prêt d'honneur — Initiative Artois
The Initiative Artois 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 or taking over a company in the area covered by Initiative Artois.
Are you preparing to start or take over a business? The Initiative Artois 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 Bpifrance, Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, Département 62 - Pas-de-Calais, Financeurs privés, Région Hauts-de-France
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Who can apply
The target audience is business founders and buyers within the area covered by Initiative Artois. 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. The platform reviews the business plan, financing plan, equity need and the founder’s ability to run the project. The approval committee stage and any bank loan conditions must be confirmed for the track concerned. 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 Artois.
Amount and funding terms
The catalogue generally indicates €5,000 to €30,000, repayable over 3 to 5 years. The amount is not automatic: it is set after the local platform reviews the equity need and the financing plan.
How to apply
1. Contact Initiative Artois 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 Artois 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
- Bpifrance, Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, Département 62 - Pas-de-Calais, Financeurs privés, Région Hauts-de-France
- Type of funding
- Repayable advance
- Status
- Ongoing
- Maximum amount
- €30,000
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Minimum amount
- €5,000
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Geographic scope
- Hauts-de-France
Frequently asked questions
Is the Initiative Artois 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 Artois. 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.
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