The objective of this feasibility study was to evaluate the possibility to develop coaching and mentoring of young entrepreneurs by experienced businessmen in Tunisia, and create a Réseau Entreprendre in Tunis in order to fulfil these missions. The study had the following steps:

§         Find a core of a few entrepreneurs willing to engage into this project ;

§         Organise a one day information and motivation of this core group;

§         Recruit and train one person in charge of the feasibility study, that would ideally be the new director of Réseau Entreprendre Tunis (RET), and be able to train other businessmen to coach entrepreneurs;

§         Ensure that the conditions are favorable for the creation of RET :

§         In terms of dealflow: potential of enterprise creation with job creation potential;

§         Gather 40 to 50 businessmen motivated to participate into young entrepreneurs mentoring;

§         Make sure all conditions for the success of RET are there.

A steering committe has been created, chaired by Ahmed Abdelkefi the President of Tuninvest Group. Mr Khaled Koubaa was hired as pilot for the feasibility study and creation of RET.

The study showed that the conditions are favorable and it is likely that RET, an association offering mentoring to young entrepreneurs by experienced businessmen, and loans on honor, was created in July 2010.

This association has been financed with the membership fee from its members (50 businessmen). It will raise funds for the loans, and the French Caisse des Dépôts already committed they would co-finance the loan fund by 40%. The Caisse des Dépôts is also financing REI for its development in the Mediterranean, which will help to subsidise the start up of RET.

RET was also discussing a partnership with two guarantee funds: SOTUGAR and Fond National de Garantie in Tunisia.