7 winners join "Le Phare", the CMA CGM Foundation's social incubator

The CMA CGM Foundation firmly believes that equal opportunity is crucial in allowing all talented people to flourish and make the most of themselves, and has made education for all its priority. With the launch of Le Phare, it has extended its efforts to encourage the creation of businesses with a social purpose in the field of education.

In the first call for applications, a total of 30 applications were received, nine of which were pre-selected to pitch their ideas to a panel made up of members of the social and solidarity-based economy and the CMA CGM Foundation.

Seven entrepreneurs will move in early September into Le Phare within L’Épopée, the 12,000 sqm educational innovation village that will bring together dozens of social enterprises in the heart of the northern districts of Marseille. They will be able to benefit from a unique experience, tailor-made support and ongoing discussion with the local ecosystem of charities and entrepreneurs.

The selected applicants put forward innovative entrepreneurial projects that address the challenges of children from underprivileged areas dropping out of school, unemployed young people with difficulty accessing needed training, and economic and socio-cultural barriers that prevent vulnerable members of society joining the workforce.

1. Educational 4LAB: creating and setting up innovative places for education.
2. Carbon Blue: recycling plastic waste while training young people who have difficulty finding employment.
3. L’École Buissonnière Lab: unveiling young talent at schools in priority neighborhoods.
4. Kipawa: learning French for newcomers to the country.
5. Permis de rêve: creation of a driving school to help young people from underprivileged areas.
6. Reconnect: digital solutions to support the social inclusion of vulnerable people.
7. Roxx Moda: creation of ethical clothing by women re-entering the workforce.

The selected entrepreneurs will spend five days a week at Le Phare’s co-working space and benefit for a period of six months from a free 100-hour mentoring and support program. These services will be provided primarily by staff members of the CMA CGM Group. As part of the Group’s skills mentoring program, they will provide their expertise in the various areas of entrepreneurship such as project management, marketing, communications, accounting and legal. This direct approach will enable future entrepreneurs to establish a close understanding of the realities experienced by professionals and gain a firm grasp of the business’s logic.

Tanya Saadé Zeenny, President of the CMA CGM Foundation, comments: "Along with the members of the panel, we were impressed by the quality of the applications received and the commitment shown by the entrepreneurs. Le Phare will welcome seven of them in September. This attests to the CMA CGM Foundation’s desire to support entrepreneurship and foster the development of projects with a significant social impact to help education and access to employment. This first group of selected entrepreneurs is highly promising, innovative and bold. The CMA CGM Group’s staff members will help each project to succeed."