Square and Ulule ‘Shape the Future of Business’ boosting innovative French start-ups - 3 grand prize winners and 10 winners of joint competition announced

Oct 06, 2021
  • Named finalists receive cash prize and hardware boost for their budding businesses
  • Start-up competition celebrates innovative business ideas from all areas of France

PARIS, October 06, 2021: Square, the globally trusted software, payments, and hardware solution for businesses of all sizes; and Ulule, the largest crowdfunding platform in France, today announced the winners of a joint competition to find innovative businesses throughout France. The competition was announced in July, and called for budding entrepreneurs to put forward their online or physical business activity across various sectors, such as food and beverage, retail, health and beauty, professional services craft, design and technology.

Out of a host of submissions by local businesses from across France, a judging panel consisting of representatives from Square and Ulule, as well as influencers including Tookies & Marion Graux, shortlisted 13 businesses as winners, selecting three of them to receive the grand prize. All winners will receive free hardware from Square along with a €1,500 prize. The three grand prize winners will each receive €5,000 as well as promotional exposure from Ulule through videos focused on their individual business stories.

The winning businesses are among the first in France to have the opportunity to use Square’s products, which were recently launched for general availability in the country. Trusted by thousands of businesses around the world, Square offers all the tools sellers need to start, run, grow, or adapt their businesses, and enables them to set up online stores, take card payments in person, access earnings faster, manage inventory or a busy kitchen, and much more. With a suite of products that fully integrate with each other, Square saves businesses time, offers solutions for a multitude of complex business needs all in one place, and makes it easier to adapt and grow as needs evolve in the future.

“Ulule and Square have come together to find the most innovative business projects throughout France,” said Jason Lalor, Executive Director for Square Europe. “We are thrilled by the diversity of the projects submitted. While it was difficult to select only 13 projects, I am delighted that our support will contribute to the success of these entrepreneurs.”

“Our mission has always been to help new business communities and creators take the plunge and, more importantly, make it a success” said Valérie Brouchoud, Directrice BtoB at Ulule. “We are excited to embark on this landmark partnership with Square, allowing us to provide the tools and resources to help local start-ups to grow and make their ideas a reality.”

These start-ups have been selected as winners of the grand prize:
Porridge.Lab - French artisanal, natural and gluten free cereals (https://www.instagram.com/porridge.l.a.b/ )
BAPBAP - Les Brasseries Parisiennes - Local Parisian artisanal brewer (https://www.instagram.com/bapbapbiere/ )
LOLO - The revolutionary custom-made lingerie and bathing suit (https://www.instagram.com/lolo.paris.lingerie/ )

10 start-ups have been selected as winners:
Boissellerie - Handmade kitchen utensils and everyday objects, made from recycled wood (https://www.instagram.com/boissellerie_lucie.nevers/ )
Bloom - 10% natural incense made in France (https://www.instagram.com/bloomfr_/ )
Edouard Dumond - Interior design furniture and lamps
Perdième - Eco-friendly period underwear and matching bras (https://www.instagram.com/perdieme.lingerie/ )
Bleu Citron - Interactive, customizable children’s clothes
Neo Cosmetics - Innovative, eco-friendly refillable shower gel (https://www.instagram.com/neocosmetics.bio/ )
Le Lieu-Dit - Creating a popular, festive and surprising place in Nantes
The Trust Society - Concept store to help everybody become more eco-friendly (https://www.instagram.com/thetrustsociety/ )
Mamie Kocotte - A local shop offering 100% home cooked, fresh and seasonal food
Les Bios du Loire - Store of organic and local produce.

About Square, Inc.

Square, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) builds tools to empower businesses and individuals to participate in the economy. Sellers use Square to reach buyers online and in person, manage their business, and access financing. Individuals use Cash App to spend, send, store, and invest money. And TIDAL is a global music and entertainment platform that expands Square’s purpose of economic empowerment to artists. Square, Inc. has offices in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Ireland, Spain, Norway, and the UK.