Welcome to Nantes: a tailored welcome for newly established businesses
Every year, Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement supports companies that have chosen to set up operations in the Nantes or Saint-Nazaire area, as Fabrice Joubert, director of the economic development agency, noted in his opening remarks. Economic briefings and tours of the region, assistance with finding real estate and land solutions (offices, coworking spaces), presentations on economic opportunities, introductions to key stakeholders, integration into economic networks, and support with corporate communications… All of these steps are essential for successfully establishing a business in a new region.
A comprehensive ecosystem for entrepreneurship
The event took place at the MET, a venue that brings together all business support organizations—from financing organizations such as ABAB to those offering assistance in times of difficulty, such as 60,000 Rebonds—as Yann Trichard, President of the Nantes Saint-Nazaire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pointed out.
“Nantes is a pioneer in many areas, thanks to a continuum that ranges from basic research to innovation initiatives that foster business development, all the way to the major companies that put us on the map,” said Francky Trichet, vice president of Nantes Métropole, accompanied by Anthony Descloziers, vice president in charge of economic development.
“Being connected with key players”
These new companies have all attested to the tailored support they received from the Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement agency. Yec’Hed Mat, a company specializing in data protection in the healthcare sector, chose to relocate from Bordeaux to Nantes “because of its particularly robust ecosystem in the areas of healthcare and digital health.” “Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement connected us with key players in the ecosystem related to our business.”
The same observation was made by Dall Energy, the Danish biomass specialist that chose Nantes as a base for its expansion in France. “We greatly appreciated the services provided by Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement, particularly in connecting us with key players in decarbonization in western France,” ” says Mesut Yentur, France manager for Dall Energy, which has been based in Nantes since July 2025.
“Support from local stakeholders is crucial to the success of this venture. We therefore appreciate the assistance provided by Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement, which helps us connect with key contacts in the region,” explains Thierry Boussion, founder of Yuniboat, a boat reuse company.
“Getting help with your real estate search”
Originally specializing in the recycling of printer cartridges, Printerre had identified Nantes as “the only region to have gone this far in the Reuse process,” due in particular to the “Nantes, Land of Reuse” initiative. This pioneering company in IT refurbishment received support from Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement in its search for office space. “Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement proved to be an essential gateway to a region we knew little about. We found expertise there and a genuine interest in our business. That really made it easier for us to set up shop.”
It was also the city’s commitment to Reuse that convinced Artefact to join the Nantes ecosystem, as explained by Maxime Labat, founder of Artefact, which produces circular sports gear—such as backpacks— made from used inflatable boats and climbing ropes.
“Conduct site visits”
And for an international company, entering a new market can prove even more complex. After launching his company, Tree Consulting, in Montreal—where he spent part of his life—Amaury de Foresta wanted to return to France. It was through the Audacieux de Montréal community that he was able to benefit from the support of Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement. “ As a member of the Audacieux de Montréal community, I was already familiar with Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement. Their help in setting up my business in Nantes was invaluable: a year ago, I took a fact-finding trip to validate my business model and start developing partnerships. The team at Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement helped me meet many key players in the ecosystem—that support was crucial!”
Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement has thus supported more than 780 companies since the agency was founded in 2015 and helped create more than 10,000 jobs in the region.
