Passionate and inspiring entrepreneurs in Lille

On Tuesday 1 October, 4 SKEMA alumni chose to have a go at the pitch exercise during the Lille Entrepreneurs’ Club event in Lille.

The event was hosted at Interface, INRIA’s demonstration space located at Euratechnologies. The entrepreneurs in attendance got to present their concept and convictions before answering questions from their audience. A presentation of INRIA’s demonstrators gave them a glimpse of the business problems Artificial Intelligence can solve. Perhaps this will inspire them for their own businesses?

The cocktail reception that followed was a chance to mingle and meet new people, continue debates, ask questions, and swap business cards that could prove useful.

SKEMA Alumni took the opportunity to ask the pitchers about the highs and lows they had encountered on their entrepreneurial journey:

Bertrand Maux (SK 2008), founder of MoJo 

Greatest joy as an entrepreneur: My greatest source of pride is witnessing the growth of the people who join our venture, sharing our values and vision of profitable development to ensure the long life of our company. This is a “constructive” approach.

Biggest difficulty you’ve overcome: Business partnership. That was probably the source of the most doubts for me. The second is trusting in your ideas and hunches over the long term.

Your advice to the network’s future entrepreneurs: Grit, open-mindedness and humility. Entrepreneurs need to be OK with having their feet in the mud while they reach for the stars. 

Etienne Soler (SK 2017), new owner-operator of BOA Mobilier

Greatest joy as an entrepreneur: I feel a sense of pride in continuing the family business. I think the entrepreneurial spirit is part of my DNA. Preparing the future means modernising the business while contributing my own added value.

Biggest difficulty you’ve overcome: Getting into a good work pace and creating an efficient work setting. When someone comes from a business school or a major bank, they’re used to working in a very structured environment, with clear objectives and proven processes. The life of an entrepreneur is nothing like that. We move forward for the good of our business but we are also driven by the desire to achieve what we are passionate about, while being 100% responsible for our decisions.

Your advice to the network’s future entrepreneurs: Draw inspiration from other people’s stories, pay attention and listen, surround yourself with different organisations that can support you, all the while staying focused on yourself. You really have to trust your desires and adapt them. I think determination, confidence and humility make all the difference, just like they do in sport.

Marie-Aude Tran (SK 2014), founder of Valeurs&Valeur

Greatest joy as an entrepreneur: To have succeeded at winning companies over to our Valeurs&Valeur approach: “focusing on the uniqueness of individuals and companies in order to create value and support them through change.” Five years ago we seemed a bit mad; today we have won the trust of a number of companies and organisations, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pumpkin and Gapas.

Biggest difficulty you’ve overcome: When faced with failures or great difficulties, continuing to believe in your convictions: be convinced to be convincing. Tenacity eventually pays off! 

Your advice to the network’s future entrepreneurs: Really get to know yourself and respect yourself to get ahead

Bravo to the entrepreneurs of the SKEMA Alumni network for their energy, determination and inspiring experiences!