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The desire is there. Ambition too. You want to solve a climate, social, health problem... but you have never raised a fund, never coded an app, never recruited anyone. Is that enough to get started? Yes. And we explain to you why.
The image of the tech startup, bac +5, who went through a high school and a unicorn, is beginning to crumble. In its place, a new generation is emerging: that of impact entrepreneurs. Not always experienced, not always well surrounded, but deeply aligned with a mission.
They don't want to create “the next unicorn.” They want to fix something. Inventing an alternative. Fill a void that neither the State nor the private sector know or want to address.
In this new landscape, experience is no longer the only currency of entry. It is the urgency, the legitimacy on the subject, and the ability to mobilize that count. And that, You can't learn that in business school.
When we talk about “experience,” we often think of a full resume. Years spent in recognized companies. Technical skills, management, finance. And of course, a network.
But doing business with impact, it's not replicating a model. It is creating something where there is nothing. Or worse: where everyone else has failed. What matters is not what you know how to do today, it's your ability to learn quickly, to listen, to test.
Many experienced profiles fail because they apply classical scale methods to complex issues. Conversely, “inexperienced” profiles ask more questions, take fewer things for granted, and adapt more.
So no, you won't be able to do everything at the beginning. But if you are lucid about your limits, you will quickly find ways around them.
Maybe you've never set up a business before. But you must already have:
This proximity to the field is a superpower. Where many entrepreneurs are looking for a “problem to solve” on Google Trends, you have it in front of you, experienced or felt it. And that changes everything.
That's the real legitimacy in terms of impact: not business expertise, but clarity on the issue.
We're not going to lie to each other: experience helps. So how do you compensate when you don't have it? There are three levers that can be activated from the start.
Before thinking about your product, meet your future users. Interrogate them. Live their daily lives. Understand their real constraints, not the ones you imagine.
You don't need to do a market study with 300 answers. A dozen deep conversations are enough to identify unmet needs. And that will prevent you from building a solution that is beside the point.
The sooner you get in the field, the more accurate and more confident you will be.
No experience often means no network. But the network cannot be “owned”: it is built. And it always starts with a simple question: how can I be useful to someone?
From the start, you can connect with people in the sector (via LinkedIn, newsletters, events) by sharing insights, well-formulated questions, or even useful content.
Little by little, you become visible. Then legit. Then unavoidable on your subject. It's not a sprint, but a series of micro-actions that create trust and adherence.
Everyone has great ideas. What's impressive is what you do with little. Your ability to move quickly, to show the beginning of a solution, to document your progress.
Create a simple prototype. Share your initial feedback. Try a handcrafted version of your service. It is these concrete signs, these “proofs of commitment”, that replace the pedigree.
An investor or a partner rarely says to himself: “Well, he did HEC”. But often: “OK, she was able to convince 20 users without a budget? Now I want to know more.”
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The temptation to “I'm going to learn everything about YouTube” is great. And yes, we can do a lot alone. But impact is a team sport.
From the first few weeks, look for teammates. Not necessarily partners right away. But people who can challenge you, unblock a subject for you, open a door for you.
And above all, surround yourself with people who believe in your mission. Not at your pitch. Not to your business model. But to your vision of the world.
The energy you release will be contagious. And you will naturally attract the right people.
At 425PPM, every month we meet project leaders who think they are not legitimate. Too young. Too atypical. Too far from the codes.
But what we are seeing are sincere projects, clear visions, and people ready to roll up their sleeves.
Our role is to help you transform intuition into strategy. A vague message in A touching story. A hesitant posture in strong media presence.
We don't do it for you. We don't sell “miracle templates.” We help you to structure yourself, to make visible what you are building, to lay solid foundations for the future.
And yes, we often work with profiles with no experience. Because they haven't taken the wrong reflexes yet. Because they dare. Because they want to build something else.
Have you never set up a startup? So much the better. You have not yet been formatted. You can still test, doubt, change course. And that's exactly what impact needs.
Don't let impostor syndrome get in the way. What you have to contribute is valuable.
And if you are looking for a helping hand to clarify your message, structure your visibility or engage your first supporters, That's what we're here for.
