10 years of House of Entrepreneurship

1. The House of Entrepreneurship is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. You took on your role in 2023, what's your assessment of its first decade?

When I joined the House of Entrepreneurship in 2023, I discovered a place that was deeply rooted in the ecosystem. Launched in October 2016 by the Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Ministry of the Economy, it was born out of a simple idea: offering a single point of contact for entrepreneurs. In ten years, we've moved from a focus on providing information and supporting business creation to an overarching approach that covers the entire entrepreneurial life cycle: founding, financing, developing, digitalising and transferring a business. Since 2016, we have processed more than 350,000 requests and supported over 23,100 people individually, working alongside some 150 public and private partners. Through a number of crises, we've learned to adapt constantly so we can continue to meet needs on the ground. What I am proudest of is entrepreneurs' trust in us: many of them come back to us with each new step in their journey.

2. What are the main challenges that business founders face in Luxembourg?

There are more challenges than there once were. Business founders are operating in an uncertain context, one marked by geopolitical tensions, cost increases and extremely rapid technological transformations. Access to financing remains a crucial challenge. Financial backers are becoming more demanding and aid schemes aren't always easy to understand. There are also issues in terms of talent recruitment and retention and the administrative load. Every hour spent on admin is an hour not spent on the business. We also see that the financial aspect is often underestimated in business plans, as is the time it takes to find those first customers and the challenge of business owners' ability to pay themselves during the first few years of their activity. Setting up a business is about more than administrative steps. Building a viable, sustainable business requires real preparation: testing ideas on the market, having a good support network and accepting some uncertainty.

3. Digitalisation and artificial intelligence are transforming the business world. How is the House of Entrepreneurship supporting entrepreneurs through these changes? 

For micro-businesses and SMEs, digitalisation and artificial intelligence are real opportunities for growth, increased competitiveness and efficiency gains. But, given the speed of technological changes, it’s not always easy to know where to start. Our role is to help entrepreneurs understand the changes, anticipate them and implement them in a concrete way. We raise awarenesss through our workshops, webinars and conferences, which have brought together over 22,500 participants since 2016, and we provide them with personalised support through every step of their project.

This involves analysing their digital maturity, providing tailored support from the idea stage to implementation of their project, and offering SME Packages, including for digitalisation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity projects. Since they were launched, almost 1,500 packages have been awarded. Artificial intelligence isn't just for tech start-ups. Traders, craftspeople and SMEs can benefit from AI in very practical ways, whether that's automating certain administrative tasks, improving their communication or optimising their day-to-day management.

4. Is there a success story or an entrepreneur that really stands out for you?

It's difficult to pick just one. Since 2016, we've supported over 7,100 people with their business creation project, and behind every one, there's a different business journey. I'm thinking of employees who launch their business on the side before going full-time a few years later, of jobseekers who set up their own company, and of people taking over existing businesses, thus protecting jobs and knowledge that are invaluable to our economy. What really stands out for me is seeing the entrepreneurs we've supported from the very start come back a few years later, this time to finance their growth or prepare to transfer their business. Sometimes, the greatest success can also lie in helping someone to review their project before they take a disproportionate risk. It's another facet of doing business responsibly.

5. As it celebrates its tenth anniversary, what are the House of Entrepreneurship's goals and priority projects for the years ahead?

Our aim is to continue to be the leading partner for entrepreneurs. We want to offer support that's even more personalised, tailored to the maturity level and actual needs of each business. There are several priorities. First of all, financing, with our new Financing unit. It helps those with projects in mind identify the most appropriate support and financing schemes for their situation. Business transfers are another strategic focus, and one we've already supported over 5,700 people with. Business owners are getting older, and many companies will have to find someone to take them over in the years to come. The aim is to preserve viable businesses and the jobs, skills and expertise they represent. We'll also continue to help businesses transform artificial intelligence, digitalisation and cybersecurity into real opportunities. Finally, we'll continue to call for simpler administrative processes by drawing attention to the reality on the ground. More generally, our challenge will be to anticipate entrepreneurs' needs rather than to address them when they arise.