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SKEMA Entrepreneurship Summit: the journey of five social entrepreneurs
Every year, the SKEMA Entrepreneurship Summit showcases alumni who have chosen to embark on the path of entrepreneurship. At the 2023 edition, five of them were present to share their journey as business leaders: Christelle de Châlus, Alexandre Bellity, Antony Giordano, Justine Thiriez, and Maryem Mbow.
Christelle de Châlus - Ensème: combining cosmetics and upcycling
Ensème, a startup incubated by SKEMA Ventures, offers responsible alternatives to traditional cosmetics based on upcycling. Co-founded by Christelle de Châlus, a graduate of SKEMA's Master in Management (PGE) programme and MSc International Marketing & Business Development, the company recovers residues from the agri-food industry and transforms them into cosmetic ingredients. Ensème's products, such as solid shampoos, conditioners, and shower gels, are organic, 100% natural, sulfate-free, vegan, and made in France. The packaging is also eco-friendly, made from upcycled paper. SKEMA Ventures, SKEMA's incubator-accelerator, supports the startup's development by providing legal, financial, and strategic assistance. "We want to expand into concept stores, para pharmacies, and pharmacies," says Christelle de Châlus.
Alexandre Bellity - Cleany: restoring prestige to professional cleaning
Alexandre Bellity, an alumnus of SKEMA's Master in Management (PGE) and MSc Corporate Financial Management (2011) programmes, founded Cleany in 2012 with the goal of modernising the office cleaning sector by focusing on people and technology. Cleany had 350 employees in 2022. The company recruits and trains its field agents, called Cleaners, at the Cleany Academy. It uses technological tools to improve operational efficiency, focusing on customer satisfaction and employee engagement. Cleany positions itself as a partner for companies adapting to the new challenges of facility management & workplace services, with a social and sustainable vision, making technology a central element of its future development.
Justine Thiriez - Slowmod: becoming THE reference for second-hand fashion retailers in France
Slowmod is a chain of second-hand clothing stores that offer clothes ranging from vintage to current trends to enhance women's style without impacting the planet. The shops are organised in a way that encourages and promotes the purchase of used clothing. The founder Justine Thiriez, originally from the Lille metropolitan area and an alumna of ESDHEM and then SKEMA's PGE programme in 2011, was inspired by her experience at the "Défi, rien de neuf !" (Nothing new challenge). She aims to improve the experience of people buying second-hand clothes to encourage more people to participate. Slowmod's five-year vision includes expanding the team, opening new stores, and creating France's largest shared wardrobe. "We want to become a national brand and plan to launch a new store in Arras,” she said.
Antony Giordano - Père & Fish: putting fresh, delicious fish in burgers
A alumnus of SKEMA Business School's MSc Entrepreneurship & Innovation (2017), Antony Giordano is the dynamic co-founder of Père & Fish, a fast-food chain that offers its customers delicious burgers made using fresh fish. Together with Ava Maisani Casanova and Alex Rafaitin, his business partners and friends from SKEMA, Antony is working on expanding his brand nationally. The highly promising startup has already achieved two million euros in revenue and has 30 employees.
Maryem Mbow - Filyou: making tailor-made clothing just a few clicks away
What if having a linen suit or a dress for a wedding was made as simple as ordering sushi? This is the bold challenge taken on by Maryem Mbow, an alumna (2019) of SKEMA Business School's MSc International Marketing & Business Development and the winner of the SKEMA Entrepreneurship Summit 2023’s pitch competition. With Filyou, Maryem aims to create a responsible fashion marketplace that enables, and most importantly, simplifies and secures discussions between individuals and tailors.
