PEPITE Prize, springboard of student entrepreneurship

The PEPITE Prize awards the spirit of entrepreneurship for students and young graduates. The prize grants funding from 5,000 to 20,000 euros.

The PEPITE Prize boosts innovative student entrepreneurship

Are you a student in France, did graduated recently and feel like a real entrepreneur? Whatever your citizenship, the PEPITE Prize – Springboard for student entrepreneurship can accelerate your project. No less than 53 laureates win the Prize every year. Few alumni among the 587 applicants in 2016, but you may participate in the 2017 promotion.

Last year, Karim El Alami, Moroccan graduate from École polytechnique, was among the winners with his company eLum which develops a software platform for smart management of energy. If you have settled your company in France or plan to do so, follow his example. There's only one big condition to participate: your project must be innovative.

Again, in 2017, the three choices of the jury will receive the Grand Prix of 20,000 euros. Some 10,000 euros will be granted to the next 20 best. Last but not least, the semi-finalists will benefit from a financial aid of 5,000 euros. In July, there will be a preselection in region to give place for the first time events organised by 29 regional centres in cooperation with the Caisse des dépôts. In October, the award ceremony will gather the 53 finalists selected by the national jury made of professionals of follow-up and financing, entrepreneurs and teachers-researchers.

How to participate in the contest?

To participate, the first step is to download an application file on the PEPITE FRANCE website. Once fully completed, the application must be sent exclusively by email to the PEPITE (Pôle étudiant pour l’innovation, le transfert et l’entrepreneuriat) of your institution (or the institution of your last year of training). Deadline for file application is June 16, 2017.

Are eligible: innovative project leaders or young entrepreneurs whose activity has begun after July 1st 2016 and is settled in France. Participants of all nationalities are accepted. You just need to be between 18 and 28 and a student in Master, or graduate for less than 3 years.

The growing success of a student-entrepreneur status

587 projects were sent to the contest in 2016 and 77 companies come from projects presented in 2014 and 2015. The interest for the PEPITE Prize proves how lively the French status of student-entrepreneur is, to allow students from any nationality to benefit from a follow-up in their business processes. Every year, the number of applications to this status doubles, and project leaders are in average 25 years old.

For Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, ex-Minister of Education, Higher Education and Research, winners of the PEPITE Prize "represent a youth that can lead innovation". To take part in the entrepreneur youth, don't hesitate: ask all your questions to prix-petite@pepite-france.fr.

If you don't have any project, you can find out more about student-entrepreneurship in France.

Photos © PEPITE France