How can you finance the creation or development of a business in Corsica?

Key takeaways

The reference database links two schemes to the Collectivité de Corse: a minority equity stake from Femu Quì (€50,000 to €600,000 according to the fact sheet on record) and a CAPI honour loan of up to €30,000. The amounts, legal structure, project stage and application procedures must be confirmed with the operators. This is not a promise of aid awarded by the Collectivité itself.

What is the role of the Collectivité de Corse?

The Collectivité is involved in regional economic development and takes part in various financing tools. For the two schemes listed here, the assessment and decision rest with dedicated operators: Femu Quì for equity investment and Corse Active pour l’Initiative (CAPI) for support and solidarity financing solutions. A distinction must therefore be made between the funder associated in the reference database, the operator running the scheme, and the actual decision-maker.

“Femu Quì” Direct Fund: strengthening equity capital

The fact sheet in the reference database describes a minority equity stake in commercial companies operating in Corsica, for start-up projects (excluding very early-stage seed phases), development, diversification, consolidation or transfer. The amount on record ranges from €50,000 to €600,000, with a stated investment period of 5 to 7 years. The investment can be supplemented by a shareholder current account, a participating loan or convertible bonds. These parameters must be confirmed with Femu Quì, which analyses the project and the company's trajectory.

Corse Active pour l’Initiative honour loan

The reference database describes an honour loan of up to €30,000, intended to support the creation, takeover or development of a business in Corsica. The loan must be complementary to a professional bank loan; depending on the applicable rules, it can help finance investments or working capital needs. CAPI offers several solutions depending on the applicant's profile, the project stage and its impact: making initial contact helps identify the relevant scheme and the current criteria.

Which scheme matches your need?

An equity investment is worth considering if the company is looking to finance a development, diversification or transfer phase and is willing to accept the temporary entry of a minority investor. An honour loan is instead aimed at project leaders looking to strengthen their own contribution and facilitate bank financing. The two solutions follow different logics and should not be treated as interchangeable.

How to prepare an application?

1. Describe the business activity, the location in Corsica, the team and the development stage. 2. Prepare a business plan, financial forecasts, a financing plan and the quantified funding need. 3. For Femu Quì, specify the planned transaction, equity needs, valuation and exit horizon. 4. For CAPI, explain the project, the available contribution and the planned bank credit. 5. Contact the operator before committing expenses or finalising financing. 6. Check the criteria, required documents, deadlines and combination rules at the time of application.

Points of caution

The amounts shown come from the reference fact sheets associated with the aid schemes and guarantee neither current availability nor acceptance of the application. The Direct Fund involves taking an equity stake, with negotiation and investment analysis; it is not a grant. The honour loan is personal financing subject to an assessment process and repayment terms. Confirm with the operators the territorial scope, eligible legal form, company age, sectors, exclusions and any job-creation conditions.

Does the Collectivité de Corse pay out this funding directly?

Not necessarily. For the two schemes presented, the reference database designates specific operators: Femu Quì for equity investment and CAPI for the honour loan. The application process and the decision-maker should be verified with them.

Is the Femu Quì Direct Fund a grant?

No. The fact sheet describes a minority equity stake, generally held over several years. The company should therefore consider the implications for governance, valuation and the investor's exit.

Can the honour loan replace a bank loan?

The fact sheet in the reference database states that it must be complementary to a professional bank loan. Confirm the terms with CAPI, as the conditions depend on the specific scheme used and the project profile.

What amount can be requested?

The reference database indicates €50,000 to €600,000 for the Femu Quì Direct Fund and up to €30,000 for the CAPI honour loan. These are indicative figures from the fact sheets on record, not a guarantee of award.

5025

'Femu Quì' Direct Fund

Purpose

Strengthen the equity capital of commercial companies that are being started up, developed or transferred.

Eligible operations

• Venture capital,
• Development capital, - Transfer capital.

Conditions

• The investment is made following an in-depth review of the business project; - Femu Quì undertakes to sell its shares back to the project leader as a priority, so that they retain full control of their company.

Amount / form

A (minority) equity stake of between 50,000 and 600,000 €, for a period of 5 to 7 years. This equity stake is generally supplemented by: - either a blocked shareholder current account, - or a participating loan, - or convertible bonds. Femu Quì's involvement is complemented by support for the company throughout its time as a shareholder, through its technical team, its directors and its shareholders. Shareholders: - Banks: 1.7 % ; - Bpifrance Investissement: 13.4 % ; - Local authorities: 33.6 % ; - Companies: 3.1 % ; - Chambers of commerce / trade bodies: 0.5 % ; - Individuals - Family office: 47.7 %.

Beneficiaries

Companies: - incorporated as a commercial company (SA, SAS, SARL), - whose activity is located in Corsica ; - in all sectors of activity ; - that create or maintain jobs ; - at any stage of their existence: * start-up (excluding the seed phase: prototyping or market testing), * development, diversification, consolidation, * transfer. Eligible sectors: - Environment / Energy ; - Industry and services ; - Life sciences ; - ICT ; - Other.

Territory

territorial aid

Validated fact sheet URL

Not provided

12116

Corse Active pour l'Initiative honour loan

Purpose

Support the creation of businesses and jobs in Corsica and contribute to the island's economic and social development. The association Corse pour l'Initiative is affiliated with both Initiative France and France Active, and is one of the bodies managing France Active guarantees and the Social and Solidarity Economy strand.

Eligible operations

Start-up, takeover and development of businesses. The loan finances investments and/or working capital needs.

Conditions

The loan must be complementary to a professional bank loan.

Amount / form

Honour loan:

up to 30,000 € ; with no guarantee or personal surety (ADI insurance required) ; repayable over 5 years with a possible repayment deferral.

Beneficiaries

Business founders and buyers ; Company directors.

Territory

territorial aid

Validated fact sheet URL

Not provided

Choosing between equity, honour loan and guarantee

The two schemes associated with the Collectivité de Corse in the reference database do not address the same need. The Femu Quì Direct Fund operates through equity and may therefore involve the investor entering the capital or taking a stake; the honour loan run by Corse Active pour l'Initiative (CAPI) is instead designed to strengthen the project leader's own contribution and facilitate bank financing. Present these instruments separately in the financing plan: they do not have the same governance, the same economic cost, or the same consequences for the shareholding structure. Current terms must be confirmed with the relevant operator.

Femu Quì: preparing an equity investment application

For an application to Femu Quì, prepare a clear presentation of the market, the business model, the team, the financing needs and the growth trajectory. Document the amount sought, the intended use of funds, the timeline, profitability prospects and risks. An equity stake should not be described as a grant: it involves an investment analysis and can lead to dilution of existing shareholders. The amounts identified in secondary sources are indicative; the investment strategy, ticket sizes and terms must be confirmed directly with the fund.

Corse Active pour l’Initiative: strengthening the contribution and the bank loan

The honour loan can strengthen the project leader's own equity and improve how the application is presented to a bank, depending on the local programme's criteria. Before including it in a financial forecast, ask CAPI to confirm the appropriate programme, the applicant's status, the project stage, the amount, the term, any possible deferral and the required support. Solidarity financing, guarantees and honour loans should be distinguished: their availability and purpose are not interchangeable.

Aid in Corsica: factoring in territorial constraints and timing

The location, the nature of the business, whether it is a start-up or a takeover, and the level of investment can all affect the solutions available. Present funding needs by category: takeover, equipment investment, business development, innovation, transition or cash flow. Check whether the scheme is run by the Collectivité de Corse, a local operator, a bank or a national partner. Do not assume that all aid aimed at Corsican businesses is administered directly by the Collectivité.

Source control and fact sheet status

The Femu Quì and CAPI pages are the priority starting points. Secondary reference fact sheets can help in understanding the nature of a scheme, but do not replace the regulations and confirmation from the operator. For each aid scheme, record the exact URL, the date it was consulted, the access criteria, the status of the application window, and the financial terms. Until these elements are confirmed, keep the status as “partial verification” and do not present historical amounts as a guaranteed offer.

Official sources

• Femu Quì — official website — Femu Quì
• “Femu Quì” Direct Fund fact sheet — Bpifrance / Aide Publique Entreprise
• Corse Active pour l’Initiative — access to bank credit — CAPI
• Corse Active pour l’Initiative — solidarity financing — CAPI
• Corse Active pour l’Initiative honour loan fact sheet — Bpifrance / Aide Publique Entreprise
• Corse Active pour l’Initiative — access to credit — CAPI
• CAPI — solidarity financing — Corse Active pour l’Initiative