Designed for entrepreneurs launching their business (end of prototype stage, first sales), the Blue Factory SEED programme offers personalised and collective support in a hybrid format (online/on-site) with the possibility of using premises depending on the campus. It has been available in Paris since 2012 (Champerret campus) and now on other ESCP campuses.
If you are still in the process of defining your project or at the beginning of your prototyping phase, the START or LAUNCH programmes may be more suitable. In any case, we will discuss this together during our eligibility calls.
To register, simply complete our form, indicating ‘SEED Programme’.
You will be contacted for an initial discussion to assess the relevance of the programme in light of your support needs and, if applicable, to receive the application form to be completed for the selection committee. See you soon!
Throughout the year, we announce competitions and financial aid available to entrepreneurs participating in our programmes:
=> See the Prize & Grant page for more information.
ADD-ONS:
‘Seed ESCP & Partners’: at least one member of your founding team is a student, certified or a graduate of ESCP Business School or one of its partner institutions (Sorbonne, Hec Montreal, Tsinghua University, Honoris United Universities).
‘Seed Horizon’: open to any team with no connection to ESCP from technical, scientific, artistic or humanities backgrounds who would like to be supported by the Blue Factory. One to two Seed Horizon projects may be selected for this promotion.
My year at Blue Factory marked the beginning of Smoon. I received support when I was just starting to work on my prototype. Being around other entrepreneurs who were also starting out really helped and inspired me, and my mentor was a huge help. And the best thing about Blue is that the support continues even after you leave, thanks to the alumni community!
— Mathilde Houset, founder of Smoon Lingerie
Each project is monitored by the incubator team and participates in tailor-made group workshops organised between peers with all the entrepreneurs in the programme (alternating between masterclasses and co-development). Depending on the support required, projects can also be supported by a mentor-entrepreneur and benefit from individual coaching sessions (e.g. communication, marketing, pitching, fundraising, etc.) thanks to our network of experts. Finally, face-to-face seminars are organised every quarter. In addition, numerous events are organised at ESCP and you are right next door to enjoy them.
In addition, you will have privileged access to the entire Blue Factory network: the community of 300 ESCP entrepreneurs, the Institut Jean-Baptiste Say, the ESCP Alumni Association, the La Boussole des Entrepreneurs association, Blue Factory partners including Malakoff Humanis and Hachette Livre, as well as the network of ESCP's five European campuses.
You can also benefit from office space depending on your campus.
In Paris, they are located on the ESCP campus in Champerret, which you share with other projects in your year. This is a 200m² space comprising three open-plan offices, a co-working area and a communal room, all within the ESCP premises, where you can also book meeting rooms and access the cafeteria and gym. In addition, twice during the programme, you can organise an event or a POC for your project by booking event spaces free of charge. It is also possible to follow the programme ‘outside the walls’ by having access to the coworking space only.
Coworking is also available in Berlin, London and soon in Turin (from September 2024).
As mentioned in the question on selection, one of the criteria is that ‘the prototype or final product/service must be ready to be tested and launched on the market during the programme’. In concrete terms, of the projects supported each year, on average 30% begin testing their prototype, 30% market an initial version of their product or service, and 30% are in their first two years of sales. The diversity of these stages of maturity, which remain close to each other, encourages mutual support and a mirror effect. Therefore, as soon as you are 100% dedicated to your project and committed to making it happen, you are eligible for the programme. In addition, if your project is still too young or you are not selected, you can still participate in the START or LAUNCH programmes, and the jury may recommend this alternative if it seems more relevant for you.
The call for entrepreneurs is open on an ongoing basis. To apply, simply complete the online form.
An initial interview will be organised with each candidate to assess the relevance of the programme in terms of support needs. If necessary, an additional application form will be sent to be completed online.
Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to participate in a 45-minute committee meeting, either in person or online, and, if selected, will join the Seed programme for six months of support, which is renewable.
The projects created by the entrepreneurs we support are very diverse, and we do not limit our selection to any particular sector. For example, we have supported companies in the cybersecurity, food, health, education and logistics sectors (find their presentations here). Our only limitation is our capacity to support the entrepreneurs who apply: for example, a project requiring a laboratory or large storage space cannot be supported unless it can find this specific resource elsewhere.
NB: Please note that it is common for projects to be supported by two programmes at the same time: you can therefore apply to Blue Factory and be supported by a sector-specific incubator at the same time, just make sure that the programmes are complementary in terms of content and timing. We can discuss this together, of course!
We are looking for entrepreneurs who will benefit most from our support.
To this end, we look at five criteria:
> The team: you have entrepreneurial skills and complementary expertise and are ready to learn and move forward
> Maturity: you have developed a prototype or product/service that will be tested and launched on the market during the programme
> Relevance: you are working on a solution that meets a proven need
> Mindset: you are deeply committed to your project and understand its economic, social and environmental implications. You are able to be supported and are looking to be part of a supportive community
> Complementarity: compared to other projects that have applied to the programme, your team and your project bring added value to the collective
Regarding the selection process: we accept applications on an ongoing basis and organise an initial call with each candidate to assess the relevance of the programme in light of their support needs. If applicable, an online application form will then be sent to you, which will be reviewed by the Blue Factory team. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 45-minute interview and, if selected, will join the Seed programme for six months of support, which can be renewed.
Support is tailored to your needs. If you plan to seek funding during the programme, you will receive assistance with: improving your pitch deck, presentation training, identifying public funding, and connecting with business angel networks and funds.
Depending on your campus, you may also benefit from access to public funding: in Paris at Innov'Up Incubation, in Berlin at EXIST GRANT.
PS: As a reminder, Blue Factory does not take any equity stake in the companies it supports.
By applying, you agree to participate in all activities organised for you, to actively participate in the community of selected teams in a spirit of mutual support, kindness and confidentiality, and to pay a monthly fee based on your campus of reference. The programme lasts for six months and can be renewed once following a committee meeting organised by the Blue Factory team to assess whether the support is still relevant to your project.
The cost is particularly affordable thanks to a significant subsidy from ESCP and the incubator's partners, who are keen to support entrepreneurs at the start of their adventure. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them. There is no equity stake in the companies supported.
PARIS = Participation in the SEED programme on the Paris Champerret campus, including support and workspace, is a monthly fee per project of:
- €250 for the coworking package
- €350 for up to two people occupying the premises
- €450 for up to four people
- €600 for up to six people.
If you are still facing financial constraints, we can defer your contribution. Please get in touch to discuss this option.
BERLIN = Participation in the SEED Berlin programme is currently linked to EXIST GRANT funding, which we invite you to discover here.
TURIN, LONDON, MADRID = Participation in the SEED programme on the Turin, London and Madrid campuses is new since 2024. If you are interested, let's discuss how we can get started together!