Financing the creation or takeover of an SME in French Guiana

Funder

Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane (CTG)

Associated aid

Réseau Entreprendre Guyane honour loan (ID 4490)

Verification status

Partial verification: the network's official source has been identified and the institutional context reviewed; current amount, conditions and availability are to be confirmed.

Seed-stage financing combining a loan with mentoring support

An honour loan can supplement the director's own equity and make it easier to secure other financing, particularly from banks. The catalogue fact sheet links this mechanism to Réseau Entreprendre Guyane: the support is described as a loan made to the individual, interest-free and without collateral, combined with long-term mentoring from an experienced entrepreneur. This model differs from a grant: the loaned capital must be repaid according to the contract terms, and obtaining it depends on a selection process.

What amount can be obtained?

The reference database indicates a range of €10,000 to €35,000, with a ceiling that can reach €55,000 for certain innovative projects, over five years. These amounts should not be presented as a guaranteed or confirmed scale for 2026: we found no current official page detailing these ceilings for the French Guiana offer. The amount actually offered depends on the scheme currently open, the nature of the project and the committee's decision. Request written confirmation of the amounts, the term, any possible deferral and the repayment terms.

Which projects are targeted?

The catalogue fact sheet targets the creation or takeover of SMEs that create jobs and show significant development potential. The project must be sufficiently well-structured to demonstrate its market, business model, team skills, financing needs and development trajectory. The exact criteria — company age, sector, location, expected jobs and any exclusion of certain activities — must be validated with the association.

Why is the loan called an “honour loan”?

The honour loan is generally granted to the project leader personally, without the usual personal guarantee or interest, in accordance with the scheme's rules. It can strengthen the director's own contribution and facilitate discussions with banks, but it guarantees neither a complementary bank loan nor the award of the honour loan itself. The contractual terms and the repayment obligation must be reviewed before signing.

What support should be expected?

The reference fact sheet describes personalised, long-term mentoring from an experienced entrepreneur and access to a club of past award-winners. This support can help challenge the business plan, commercial assumptions, recruitment and governance. Check with Réseau Entreprendre Guyane the frequency of meetings, the commitments expected from award recipients, and the availability of the local programme.

How to prepare an application?

Prepare a project presentation, a market study, a business plan, financial forecasts, a financing plan, hiring needs and an implementation timeline. Add the elements specific to a takeover where relevant: valuation, acquisition financing, audit and transition plan. Contact the association beforehand to check eligibility and the required application format. Do not commit expenses on the assumption that the loan will be granted.

How does the CTG's role fit in?

The Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane is involved in regional economic development and sets out guidelines in its SRDEII 2022-2028, which covers, among other things, the creation and development of businesses. However, the fact that an aid scheme appears in a catalogue with the CTG as the associated funder does not mean that the CTG directly awards every loan, nor that the scheme is open without conditions. The assessing operator and the current financing arrangement must be confirmed with Réseau Entreprendre Guyane and, if necessary, with the CTG.

Recommended steps

Contact Réseau Entreprendre Guyane to confirm that the programme is currently open.
Check the selection criteria, eligible sectors and territorial scope.
Confirm the possible amount, term, any deferrals and repayment terms.
Prepare the economic and financial case with a realistic financing plan.
Present the project following the association's selection process.
Only include the loan among secured financing once written notification has been received and the required documents signed.

Can the loan be combined with bank or public financing?

An honour loan can sometimes be combined with a bank loan or other aid, but the combination and the expenses financed must be confirmed on a case-by-case basis. Ask whether a bank co-financing condition applies, whether the honour loan must be allocated to specific needs, and which state aid or combination rules apply to the financing package. Present financing that has been requested, obtained, and still conditional separately.

Frequently asked questions

Is the loan a grant?

No. It is a loan to be repaid according to the contract. The term “honour loan” describes specific terms but does not turn the financing into a grant.

Is the amount of €10,000 to €35,000 guaranteed?

No. This is the range indicated by the reference database, which must be reconfirmed with the local association before applying.

Can innovative projects receive up to €55,000?

The catalogue mentions this ceiling for innovative projects. We were unable to confirm whether it still applies to the local programme in 2026: ask for the current scale.

Do jobs need to be created?

The reference fact sheet targets SMEs that create jobs and have development potential. The exact quantitative criteria and commitments must be confirmed by the association.

Who should be contacted first?

The operational point of contact is Réseau Entreprendre Guyane. The CTG can provide information on its regional economic policy and associated public schemes.

Sources and validation limits

Institutional sources: the Réseau Entreprendre Guyane website; the CTG page presenting the SRDEII 2022-2028; a 2018 CTG page about a historical cash-flow honour loan scheme; a Réseau Entreprendre Guyane document relating to the 2019 Plan Co-Rail 2. These last two sources concern a specific, older scheme, distinct from the general offer presented in the catalogue fact sheet.

Do not confuse the CTG with the honour loan operator

The reference database links the Réseau Entreprendre Guyane honour loan to the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane, but the mentoring and assessment are handled by the operating association. Before presenting this aid as available, confirm with Réseau Entreprendre Guyane whether the programme is currently offered, which profiles are selected, what mentoring is mandatory, and what amounts are available. Being linked to the funder in a catalogue proves neither that the CTG directly awards the loan, nor that the historical programme is still open.

Overview of regional economic support in 2026

The CTG's recent publications show that support can take several forms: calls for projects for the Social and Solidarity Economy, freight schemes, aid for certain sectors, and direct support for entrepreneurs. Each scheme has its own target audience and timeline. For example, the 2026 ESS call had a submission deadline of 26 April 2026, while the grant campaign for work-integration structures had a deadline of 31 July 2026; both deadlines had passed as of 13 October 2026. They should be kept as historical references, not shown as open without a new edition. CITE:turn201859search3 CITE:turn201859search0

Freight and economic activity: check the applicable version

The CTG announced an update to the freight aid scheme effective from 1 April 2026, with differentiated goods categories and amounts. A company should therefore not reuse an old scale without checking the resolution and the terms applicable to its situation. For a transport-related application, prepare the invoices, the nature of the goods, the route, and the supporting documents required by the current scheme. CITE:turn201859search5

Preparing financing for a French Guiana SME

Describe the financing need, the timeline, the expenses, the location and the planned jobs. For an honour loan, add the business plan, the forecasts and the equity needs. For a call for projects, check the eligible legal form, the theme, the minimum project size, the co-financing and the deadline. Aid aimed at work-integration, the Social and Solidarity Economy, or specific audiences should not be presented as general-purpose aid for any business.

Statuses to use in Capital OS

The catalogue must separate currently open aid schemes, closed calls, historical schemes and financing whose status is not confirmed. The FEDER Prêt Rebond shown on the dedicated portal is explicitly closed: it must not be presented as an available solution. For the Réseau Entreprendre Guyane honour loan, keep a “to be confirmed” status until validated by the operator. CITE:turn201859search9

Validation checklist before recommending

For each scheme, record the official source, the date consulted, the operator, the beneficiary, eligible expenses, amounts, combination rules, required documents, open/closed status and the deadline. If the publication is an old announcement or a closed call, keep it for historical purposes but exclude it from recommendations of open aid. This distinction avoids presenting aid announced in 2018, or a closed 2026 call, as a current offer.

Official sources

Réseau Entreprendre Guyane — Réseau Entreprendre
SRDEII 2022-2028 — Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane
Financial support for businesses in difficulty (2018) — Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane
Plan Co-Rail 2 meeting (2019) — Réseau Entreprendre Guyane
2026 ESS call for projects — Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane
2026 SIAE grant campaign — Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane
2026 freight aid update — Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane
Prêt Rebond FEDER — CTG / financial partners

Written content, currently under editorial review — this is not an eligibility assessment; only your personalised report applies your company's actual criteria.