prêt d'honneur — Initiative Genevois
The Initiative Genevois prêt d’honneur is a repayable personal loan, generally at zero interest and with no personal guarantee. It aims to strengthen the founder’s contribution and make it easier to finance a start-up or takeover as a whole. The local association helps put the business plan together and reviews the application against its criteria. The amounts listed in the catalogue do not guarantee that a loan will be granted and must be confirmed.
Are you starting or taking over a business in the area covered by Initiative Genevois? The prêt d’honneur (an interest-free personal loan to the founder) can strengthen your personal contribution and help complete the financing plan. To prepare for your discussion with the platform, cost the investments, cash needs and financing already secured.
Funded by Annemasse Agglo, Bpifrance, CC de Arve et Salève, CC de la Vallée Verte, CC des 4 Rivières, CC des Usses et Bornes, CC du Genevois, CC du Pays de Cruseilles, Financeurs privés, Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
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Who can apply
The catalogue targets start-up or takeover projects in the local area and lists property and financial intermediation as exclusions. Check the required business location and any sector criteria before applying. Exclusions listed in the catalogue: financial intermediation and property services. The platform must confirm their exact scope.
Eligibility conditions
The prêt d’honneur is personal and repayable; it is not a grant. The platform reviews economic viability, the financing plan, the equity need and repayment capacity. Ask explicitly whether a complementary bank loan is mandatory, whether a deferral is possible and which costs or situations are excluded.
What the scheme covers
The prêt d’honneur is useful when the financing plan requires a larger personal contribution. Prepare details of investments, the cash-flow forecast, your contribution and any bank agreements in progress.
Amount and funding terms
The catalogue mentions €3,000 to €23,000, repayable over 3 to 5 years, and a complementary bank loan. These conditions must be confirmed with Initiative Genevois.
How to apply
1. Contact Initiative Genevois before incurring costs. 2. Prepare a business plan, a financing plan, a cash-flow forecast and details of investments. 3. Distinguish between your personal contribution, the bank loan requested and other aid. 4. Ask for the territorial criteria, exclusions, documents and the next committee date. 5. Before accepting, get written confirmation of the amount, any deferral, the repayment schedule and the disbursement conditions.
Timeline
The review timetable and committee dates depend on the Initiative Genevois platform. The catalogue entry does not confirm an opening date or a uniform timeline. Get in touch before any irreversible spending and check the rules applicable when you apply.
Key facts
- Funder
- Annemasse Agglo, Bpifrance, CC de Arve et Salève, CC de la Vallée Verte, CC des 4 Rivières, CC des Usses et Bornes, CC du Genevois, CC du Pays de Cruseilles, Financeurs privés, Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Type of funding
- Repayable advance
- Status
- Ongoing
- Maximum amount
- €23,000
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Minimum amount
- €3,000
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Geographic scope
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Frequently asked questions
Is the Initiative Genevois prêt d’honneur a grant?
No. It is a repayable personal loan, generally at zero interest, that can strengthen the founder’s contribution.
Is the amount shown guaranteed?
No. The amount shown in the catalogue is an indication to be confirmed with the platform, depending on the project and the current rules.
What should I prepare to apply?
A business plan, a financing plan, a cash-flow forecast, details of investments and proof of your contribution and planned bank financing.
Official source
No official URL is available in our data for this grant.
Other grants of type “repayable advance”
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Financing a large company’s development strategy in the Métropole Européenne de Lille with the “Development aid for large companies” scheme
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