Maxime Renault is a French entrepreneur and co-founder of DuBonPain, which aims to bring new technologies to France's 33,000 bakers while promoting the French bakery tradition. After studying in France and having international experiences in San Francisco and Berlin, Maxime identified a problem as an entrepreneur - the difficulty of finding bakeries using a smartphone. He was determined to address this issue and face skepticism about his idea from others. While entrepreneurship faces some cultural challenges in France like a fear of failure, bureaucracy, and taxes, the country is becoming a rising hub for startups and the government now promotes entrepreneurship as a national priority.

1. E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P
I N
F R A N C E
B y M a x i m e R e n a u l t
25th November 14 @l v l a x i m e

2. • Int roduc t ion
• How I be came an ent repreneur
• Ent repreneur ship in F ranc e
• F rench ba shing and s te reot ype s
• The F rench Touch
@l v l a x i m e
Summary
25th November 14

3. Mysel f
Student at French Grandes Ecoles
Msc in General Engineering
Msc in Business & Management
International experience
San Francisco
Berlin
@l v l a x i m e
Co-founder and CEO
DuBonPain
25th November 14

4. L’exception culturelle
française
A FRENCH TRADITION

5. Our goal
DuBonPain
Bringing new technologies to the
33,000 French bakers
Promoting French bakery tradition
in France and all over the world
Our products
A unique web and mobile
crowdsourced online guide for
bakeries
An online ordering platform
25th November 14 @l v l a x i m e

6. How I became an ent repreneur
A PROBLEM
I could not find a bakery using what I always have with me: my smartphone!
A PASSION
For solving issues, new technologies and tradition
DETERMINATION
To face people’s scepticism, to leave my comfort zone, to start doing something
PEOPLE
At university and in Paris eco-system, who inspired me
TEAM & VALUES
After six month alone, two friends joined me because we shared common
values
That was the start of a great venture!
25th November 14 @l v l a x i m e

7. Ent repreneurship in France
@l v l a x i m e
A RISING EUROPEAN HUB
Incubators and co-working spaces are everywhere!
In Paris, Silicon Sentier and The Family are shaping the French entrepreneurial
eco-system.
In 2016, Paris will host the biggest incubator in the world with 1000 startups!
A NATIONAL PRIORITY
French government promotes entrepreneurship.
The State is a big player in funding rounds with public institution like BPI.
« Auto-entrepreneur » and « Student-entrepreneur » legal status facilitate firm
creation.
HIGH SKILLED TALENTS
France’s education system produces every year high skilled talents who are
recognized internationally.
25th November 14

8. French Bashing and Stereotypes 1/2
YOU FAILED!
Fear of failing is a big cultural concern in France. As opposed to the US, where failing
can be valuable, French people have a hard time facing failure. It will take time to
change a whole culture, but current entrepreneurs learn from their mistakes!
YOU HAVE NO CHANCE, IT IS A BAD IDEA
France is known for being very sceptical about everything and especially towards
innovation. While every new idea is « awesome » in the Valley, you will have a hard
time convincing people in France. Yet, that can be a good thing because it gives you the
strenght to pursue until you reach your customers’ expectations.
MY PRODUCT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH
French are sceptical but also complain a lot, it’s part of the process! It will be hard to
release a product if this one is not perfect! Selling anything is not really a cultural fit,
while it can slow down some startups it also contributes to better products. Scepticism
also contributes to the fact that people do not talk a lot about success stories, being
proud is bad for French!
25th November 14 @l v l a x i m e

9. French Bashing and Stereotypes 2/2
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RAISE FUNDS
It is a fact that there is less VC money in France, but no worries: if you have a good product, examples
showed that you will find how to raise a good amount of money!
Seed funding might be difficult also, you might need to find 10 Business Angels to raise 250k€.
At the same time, especially for R&D, it is very easy to raise good amounts from institutional money!
BUREAUCRACY AND TAXES KILL YOU
Bureaucracy exists, taxes exist but a lot of efforts are made in that field! Creating a Limited Company
in France is very easy, also the « auto-entrepreneur » legal status provides you free-tax first revenues,
ideal to start! Like everywhere administrative forms are a hassle but if they are the major obstacle to
start your business, question yourself!
FRENCH ARE ALWAYS ON HOLIDAYS
French social benefits are part of the culture, but working hard is also possible! Entrepreneurs are not
constrained by a 35h policy!
I DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH
Speaking English was an issue for the past generations and sometimes a problem to scale a company
internationally, but times change! Now, most of students leave school with correct English writting
skills and with an internationally famous accent!
25th November 14 @l v l a x i m e

10. La French Touch
French entrepreneurs illustrate themselves in a variety of domains all across the globe. These
are the main domains where French excellence is recognized, with their related success stories.
@l v l a x i m e
FRENCH TASTE
BIG DATA
HARDWARE
SHARING ECONOMY
25th November 14

11. T h a n k y o u
Let’skeepin touch!
maxime@dubonpain.fr
Twitter : @lvlaxime
Linkedin: renaultm
25th November 14 @l v l a x i m e