Jean-Yves RIVIERE

Jean-Yves Rivière is the President and Founder of SME (Solidarité Migrants Entrepreneurs), an organization dedicated to supporting migrant and refugee entrepreneurs in France.14 His professional background and current roles include:

Professional Experience

• President of SME (Solidarité Migrants Entrepreneurs)12
• President of the Riviere Family Endowment Fund2
• Former executive at Renault Automation, where he led the software design office for five years5
• Former President of the Board of Directors at Nexeya6

Entrepreneurial Support

Jean-Yves Rivière is actively involved in helping migrant and refugee entrepreneurs overcome challenges in starting businesses in France. Through SME, he provides support in various ways:

• Offering interest-free honor loans of up to €10,000 without guarantees to finance entrepreneurial projects1
• Accompanying refugees to bank meetings when necessary to help secure loans1
• Assisting entrepreneurs in finding business premises, negotiating leases, and creating companies1

Values and Approach

Rivière is committed to the values of entrepreneurship, success, and helping others.2 He takes a hands-on approach to supporting migrant entrepreneurs, often providing daily assistance to help them navigate the complexities of starting a business in France.1

Organizational Involvement

• SME supports about 30 entrepreneurs since 2021 for periods of one to three years in cities including Paris, Toulouse, Nantes, Grenoble, and Marseille1
• Rivière has been involved in organizing SME meetings, such as the 2nd SME Meeting at the Fabrique de la Solidarité in Paris3

Jean-Yves Rivière's work with SME addresses the unique challenges faced by migrant and refugee entrepreneurs in France, including language barriers, administrative knowledge, and access to financing.1 His efforts contribute to fostering entrepreneurship and economic inclusion among these communities.