Business strategy, operational structuring, project management, management...and real estate investment! Jean-Baptiste DEMAY, an Arts et Métiers engineering graduate Arts et Métiers the Li212 class, had an unusual career path before becomingan entrepreneur. He shares his story with us and hopes to inspire other students and young engineers to embark on the exciting adventure of starting their own business.
What training have you completed?
" From my final year of high school, I wanted to pursue a general engineering program. After completing a preparatory course in Versailles, I naturally chose Arts et Métiers my interest in the industrial sector. I was able to complete my first year at the Lille campus and then went on to earn a double degree with the École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle (ENSCI). So I did my second year at the Paris Campus in Mechanical Engineering and then spent a year and a half at ENSCI at their Paris campus. This dual degree allowed me to access an end-of-studies internship in Strategy, Organization, and Business Transformation Consulting. I was subsequently hired by the same company. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Gadz community for helping me take this first step. "
What has your career path been like since you graduated with your engineering degree in 2016?
" Thanks to my experience in consulting, I have been able to work on complex issues in a variety of large groups such as Renault, Eiffage, La Banque Postale, and Enedis. I have dealt with a wide range of topics such as project management, entity reorganization, the implementation of new processes, product positioning, and numerous financial topics such as European banking regulations. Alongside these experiences, at the end of my end-of-studies internship, I was able to join several investment clubs thanks to some wonderful encounters. It was then that I began to teach myself about personal finance and real estate investment. These are essential topics that would be interesting to study at school. "
How did you come up with the idea of starting your own business?
" I would say that several paths crossed at the same time, which allowed me to embark on entrepreneurship.
First of all, my career as a real estate investor (now nine years long) has revealed a real passion in me for property and interior renovation. I love the process of adding value to a property by transforming and renovating it.
Then, as I progressed in my career as an employee, I realized that I wasn't really in control of my decisions, either in terms of my development or the work to be done.
Finally, it was while discussing my vision of real estate investment with my network that I realized I had a concept that resonated with people and could be useful to them.
So it was this combination of wanting to create my own "tailor-made" job, wanting to be in control of my own decisions, and wanting to have a role that would have a real impact on others that made me take the plunge.
I reduced my working hours to 80% so that I could devote one day a week (plus evenings and weekends!) to my business. It was after analyzing the rental investment market that I realized how important it was for people to have easy access to solutions for increasing the value of their assets. All the elements were in place to launch my entrepreneurial venture: identifying a need, knowing the sector, having expertise, and being able to make an impact in responding to the problem.
Then everything happened very quickly: I was selected by the Polytechnique Creators Club, I found my business angel partner, and we launched Immveo, the simple and optimized solution for enhancing the value of everyone's real estate assets. "
Tell us about your company, Immveo.
" The observation was simple: we noticed that Covid has enabled French people to save considerable sums of money in their bank accounts. However, these savings are often not put to good use due to a lack of financial and real estate knowledge.
In addition, several studies have shown that more than half of French people would like to invest in real estate but do not do so because they find the process too complex. Seeing that the market was not meeting the needs of the vast majority of people, we asked ourselves: How can we make investing in older rental properties more accessible?
That's where we designed Immveo, the accessible and fully optimized turnkey rental investment service for older properties. My experience as an investor has also enabled me to bring a wealth of expertise to the solution offered by Immveo. To date, we have already supported more than 100 investors in their rental investment projects, including many very satisfied Gadz. And the 2024 trend is set to grow even stronger! "
What qualities and skills acquired in engineering have you been able to put to good use in this new experience?
" Starting a business means solving a series of problems, one after the other. I think that being an entrepreneur means having the ability to find the best solution to every problem you encounter. It's an approach that I've been able to experiment with throughout my career, but also during events with the Gadz'Art community.
Next, teamwork is important. It is necessary to surround yourself with the right people, i.e., build a strong team and bring people together, but also know how to network. These are two things that my engineering education and my "Gadz'Art training" taught me. When you have to set up Figno'ss in just two weeks, you have to be a team player!
What advice would you give to young people who are hesitant to start their own business?
" Entrepreneurship is above all a passion. It is the passion to create a product or service that is useful to others and reflects personal values. So if you have a curious streak and want to step outside your comfort zone (you will have to!), entrepreneurship is undoubtedly the best school for resourcefulness. And the reward is extraordinary personal and professional freedom that you can achieve by following this path. The government has also put in place a number of support measures to help you get started in entrepreneurship while limiting your own risks. You can also get support from the highly competent Gadz'Arts Entrepreneurs Club to help your business take off! Gadz'Art has everything it takes to succeed, believe me! "
