywords
Where Charleroi Entreprendre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charleroi
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Charleroi Entreprendre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Public funding (European FEDER 2021-2027): Charleroi Entreprendre operates primarily as a publicly-funded organization receiving European regional development funding (FEDER) for programs supporting business creation, growth, circular economy transition, innovation, and the Neo-Hub initiative across Charleroi Métropole.
- Public funding (FSE+ 2021-2027): European Social Fund Plus (FSE+) funding supports the student entrepreneur incubation program (StudentLab), targeting 75 young entrepreneur projects over the program duration.
- Coworking space rental: Revenue generated from renting coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and creative areas. Pricing tiers range from 20€/day passes to 130-195€/month subscriptions for full-time access.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Day pass with limited access |
| Subscription | Monthly | Full-time monthly plan with 24/7 access |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Semi-annual commitment plan |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Annual commitment plan (most economical) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Charleroi Entreprendre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Charleroi Entreprendre provides business creation and business development advisory services for project holders and SMEs, a dedicated StudentLab incubator program for student entrepreneurs aged 18–25, and coworking, meeting room, and creative-space rentals at its Charleroi facility. Core entrepreneurial support is offered free of charge, funded primarily by European FEDER/FSE+ and Wallonia Region grants, while workspace services are fee-based subscriptions.
Product overview
Charleroi Entreprendre operates as a unified multi-service platform for entrepreneurs in Charleroi Métropole, providing a coordinated portfolio of advisory services, workspace infrastructure, and educational programs. The core offering spans project creation support, business development/strategic growth advisory, student entrepreneurship incubation (StudentLab), and coworking/workshop spaces — all delivered by approximately 30 in-house advisors. The organization's services are organized into product/service lines: (1) business creation advisory (idea validation, market testing, funding support, workspace placement), (2) business development advisory (growth strategy, process optimization, ESG integration, circular economy, innovation, financing), (3) student entrepreneurship programs (StudentLab incubator with tailored diagnostic and follow-up products), and (4) physical workspace services (coworking with Day Pass / Monthly / Semi-annual / Annual plans, meeting rooms for 2–60 people, creative spaces). The company also organizes events including a Marketing Cycle (6-session workshop series covering AI for business), open days, and networking meetups.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Business Development Advisory Services Advisory services for existing business owners covering growth strategy, process optimization, international diversification, ESG integration, circular economy transition, innovation, and financing, aimed at SMEs in Charleroi Métropole seeking to adapt to current market conditions.
- Project Creation Advisory Services Advisory services guiding aspiring entrepreneurs from idea conception through business launch, including idea-to-project transformation, partner networking, project challenge, customer acquisition testing, workspace placement, and identification of public financing, for individuals launching an activity in Charleroi Métropole.
- StudentLab Student Entrepreneurship Incubator Incubator program for student entrepreneurs aged 18–25 offering diagnostic products, monitoring tools, and tailored support to enable students to launch entrepreneurial ventures while continuing their academic studies, targeting 75 young entrepreneur projects with a 60% conversion rate.
- Coworking and Workspace Services Physical workspace infrastructure spanning 200m² offering 50 coworking places with high-speed internet, free coffee/tea/water, and professional printer access, available through tiered subscriptions (Day Pass €20/day, Monthly €195/month, Semi-annual €162.50/month, Annual €130/month) with 24/7 access on full-time plans.
- Meeting Room Rental Meeting room rental accommodating 2 to 60 people, available by reservation via email, with a 50% discount offered to full-time coworking members.
- Creative Spaces Creative workspaces for experimentation and idea development available to entrepreneurs, offered via a free trial day reservation.
- Marketing Cycle Workshop Series Six-session educational workshop cycle for entrepreneurs covering value proposition definition, commercial offer development, brand strategy, marketing mix and branding, digital presence, and AI-powered business tools, with each session lasting 3.5 hours and available in both free and paid formats.
Quantifiable outcome
- 450 projects accompanied (2023)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Charleroi Entreprendre
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Charleroi Entreprendre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Charleroi Entreprendre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- B4C (Business for Climate)coreB4C (Business for Climate) is listed among Charleroi Entreprendre's institutional partners, suggesting collaboration on climate and sustainability-focused business initiatives in the region.
- Charleroi MétropolecoreCharleroi Métropole is the primary territorial jurisdiction served by Charleroi Entreprendre, covering approximately 30 communes. The partnership provides the geographic foundation for the accelerator's activities.
- 1890core1890 is listed as an institutional partner of Charleroi Entreprendre, providing support for the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Charleroi region.
- EnMieuxcoreEnMieux is a Walloon public entity supporting European structural funds communication. Listed as a partner providing information on EU funding programs.
- SambrinvestcoreSambrinvest is a key regional investment and development partner, collaborating with Charleroi Entreprendre since 2019 to support business creation and development in the Charleroi region.
- Wallonie EntreprendrecoreWallonie Entreprendre (WE) is the regional entrepreneurship agency. Charleroi Entreprendre bases its accompaniment framework on WE's product/service referential and coordinates regional support programs.
- IGRETECcoreIGRETEC is a public economic development agency that became part of Charleroi Entreprendre in 2019, contributing expertise in regional development and innovation support.
- AWEX (Walloon Export and Investment Agency)minorAWEX provides international expansion support and export assistance to entrepreneurs, referenced in case studies for companies like Tarquin Chocolatier and Monko seeking foreign market entry.
- Inno Charleroi / Shop in CminorInno Charleroi leads the Shop in C initiative supporting downtown Charleroi commerce. Charleroi Entreprendre collaborates on 'Meet & C' events for local retailers.
- AMCV (Association des Marques et Commerces de Ville)minorAMCV collaborates with Charleroi Entreprendre on commercial development events, presenting advantages of local commerce interactions.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Charleroi Entreprendre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Hub.brussels: Brussels equivalent of a regional enterprise agency supporting creation, development, and internationalization of Brussels-based entrepreneurs. Same functional mandate as Charleroi Entreprendre but operating in a different Belgian region (Brussels-Capital).
- VLAIO: Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship — the Flemish Region's enterprise and innovation support body. Functionally analogous to Charleroi Entreprendre at the Flemish regional level, serving a different Belgian territory with similar SME advisory, innovation grants, and startup programs.
- Enterprise Ireland: Irish government agency supporting the development and internationalization of Irish-owned enterprises. Comparable functional mandate (regional SME creation, growth, and export accompaniment) executed at a national scale in a different European geography.
Direct peers
- W.estart: Walloon startup-support initiative offering creation guidance, coaching, and ecosystem events to early-stage founders across Wallonia. Overlaps directly with Charleroi Entreprendre's project-creation advisory line at a regional scale.
- IGRETEC: Public economic development agency that merged into Charleroi Entreprendre in 2019. Operates in the same Charleroi Métropole geography on regional development, innovation support, and enterprise infrastructure — historically and structurally intertwined with the subject.
- Wallonie Entreprendre: Regional Walloon entrepreneurship agency whose accompaniment referential Charleroi Entreprendre explicitly uses. Same mission (SME creation and development), same geographic base (Wallonia), and overlapping product lines — making it the closest functional peer.
- 1890: Charleroi-based economic actor listed as a core institutional partner of Charleroi Entreprendre, supporting the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Operates in the same territory with overlapping entrepreneur-support objectives.
- Sambrininvest: Charleroi-region investment and development partner collaborating with Charleroi Entreprendre since 2019. Provides financing and equity support to the same SME and project-creator base in the same territory — a co-actor more than a competitor, but functionally comparable.
Emerging players
- B4C (Business for Climate): Climate-focused business support organization listed as a core institutional partner of Charleroi Entreprendre. Focused narrowly on sustainability entrepreneurship — a thematic subset of the broader accompaniment mission Charleroi Entreprendre delivers.
Broad incumbents
- Bpifrance: France's national public investment bank and SME/entrepreneurship support agency. Provides creation advisory, financing, and innovation support across the entire French territory — a much larger, broader-incumbent version of Charleroi Entreprendre's model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Charleroi Entreprendre social profiles
Digital presenceCharleroi Entreprendre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Charleroi Entreprendre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Charleroi Entreprendre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Charleroi Entreprendre 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 Charleroi Entreprendre
What does Charleroi Entreprendre do?
Charleroi Entreprendre provides business creation and business development advisory services for project holders and SMEs, a dedicated StudentLab incubator program for student entrepreneurs aged 18–25, and coworking, meeting room, and creative-space rentals at its Charleroi facility. Core entrepreneurial support is offered free of charge, funded primarily by European FEDER/FSE+ and Wallonia Region grants, while workspace services are fee-based subscriptions.
Is Charleroi Entreprendre a public or private company?
Charleroi Entreprendre is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Charleroi Entreprendre founded?
Charleroi Entreprendre was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Charleroi Entreprendre based?
Charleroi Entreprendre is headquartered in Charleroi, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Charleroi Entreprendre make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Public funding (European FEDER 2021-2027) is the primary driver. The others are public funding (FSE+ 2021-2027) and coworking space rental.
Who are Charleroi Entreprendre's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Hub.brussels, VLAIO and Enterprise Ireland. Direct peers are W.estart, IGRETEC, Wallonie Entreprendre, 1890 and Sambrininvest. B4C (Business for Climate) is listed as an emerging player. Bpifrance is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Charleroi Entreprendre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Charleroi Entreprendre.
What industry is Charleroi Entreprendre in?
Charleroi Entreprendre's product category is Entrepreneurship Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAKAK, Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs, with a secondary code of EDAMAHAC, Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators. Its NAICS code is 5416 and its SIC code is 8742.