Iédom identified for the first time just over 70 start-ups in 2024 in Reunion, to whom he sent a questionnaire aimed at identifying their success factors and their difficulties.
The results of this unprecedented study, published in early August, show that if ten of them have strong growth potential, most of the others are still at the beginning of their development and therefore generate little turnover and job creation : eight out of ten start-ups declare a turnover of less than 100,000 euros. These companies operate in various sectors. Their managers are generally quite experienced and have higher education qualifications., women leaders are still a small minority. Asked about the success factors of start-ups, their leaders emphasize the importance of the profile of the project leader. They are also looking for personalized managerial support, via the help of mentors or local expert committees. Support from public actors also contributes to their development. Financial aid is considered useful, but complex to obtain for emerging structures which often have to advance the funds committed. Financing larger-scale development is all the more difficult, that traditional local players do not have the same expertise as specialized players. Finally, the success of a start-up is based on a business model close to a “traditional” company focused on profitability, aimed at generating income, reduce the risk of default and attract investors, concludes the Issuing Institute of Overseas Departments.
