"Who wants to be my partner?": how Philippe Croizon convinced the show's investors

He is known for his tenacity. Philippe Croizon is now launching into entrepreneurship . Aged 56, this multi-disabled adventurer became famous in 2010 when he crossed the Channel, a first for a person with all four limbs amputated. A media personality, he created the application "VIP: Very important parking" alongside Thierry Garot. Intended primarily for people with reduced mobility, it allows you to identify and locate all accessible places, whether via a ramp, a lift or a mobile device.

And to make his budding business profitable, the former metalworker at Fonderies du Poitou turned to the M6 ​​show "Who wants to be my partner?" , broadcast this Wednesday evening. Having come to ask for 120,000 euros for 15% of the shares in their company, Philippe Croizon and his partner Thierry aimed to enable all people with disabilities and their carers to find shops, toilets, a doctor, a parking space or even a beach that are easily accessible. Their community application is experiencing real growth with more than 40,000 downloads and 800,000 locations referenced in seven months of existence.

Not stressed at all, the Charentais approached the experience on the Six with his usual good nature: "I think I'm going to have a blast, I'm going to have a great time and experience a moment of sharing," he declared. "If with two guys like us, they're not convinced, I don't know what else to do."

He was not mistaken. Thanks to a meticulously detailed presentation of their project, they were able to arouse the curiosity of the five investors present in front of them — Anthony Bourbon, Alice Lhabouz, Kelly Massol, Julian Jacob and Éric Larchevêque — and received a multitude of compliments for the work carried out. Although all enthusiastic about the application and the values ​​carried by Philippe Croizon and his partner, some investors did not want to take out their checkbook: Anthony Bourbon and Alice Lhabouz, for example, did not make an offer, in particular because of the economic model of "Very important parking", in which they had little faith.

Seduced by the project, it was Éric Larchevêque, co-founder of the unicorn Ledger , who finally acceded to the requests of the two partners, with an offer slightly more to his advantage: 120,000 euros in exchange for 25% of the company's shares. "Thierry, I know you less, but Philippe, I know you through your background and you are a bit the definition of resilience. We know that you are not going to give up and you are going to give all your energy, which is quite incredible, to move this project forward," the businessman stressed.

"The difficulty is that you are on an application, it is very difficult to make it work. But, you have a business model, which may not have been understood, but which seems extremely strong to me: helping communities to resolve their problems related to their legal obligations (in terms of disability). " Kelly Massol did not give in, offering the requested sum for 20% of the company. The hair care creator declared herself "very aligned" with the values ​​defended by Thierry Garot and Philippe Croizon.

As skilled negotiators, the two men finally bet on Éric Larchevêque by suggesting that he lower his shares to 20% instead of the desired 25%. "You took a risk by asking for this valuation and refusing Kelly's proposal without making sure that I would accept. Obviously I appreciate it and so I accept!" he said. "I'm going to cry again, damn it! Sorry, I said bad words," Philippe Croizon corrected himself, drunk with joy.