Meanwhile devient pépite

Meanwhile, the new "Nugget" of the year 2021

What is a Scale-up?

This Anglo-Saxon term indicates a change in scale of a company, thanks to a strategy of accelerating growth. 

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After having passed the status of start-up and having confirmed its business model, the scale-up must transform rapidly and on several levels: internationalization, recruitment, development of new commercial, technical or financial partnerships. Its internal management system must therefore evolve to enable the organization to face new challenges, at the same time as the manager must ensure that the new management tools put in place are adapted to hypergrowth. This situation requires a fine balance between short-term decisions and long-term business strategy.

Considered as a company with high potential within the Metropolis of Lyon, Meanwhile has the honor of integrating the Pépites system. (Nugget)

The Pépites system supports companies in hypergrowth. Indeed, its mission is to help them face new challenges. This support should allow them to find the subtle balance in this phase of change of scale.

Through this interview, Nicolas Chapdelaine, Novacité & Pépites growth program manager, presents the Pépites system to us.

Portrait Nicolas Chapdelaine

After an entrepreneurial experience, Nicolas Chapdelaine joined the Lyon Chamber of Commerce where he is in charge of supporting Startups and Scales up in their development. Indeed, Nicolas Chapdelaine is responsible for two acceleration programs:

  • The Novacité accelerator: Aims to facilitate the emergence and growth of innovative companies that generate high added value. By supporting them, among other things, in setting up their business model.
  • The Pépites system: Aims to accelerate companies, which already have a business model that is beginning to take shape, in an exponential phase of growth.

Presentation of the Pépites system

Co-piloted by the Métropole de Lyon and the CCI LYON METROPOLE since 2011, the Pépites system supports each year 10 new SMEs with very high development potential in their hypergrowth phase, with the objective of putting them in a position to become ETIs (Intermediate Size Company).

These companies represent diverse and varied sectors, such as robotics, mobility via foldable electric bicycles, energy with biomass gas recovery solutions from cutting-edge consulting companies, consulting…

Access to the program is selective. Indeed, companies must meet the following criteria to apply:

  • Be part of the metropolis of Lyon,
  • Achieve an average turnover of 3 million
  • Achieve growth of 30% per year over 3 consecutive years.

Like all rules, there may be exceptions. “We are able to bring into the system companies like Meanwhile, which are experiencing strong acceleration and which have strong development potential, even if the turnover is a little below our criteria. Indeed, we are above all looking for entrepreneurs who wish to engage with a collective of entrepreneurs. explains Nicolas Chapdelaine.

How to access the Pépites system?

1- Be a company with strong development potential

You are on the territory of the Metropolis of Lyon and are a company with strong growth and strong development potential.

2- First meeting

The Pépites team offers to come and meet you to discuss your common projects, interests and values.

3- Applications

The Pépites steering committee meets to identify and refine potential applications likely to access the program.

4- Labeling

Once your file has been pre-selected, you will present your application file in Lyon, in the presence of the Pépites labeling committee, made up of a qualified jury of business leaders (SMEs + ETIs) who have already benefited from the system.

5-Accompaniment

You have successfully obtained your label; you then enter the Pépites system. You benefit from tailor-made support for 1 year via a Lyon CCI adviser, as well as workshops and seminars. External expertise, funded by the Métropole de Lyon, will complete the system and support you in resolving blocking points for your future growth.

6- Pépites Circle

You have completed your journey; continue the adventure by joining the Cercle Pépites association, whose purpose is mutual aid between peers. Come and share your experience with new entrepreneurs and thus sustain the dynamics of the network.

How does the Pépites program support labeled companies?

Nicolas Chapdelaine: “We support companies in several areas:

  • Support for companies in connection with their hypergrowth problem.
  • But also another aspect, more community. We have many entrepreneurs who have gone through this system and the idea is to offer exchanges between peers (entrepreneur). But also specific events such as afterworks and Learning Expeditions, in which entrepreneurs address the issues they have had to face and how they went about solving them. »

Why join the Pépites program?

Nicolas Chapdelaine gives us three good reasons to apply for the Pépites program:

  • Access to a community of entrepreneurs who are now seasoned (example: Dynergie, Obiz, Attestation Légale, Lumapps, Efalia, etc.) and represent a very rich network of advice.
  • Access to expertise and advice on hypergrowth topics,
  • Pépites is a label that is very recognized in the territory of the region. It allows, among other things, to facilitate access to fundraising and to promote its employer brand.

Why did you decide to support Meanwhile?

Nicolas Chapdelaine « We took this decision because we are convinced that the trajectory that the company is taking, its development potential as well as the values and the will of the CEO, Sacha Stojanovic, to want to develop employment in the territory, mean that during this time has its place within the system. »

Click here to find out more about the Pépites scheme: https://www.programme-pepites.fr/