Montpellier BIC supports innovative young companies with high growth potential. The BIC’s goal is to place startups at the center of an integrated service and offer resources to speed up their take-off and turn them into success stories within 3-5 years.

The 160 startups are integrated in 3 incubation sites: Cap Alpha (Life Sciences, CleanTech), Cap Omega (Digital) and MIBI (International companies). These are able to take advantage of excellent working conditions, in order to accelerate business opportunities and raise funds. In the last 29 years, Montpellier BIC has supported over 600 startups. Within the past 5 years alone, it has helped raise more than $84M in funds.

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Figure 1: Montpellier BIC in numbers (Source: http://www.invest-in-montpellier.com)

According to the UBI Global index, Montpellier BIC is an unique French incubator, ranked in the world´s top 10. Since 2008, it has been certified by the InBIA SoftLandings Program. The InBIA designation is awarded every two years to incubators having specialized programs for helping foreign companies break into international markets. Montpellier BIC is associated with the University of Montpellier.

Supporting of start-ups by Montpellier BIC consists of coaching and business services.

1. 1. Coaching

Dedicated coaching specialized in issues specifically related to foreign companies.

• Work on the project’s market, technical, legal, and fiscal feasibility. This includes evaluating opportunities to build ties with other local companies, clusters, universities, research centres, specialized experts (lawyers, industrial property consultants, recruitment firms, marketing and communication consultants, translation services, and more), as well as public and private funding organizations.
• Assist in defining a development strategy on the French/European Market
  2. Business services

• Free software tools to help create business plans, enabling users to create business forecasts online over an ultra-secure connection.
• Advisory Board to support assisted companies, sharing their networks and experience to help these startups make right decisions.
• Open Innovation meetings with major groups throughout France favouring relationships with startups.
• Range of technical resources, including CNC milling machines, laser cutters, and an electronic workshop, enabling them to develop prototypes and processes, or share expertise.
• Montpellier “Dell for Entrepreneurs” (DFE) offers valuable expertise and mentoring services.
• Seed capital with local investors and meetings with investment funds and business angels.