"Entrepreneurs' perception of Saint-Nazaire is changing"
It didn’t take long for the Maison de l’entreprise to find its audience. Since mid-2025, all the offices have been occupied, and a waiting list has formed. About twenty companies are now based there, half of which are taking advantage of the business incubator program, reserved for young companies less than three years old. “We’re starting to have a waiting list. We try to guide people toward the most relevant opportunities in the area,” explains Frédéric Keldi.
The icing on the cake is that the companies housed there reflect the latest local entrepreneurial trends: consulting, human resources, marketing, communications, digital technology, artificial intelligence, and the energy transition. This diversity is no accident. “These are fields that complement the support services offered by the Maison de l’Entreprise (MDE),” the director points out. Residents aren’t just housed here; they become active participants in the center’s life by leading workshops, conferences, and roundtable discussions.
An ecosystem conducive to entrepreneurship
What makes the Maison de l’Entreprise unique is the collaboration between entrepreneurs and support organizations. Chambers of commerce, associations, funding networks, and experts—it’s an entire ecosystem conducive to entrepreneurship, all working together on a daily basis in the same space. “Our goal is to build bridges by fostering cooperation among these diverse stakeholders,” summarizes Frédéric Keldi.
This collaborative approach translates into a particularly rich program: nearly 200 events in 2025, ranging from marketing and sales workshops to pitch training, networking events, and the monthly Little Café (photo below), which has become a popular gathering spot for entrepreneurs. “It’s the vibrant atmosphere of the space that companies setting up shop here often mention to us. They feel that what’s happening here makes them want to be right here.”
Funding is also one of the ecosystem’s strengths. Thanks to networks such as Initiatives and France Active, as well as close ties with banks and certified public accountants, project leaders can quickly find the right contacts. “Today, financing isn’t the main issue. Entrepreneurs who come in with a solid project find solutions.”
West Coast Challenge: Fostering Projects That Benefit the Saint-Nazaire Region
Among the year’s highlights is the West Coast Challenge, organized in partnership with SPI Numérique and all of the support organizations in Saint-Nazaire. For forty-eight hours, about forty participants work collectively on several entrepreneurial projects.
The goal goes far beyond a simple startup competition. “Our mission isn’t just to put on an event; it’s really to help projects get off the ground and support them over the long term.”
The case of an architect who devised a solution to facilitate the transfer of large homes that had become unsuitable for their occupants perfectly illustrates this philosophy: addressing a concrete local issue by creating a sustainable economic activity. The Défi Ouest Coast also serves as a showcase for the region’s attractiveness. For example, a female entrepreneur who had moved from Paris chose to pursue her project in Saint-Nazaire after experiencing the collective energy of the event.
A network of complementary spaces for entrepreneurship in Saint-Nazaire
While the Maison de l’Entreprise is now a victim of its own success, it is not the only gateway to entrepreneurship in Saint-Nazaire. The SPI Numérique, in particular, hosts innovative companies and offers coworking spaces, while Le Jardin and La Ruche are developing approaches focused on ecological transition. The CCI’s consular building, La Station, and the Acti-Ouest and Acti-Est artisan courtyards round out this range of business locations. “Each location has its own unique characteristics and stakeholders that make it a suitable choice. We always try to guide businesses toward the right solution.”
Saint-Nazaire is attracting a new demographic
Driven by major industrial sectors—shipbuilding, aerospace, offshore wind power, and decarbonization—Saint-Nazaire’s economy is now attracting new types of talent, particularly in the service sector. For Frédéric Keldi, the change is also cultural. “Entrepreneurs’ perception of Saint-Nazaire is changing. People are becoming more aware of the quality of life here, the fact that the city has transformed, and that it’s possible to live here year-round under excellent conditions. ” Many entrepreneurs are moving to the area because their spouses work for major local industrial companies. The challenge going forward will be to help them establish a strong economic foothold by developing projects aligned with the needs of the Saint-Nazaire region. It’s a challenge that Frédéric Keldi approaches with enthusiasm and confidence.
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