SINGA, France, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland
MIGRANTS
SINGA is a non-governmental organisation that offers pre-incubation, incubation and acceleration programmes as well as support programmes to newly arrived immigrants and local residents with a project related to migration. The programme offers individual follow-up and group workshops to help entrepreneurs develop the foundations of their project and find the type of support best suited to their needs. Participants who wish to pursue additional opportunities have access to resources and tools, including taking additional courses to improve their language skills.
SINGA was created in 2012 with the aim of promoting the integration of immigrants by harnessing their entrepreneurial and innovative potential. As part of SINGA’s mission, integration of immigrants into local environments and entrepreneurial ecosystems should be seen as an opportunity for society rather than a challenge.
The pre-incubation programme is open to new arrivals (i.e. refugees, asylum seekers, immigrants) and local people with a project linked to migration. The programme supports around 20 entrepreneurs per 2-month cycle. This consists of 2 hours in the evening each week for group workshops. The programme is offered free of charge to participants. The pre-incubation programme offers individual follow-up and group workshops to help entrepreneurs develop the foundations of their project and find the type of support best suited to their needs.
The incubation programme aims to facilitate and secure the start-up phase of a business, micro-business or association for 6 months. The programme focuses on legal status, product/service testing, prospecting and development. Participants receive individual coaching and mentoring, particularly in strategy and finance, as well as access to group workshops, networking events and a co-working space.
The acceleration programme offers entrepreneurs who have already launched their business the opportunity to raise funds, develop and strengthen their leadership skills over a 9-month period - 6 months of acceleration and 3 months of post-acceleration follow-up support. Participants benefit from individual support as well as training and group workshops. They can also take part in networking events and have access to a co-working space. Post-creation services are also offered through individualised support, networking, mentoring and additional workshops.
Since 2020, participants in the incubation and acceleration programmes in France have had access to the French Tech network. They also have access to grants of up to EUR 42 000 through a partnership with the French Tech Tremplin BPIFrance support and mentoring programme, which aims to diversify the entrepreneurial tech ecosystem.
In 2023, the pre-incubation programme was offered in 11 cities – Barcelona, Bordeaux, Geneva, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Strasbourg, Stuttgart, and Zurich. Nearly 400 people participated in the programme with more than half of participants being women and almost 90% of participants being newcomers. The incubation programme was offered in 9 cities – Bordeaux, Geneva, Lille, Lyon, Nantes, Paris, Strasbourg, Stuttgart and Zurich – supporting 165 entrepreneurs with nearly 60% of participants were women and about three-quarters were newcomers. This led to the creation of 55 enterprises. The accelerator programme was offered in three cities – Geneva, Paris and Zurich. The programme assisted 22 projects, including 13 by women. Post-creation services were also offered across 7 cities in France and Switzerland to 102 people (72% women and 76% newcomers), leading to the creation of 16 businesses. SINGA has developed its programmes and networks in 18 cities in 7 countries (Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland).
- SINGA (2024), SINGA France, https://singafrance.com/a-propos/
- SINGA France (2023), Vers l’infini et au-dela ? Repense notre rapport à léspace & à l’autre, Rapport d’activité 2023, SINGA, Paris, Updated-version-sept_FR-RA-2023_SINGA-Global.pdf.