
Initiative Anjou – prêt d’honneur (interest-free personal loan)
The Initiative Anjou prêt d’honneur is zero-interest financing generally granted to the person leading the project, not a grant paid to the company. It is used to strengthen the founder’s contribution, make the financing plan more credible and ease discussions with banks. The founder is supported in preparing the application and then presents the project to the approval committee, which decides whether to grant the loan and how much. The scheme is intended for starting, taking over or developing a company located in Maine-et-Loire.
Are you preparing to start or take over a business? The Initiative Anjou prêt d’honneur can strengthen the founder’s own contribution and make it easier to put bank financing together. The application is prepared with the local platform, which assesses the project’s viability and financing needs.
Funded by Agglomération du Choletais, Angers Loire Développement (ALDEV), Bpifrance, CA Mauges Communauté, CA Saumur Val-de-Loire, CC Anjou Loir et Sarthe, CC Baugeois Vallée, CC Loire Layon Aubance, CU Angers Loire Métropole, Financeurs privés
Run a personalised scan to identify the public grants and funding your company may be able to access.

Who can apply
The target audience is business founders and buyers within the area covered by Initiative Anjou. Depending on the local scheme, some development projects may also be considered. The catalogue lists the following exclusions where specified: financial intermediation and property services.
Eligibility conditions
To prepare the application, build a complete financing plan: investments, working capital needs, personal contribution, other aid and the planned bank loan. Initiative Anjou’s public information distinguishes several tracks depending on the size and stage of the project. The platform states in particular that the prêt d’honneur makes it easier to obtain bank financing; criteria on registered office, company age, capital and job creation or retention vary by track. The exact criteria and exclusions are those of the current local rules, not a uniform rule across the whole network.
What the scheme covers
The financing can help consolidate the financing plan of a start-up or takeover project. Present the planned costs, start-up cash needs, expected revenue and the amount of bank financing sought. The prêt d’honneur should not be treated as a grant: it is repayable and its use must match the project reviewed by Initiative Anjou.
Amount and funding terms
The catalogue mentions a range of €3,000 to €40,000, to be confirmed depending on the micro-business or SME track and the nature of the project. Initiative Anjou offers zero-interest personal loans with no personal guarantee, with a repayment period that varies by scheme. Associated bank financing may be mandatory.
How to apply
1. Contact Initiative Anjou before finalising your financing plan. 2. Prepare a business plan, a cash-flow forecast, a financing plan, details of investments and your contribution. 3. Ask for the local criteria, excluded sectors, bank loan requirement and supporting documents. 4. Submit the application following the platform’s procedure and, if it is admissible, prepare for the approval committee. 5. Before committing to anything, get written confirmation of the amount, repayment schedule and disbursement conditions.
Timeline
The application timetable and review times depend on the Initiative Anjou platform and the date of the approval committee meeting. No opening date or fixed timeline is confirmed in the catalogue entry: contact the platform before scheduling a signature, a purchase or the start of spending.
Key facts
- Funder
- Agglomération du Choletais, Angers Loire Développement (ALDEV), Bpifrance, CA Mauges Communauté, CA Saumur Val-de-Loire, CC Anjou Loir et Sarthe, CC Baugeois Vallée, CC Loire Layon Aubance, CU Angers Loire Métropole, Financeurs privés
- Type of funding
- Honour loan
- Status
- Ongoing
- Maximum amount
- €40,000
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Minimum amount
- €3,000
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Geographic scope
- Pays de la Loire
Frequently asked questions
Is the Initiative Anjou prêt d’honneur a grant?
No. It is a repayable loan, generally granted to the person leading the project. It strengthens the founder’s contribution and can make bank financing easier to obtain.
How do I find out how much my project could receive?
Present your equity needs, your contribution and your financing plan to Initiative Anjou. The range listed in the catalogue is indicative; the final amount depends on the review of the application and the platform’s rules.
What should I prepare before the first meeting?
A project summary, the business plan or its current state, a financing plan, a cash-flow forecast, details of investments, your contribution and the bank financing you are considering.
Official source
No official URL is available in our data for this grant.
Other grants of type “honour loan”
Prêt d’honneur Solidaire: completing the financing of a start-up or takeover
Bpifrance
Up to €8,000
PHAR Bretagne: funding the seed stage of an innovative business
Région Bretagne
Up to €90,000
Montfort Communauté growth loan: local conditions to obtain
Montfort Communauté
Up to €30,000
Related needs and funding
Competitive calls for projects
Ecological transition and CSR
Capital and investment funds
Support and acceleration
Diagnostics and audits
Takeover and transfer
Discover the funding that fits your company
Check your eligibility for public grants
This scheme is only one of the grants your company may be able to access. Run a personalised scan to identify the funding opportunities that match your activity, location and project.
See the opportunities identified by the scan, then access your personalised report.




