Clément is co-founder of the digital agency Coqpit, based in Clermont-Ferrand.
My name is Clément BANET, I'm 21 years old, and I'm co-founder of the digital agency COQPIT, which I set up in February 2016. I quickly made the decision to strengthen the governance by bringing in a business partner, Nicolas AUGEARD.
A keen aviation enthusiast, I started learning to fly at 14 at the Loudes aeronautics club, on motor aircraft. Alongside this, I obtained a glider pilot's licence as well as a skydiving certificate. I was also very drawn to computing and the mechanics of the web. It was this double passion that led me to launch a website listing airports and infrastructure for pilots — which gave me my first taste of Google Ads and generated my first income. From early on, I knew my future lay in this field, building something of my own. After my Baccalauréat S, having worked as an employee on a fixed-term contract at a communications agency (TNT Communication) to help develop projects, I was able to consolidate and confirm my professional plans by setting up in the La Pardieu business incubator. Today, I hold the position of Managing Director at COQPIT, leading a team of around ten people as well as subcontractors. When COQPIT launched in February 2016, when I was 19, I received both financial support and invaluable advice from Réseau Entreprendre Auvergne, after being selected as a laureate. This gave me access to an interest-free loan to fund COQPIT, as well as guidance from experienced entrepreneurs. What proved particularly important in this process was the human relationships I built within the network, as well as the privileged connections I established with major decision-makers in Clermont-Ferrand. This notably allowed me to be accompanied by a local industry figure, benefiting from his experience as a business owner.
My main focus is the commercial side, which demands constant attention. Unlike a traditional sales approach, proactively reaching out to prospects has not always proved effective. Building a network of business owners, however, has allowed me to target decision-makers and raise awareness of the expertise our agency can bring to the development of their ideas. It is through this approach that trust has been built, rooted in the expertise I offer them. This strategy has paid off and the agency has grown, enabling us to see through all the projects entrusted to us. The administrative side is also time-consuming — there are papers, far too many! Team management also requires constant reflection and adaptation. We put a great deal of care into this because we see it as the agency's strength and the source of its value. Management is empowered by the fact that each professional is involved in the ongoing development of every file entrusted to us. This framework ensures everyone feels invested in each project, which boosts overall performance. We have also collectively decided to introduce a profit-sharing scheme for all employees, so that the results of our work are shared. These management principles have driven strong growth since the agency's founding, with client satisfaction as our guiding principle.
As for Digital Campus, I position myself as a project facilitator in this territory. We work to find experienced professionals on behalf of Digital Campus in order to offer training that reflects the professional world students will encounter. This pragmatic approach, which I share with the Digital Campus team, helps to ease the transition into the job market. We also have a particular connection with Digital Campus, having welcomed two work-study students on professionalisation contracts — which we were ultimately able to convert into permanent contracts at the end of their programmes, thanks to forward-thinking workforce planning.
Despite the preconceptions that still exist today, Clermont-Ferrand is brimming with entrepreneurs, both in the digital sector and with digital needs. It is a very significant ecosystem.
It's worth remembering that digital is a future-proof industry, and today demand outstrips supply — particularly in Clermont-Ferrand.
The needs are varied and the opportunities are significant across different areas of expertise.
We can also count on major players such as Michelin, CGI, Almerys, and Domeraider, who recruit hundreds of developers, not to mention the hundred or so web agencies present in the metropolitan area.
The lower cost of living in Clermont-Ferrand compared to major cities such as Lyon, Marseille, or Paris is also an advantage for anyone looking to build a project.
The school allows us to connect with high-value skills. It's a necessary stimulus for maintaining the dynamic of our agency.
Digital Campus students, equipped with all the theoretical knowledge essential for these careers, can easily find in agencies like ours the practical expertise needed to complement their training.