Join the Take Off programme – Lille Incubator

In addition to the sector of activity, each application is assessed against the following criteria:

1. Growth potential: The project must demonstrate its ability to grow rapidly, to create value in its market and, ultimately, to create jobs. The project must also be based on a viable business model.

2. Innovation: whether technical, service-related, business model-based, process-based, marketing-related or social, the project must offer a unique selling point in its market, i.e. compared with its competitors. For example, a product that offers superior performance or a new feature is an innovative product. If it is sold using an original business model, this also constitutes innovation. Another example is where the product is made from recycled materials; in this case, we are talking about social innovation.

3. Project maturity: the project leader must not merely present an idea or a concept. Projects must already have been tested against real-world conditions: whether market-related, technical or legal, a feasibility study must have been carried out to anticipate any potential barriers. The purpose of such an approach is to demonstrate the project leader’s commitment and their grasp – at least in theory – of their future operating environment.

4. The entrepreneur’s profile: they must be capable of seeing their project through to completion, i.e. possess the necessary professional skills or be able to source them from elsewhere. Their commitment to the project, and indeed their passion for the subject they will be leading, will be assessed: they must be able to remain deeply committed over the long term.

To find out more about the Take Off programme, click here

First and foremost, the project leader must assess for themselves whether they have what it takes to run a business.

Beyond the skills required to carry out the project, they must also consider their personal circumstances: indeed, for a period of 12 to 36 months, the project leader will not be able to pay themselves a salary, particularly during the period leading up to the company’s establishment and therefore during the incubation phase.

Next, just before applying, the first step is to find out more about the incubation programme. To this end, Plaine Images is offering a series of three ‘Master Take Off’ sessions covering the following topics:

1. 25 November 2021, 10.00 am to 12.00 pm: Everything you need to know to join the Plaine Images incubator
2. 16 December 2021, 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm: What are the steps involved in setting up a business?
3. 6 January 2022, 10.00 am to 12.00 pm: How to develop your business model and pitch your project?

The value of these Master Take Off sessions, beyond the information they provide, lies in the opportunity to make initial contact with the Plaine Images Entrepreneurship team and to visit the Imaginarium building, where the incubator is based. These Master Take Off sessions also enable project leaders, as a first step, to assess whether the incubator – and the ecosystem that goes with it – is a good fit for their project.

This is followed by a request for an application pack, which must be completed on the Plaine Images website.

To request your application pack, click here.

This application is followed by a qualifying interview with a member of the Plaine Images Entrepreneurship team. During this initial conversation, the project leader presents their project, the reasons behind it and their development objectives. An initial assessment of the project’s suitability for the incubator is therefore carried out during this face-to-face discussion between the project leader and a member of the Plaine Images Entrepreneurship team. Depending on the outcome of the interview, an application form template will be sent; this must be completed and returned to the team via the following email address: takeoff@plaine-images.fr. For TakeOff 12, the deadline for submissions is Sunday 16 January 2022 at 11.59 pm. To help prepare their application, project leaders may, if necessary, request a discussion with the Entrepreneurship team to review their application.

Applications will then undergo a pre-selection process: shortlisted candidates will be invited to a selection panel, during which they will have the opportunity to pitch their project to a jury comprising entrepreneurs, investors and representatives from institutions. The pitch lasts 10 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of discussion. This is the moment to win over the panel and, above all, to demonstrate their ability to drive the project forward: that is, to take an idea and turn it into a business venture.

Finally, the selected project leaders will be invited to the kick-off event, scheduled for 2 February 2022 for this Take Off 12. During the day, the new cohort of incubatees will learn more about the incubation programme, the Plaine Images team, the schedule, and so on. The kick-off will also be an opportunity for the incubatees to get to know one another and start building relationships.

Apply to join our incubation programme and be part of the next cohort!