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Innostart Incubator: Entrepreneurship at RSB

At Rennes School of Business, innovation and entrepreneurship are lived and realised every day. With its Innostart incubator, the school supports students and alumni in transforming an idea into a project, and then a project into a business. Much more than a co-working space, Innostart is a dynamic ecosystem at the heart of Rennes’ economy and connected to an international network of entrepreneurs and experts.

Entrepreneurship, a strategic priority for the school.

Innovation is an integral part of Rennes School of Business’s DNA. True to its philosophy of Unframed Thinking, the school encourages its students to think differently, to dare to be innovative and to create value for tomorrow’s world.

Innostart, the school’s incubator, illustrates this commitment by:

  • By supporting students and recent graduates who want to start their own business,
  • By offering them appropriate educational, human and technical resources,
  • By connecting them to a local and international entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Created in 2014, Innostart’s mission is to stimulate student innovation, regardless of the stage of development of the project.

Who is the Innostart incubator for?

Innostart is open to:

  • All Rennes School of Business students, from the ideation phase to fundraising,
  • Alumni, as well as their entrepreneurial partners,
  • Project leaders actively involved in creating or developing a business.

The programme is designed to accommodate a variety of profiles, from first-time entrepreneurs seeking support to experienced creators in the acceleration phase.

A range of programmes suitable for all stages

  • Open Innostart

    Designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, Open Innostart helps participants discover, test and develop their initial business ideas. The programme offers workshops, events, monthly meetings, access to mentors and a dedicated platform.

  • 100 Days to Start

    Designed for those with ideas or projects in the early stages of development, 100 Days to Start helps validate a concept, test a business model and test the waters in the market. It includes bespoke workshops, a dedicated mentor, co-working space, fortnightly support and exclusive access to the start-up ecosystem.

  • Scale-up

    Designed for established entrepreneurs, Scale-up aims to accelerate growth and help structure the company’s development. The programme is available in two formats: a long-term programme lasting 6 to 12 months (in Rennes or Paris) or short modules comprising 3 to 10 sessions.

Comprehensive support to help every project grow

Innostart offers project leaders personalised support, expert resources and a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem to help them turn their ideas into concrete, innovative solutions.

Personalised and practical support

Each project leader benefits from:

  • Regular, personalised coaching, tailored to their specific challenges and needs
  • Practical workshops: market research, business model, pitching, prototyping, storytelling, customer acquisition, fundraising, etc.
  • Access to a network of over 50 experts (entrepreneurs, investors, consultants)

Sessions may cover:

  • Defining the value proposition
  • Understanding the value chain
  • Implementing an action plan
  • Developing the MVP (minimum viable product)
  • Pitching and funding strategies

A vibrant ecosystem in the heart of Rennes

Innostart’s location on the Rennes campus provides an ideal setting:

  • Reception area in Building 2 (ground floor)
  • 2 co-working spaces in Building 4
  • 24 workstations in private offices
  • Unrestricted access to the school’s digital resources

The incubator works closely with local competitiveness clusters, local authorities and partner incubators (e.g. Station B, Le Poool), and benefits from a dense and dynamic entrepreneurial network.

Tangible and measurable results

Since its inception, Innostart has facilitated:

  • The launch of 162 start-ups
  • The raising of €217 million in funding
  • Support for 347 entrepreneurs

The network mobilised around Innostart comprises:

  • 21 strategic partners
  • 50 experts involved
  • 347 identified investors
  • 1,200 alumni entrepreneurs available to assist

An enterprise-wide entrepreneurial culture

The incubator is integrated with RSB’s academic programme, in particular the MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which offers:

  • A specialisation in innovation management
  • Workshops in partnership with Station Rennes Innovation
  • Pitch-dating and mentoring sessions
  • Personalised support from the entrepreneurship coordinator

Watch the video to find out more about the Innostart experience

Partners

Innostart develops partnerships with professionals in the world of innovation as well as incubators in the region, such as Station B, all driven by the desire to help our start-ups grow!

Inspiring success stories

Here are a few examples of start-ups supported by Innostart:

  • KIRAE: promoting soft skills through games
  • AEROSOLUTION: aerosols without toxic gases, using compressed air
  • KICK THE PRO: connecting amateur and professional athletes
  • STEEPLE: internal communications expert (95 employees)
  • OLINO: insurance solutions for professionals (€1.9 million raised)

A team dedicated to entrepreneurship

  • Valentin HENRY, Head of Entrepreneurship, RSB graduate (class of 22) and entrepreneur
  • Paul GALLE, entrepreneurial support manager, specialising in operational monitoring
  • Around twenty expert speakers lead coaching sessions and workshops throughout the year

 

Through Innostart, RSB offers an ambitious, structured and deeply human entrepreneurial support programme. Drawing on hands-on teaching, concrete resources and an exceptional network, the school gives project leaders the tools to succeed, innovate and have a lasting impact on their environment.

Whether you are a student or a graduate, if you have an idea, RSB offers you the means to turn it into a business.

Incubateur Innostart au Bâtiment 1

FAQs – Entrepreneurship at Rennes School of Business

Can I join Innostart if I only have an idea?

Yes. The Open Innostart programme is designed for people with ideas at an early stage. It allows you to test and structure your project.

Is the support compatible with classes?

Yes. The incubation programme is designed to adapt to the students’ pace. Workshops, coaching and follow-ups can be scheduled outside of peak academic periods.

Is it reserved for RSB students?

The incubator is primarily intended for students and alumni of RSB, but their associates can also join the programmes if they are involved in the project.

Is it possible to receive funding?

Innostart does not directly finance projects, but supports project leaders in their search for funding, puts them in touch with investors and helps them structure their applications.

Is it possible to combine studies and incubation at Innostart?

Yes, the support is designed to fit around academic schedules. Workshops and coaching sessions are flexible and can be scheduled outside of class hours. This allows students to develop their entrepreneurial projects while continuing their studies.

What types of projects are supported?

Innostart supports a wide variety of projects: technological innovations, social or environmental initiatives, and business creation in the digital, food, culture, and tourism sectors. The aim is to promote creativity and diversity in the entrepreneurial approaches of students and alumni.