by Alvyn Ulrish Shad Savrimuthu
La Plage Factory, a renowned startup incubator accredited by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC), hosted its inaugural “Growth and Innovation” event at the Institut Français de Maurice (IFM). Supported by the Centre des Jeunes Dirigeants (CJD) and the Association of Mauritian Manufacturers (AMM), the event aimed at fostering growth and innovation among local entrepreneurs by offering them a platform to explore new strategies, share experiences, and expand their professional networks.
The programme commenced with a dynamic conference led by Laurent Bourelly, an international expert in strategic marketing. His session provided attendees with innovative approaches to boost their growth and improve their market positioning. Laurent emphasised the importance of timing in market opportunities, stating, “It’s crucial to assess whether you are too early, too late, or moving too slowly in your market. Timing is a key element.” He further elaborated on the concept of product-market fit, adding, “We often talk about whether there’s a market for a product, but an important takeaway is to ask yourself if you are fit for the market. Even if the market exists, are you personally equipped to handle it?”
Following the conference, a panel of Mauritian SME and startup entrepreneurs shared their inspiring journeys. This interactive segment highlighted the challenges overcome, successes achieved, and valuable lessons learned during their entrepreneurial paths. Among the panelists was Hicham Hmiche, co-founder of ManaTime, who shared his views on the value of such events. “I enjoy meeting other leaders. It’s through exchanging and learning from different experiences that we can generate new ideas, whether in communication, development, or pricing strategies,” he said. Hicham further added, “Sharing knowledge doesn’t diminish it; instead, it multiplies it, which is why I continue to participate in these events.”
Julien Demoor, the founder of Multiply, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the mutual benefit of sharing and learning. “I had the opportunity to share my experience and listen to others. It was incredibly interesting, and I hope it inspired some in the audience for their own entrepreneurial journeys,” Julien remarked.
The day concluded with a friendly networking session, allowing participants to connect with the panelists and expand their professional networks. This segment was particularly valuable, as it provided an opportunity for attendees to create potential collaborations and gain insights from seasoned entrepreneurs.
About La Plage Factory
La Plage Factory is a startup incubator-accelerator accredited by the MRIC and based in Mauritius. They nurture impact-driven African tech startups by providing product and business development support, as well as access to funding. Located at the heart of old Port Louis, their coworking space offers the perfect location and tools for launching Tech for Good businesses and expanding into Africa and Europe. By assembling local and international innovation ecosystem actors, La Plage Factory is committed to unlocking opportunities for entrepreneurs. They identify and incubate startups with high growth and positive impact potential, enabling founders to realize their ambitions. Leveraging experienced mentors, they provide the necessary tools and services to build sustainable and scalable businesses. To learn more, visit their website: http://laplage.io
