The 12th edition of the Bordeaux Invest Day arrives in Bordeaux on October 14, bringing a new speaker format called “Carte Blanche” to an event that regularly draws more than 200 attendees from the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, Placéco reported. Organized by the Mayaj entrepreneur club—formerly known as Bordeaux Entrepreneurs—the evening gathering pairs regional startups with investors at the Hall de Bordeaux Métropole.
Bordeaux Invest Day Debuts Carte Blanche Format
The newly introduced “Carte Blanche” format is designed to offer an unfiltered look at an entrepreneur’s career trajectory, highlighting both successes and near-collapse moments. Maud Clérice, president of Mayaj, described the concept as “one hour, one evening, a personality who makes us think, who offers us their truth, their doubts, their successes, and sometimes their failures.” While intended to become an exclusive perk for club members, the inaugural session is open to the entire business community.
David Inquel takes the stage for this first session. Inquel serves as president of Harvey, president of the Fondation 1% pour le Sport, and vice-president of the French Judo Federation (Fédération Française de Judo), alongside his work as an author and speaker. At 18:30 local time (UTC+2), he opens the evening with a talk titled “Tatami Sup: what 15 years of judo teach a leader that HEC does not teach.” His presentation focuses on the behind-the-scenes realities of leadership built on practical experience rather than traditional elite business school curricula.
One-on-One Investor Meetings and Pitch Contest
Before the evening program begins, the schedule centers on matchmaking between financial backers and young companies. Between 14:00 and 17:45 local time, 15 startups and 15 regional and national investment funds hold 120 face-to-face meetings. Each interview lasts 20 minutes, structured to connect founders with backers whose portfolios and investment stages match their growth requirements.
Following the Carte Blanche address, the focus shifts to a pitch competition highlighting local innovation. Five selected startups receive two minutes each to pitch a jury composed of Mayaj representatives and event partners. Organizers award two honors: the Grand Prix, chosen by the jury, and the Public Choice Award (Prix Coup de Cœur du public). The evening concludes at 20:30 local time with a networking cocktail reception for investors, founders, and regional stakeholders.
Event Logistics and Historical Context
The Bordeaux Invest Day opens its doors on Wednesday, October 14, starting at 18:00 local time at the Hall de Bordeaux Métropole, located on Rue Jean Fleuret in Bordeaux. Attendance is free of charge, though registration is required.
While the 12th edition introduces the Mayaj-branded “Carte Blanche” concept and moves forward independently under the Mayaj banner, previous iterations of the regional gathering have partnered directly with external organizations. For instance, records for the 11th edition note a joint organization alongside French Tech Bordeaux, demonstrating the event’s evolution within the local startup network as a primary venue for fundraising meetings and pitch contests.
Worth a look
