Marseille Innovation supports startups for 30 years

Marseille Innovation, an organization dedicated to supporting local startups, has been helping entrepreneurs for three decades. Over 1,500 startups have participated in its programs, which include guidance, office space, and support during the early stages of business development.

Program spans three locations in Marseille

The organization operates from three different locations in Marseille: the Hôtel Technologique de Château-Gombert in the 13th arrondissement, the Pôle Média de la Belle de Mai, and the allée Gambetta. Each week, a new startup joins the program, which offers two to four years of support.

Director has led the organization since 2018

Laurence Olivier, the director general of Marseille Innovation, has been with the organization since 2007 and took the directorship in 2018. She leads a team of ten people who assist entrepreneurs in growing their businesses and establishing them in the region.

Financial support and selection criteria

Marseille Innovation helps entrepreneurs define their markets, build commercial strategies, and seek funding. It offers a zero-interest loan of up to 30,000 euros, repayable over four years. Since 2022, its fund has supported 45 startups, selecting them based on the innovativeness of their projects and their commercial potential.

Startup sectors reflect local economy

The startups supported by Marseille Innovation reflect the sectors that shape the local economy, with health technology accounting for about 30% of project initiators. Other areas include industry, environment, data, and artificial intelligence. The profiles of entrepreneurs are also evolving, with more individuals from management or business schools entering the tech field without scientific backgrounds.

Academic and professional collaboration

The proximity of laboratories and schools like Centrale Méditerranée and Polytech Marseille facilitates interactions between different professional paths. Entrepreneurship is also being integrated into academic curricula, according to Olivier.

Success rate and job creation

According to Marseille Innovation, 90% of the supported startups remain active three to five years after the program ends. These companies have created nearly 6,000 direct jobs, with development continuing in Marseille, particularly at the Château-Gombert technopole, as well as in other parts of the metropolis and region.

Examples of successful startups

Some companies have grown significantly, such as Skeepers, which started in Marseille as Avis Vérifiés and has since become an international group specializing in customer experience and online reviews. Others address specific needs in healthcare, like Koord, formerly TeleMediCare, which developed a telecoordination solution for care facilities and has since left the incubator to continue its development.