Garantme surety for the youth

The start-up offers to play the guarantors for young people, students, or assets, which are struggling to find housing.

For any student, finding housing is a challenge. But for those who do not have a guarantor, the test is mission impossible as the owners are ruthless at the time of selection. The start-up Garantme has therefore had the idea of creating a kind of gigantic joint and several guarantee), relying on several giants of the insurance for young people, tenants, students or assets. In exchange, the beneficiaries pay an amount equivalent to 3.5 % of the rent.

The founders of Garantme, Emile Karam and Thomas Reynaud (respectively 27 and 25 years old), both graduates of HEC, have themselves endured the torments of the rental. "It is equally difficult to find housing when you are young active," says Thomas. The owners deny that our parents are still the guarantors, and ask for the minimum salary three times the amount of the rent." What decide the two young graduates to create their "insurtech" in 2017. Soon, they are joined by Mylene Romano, a professional real estate displaying twenty-five years of experience.

Launched on January 1, 2018, the young shoot has quickly earned the trust and confidence of donors. In the Face of Visale - a rent deposit for students proposed by the State, the young founders demonstrate the need for a financial safety more important for lessors (up to 36 000 euros reimbursed) and a release of funds fast, unlike the public plan.

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Sponsored by the Fnaim, Garantme today provides more than 1 200 cases. In September, the start-up has announced that it has raised 800,000 euros from Bpifrance and five business angels. With this contribution, Thomas and Emile hope to accompany 10 000 new tenants in 2019 and plan to strengthen their services by offering to pay the deposit. Not anything you need to transform the obstacle course in the path strewn with roses, but almost.

Emile Karam and Thomas Reynaud du tac au tac

Express : Base Garantme, it is a revenge on your past experience ?

E. K. : More than 60 % of the students encounter difficulties to find housing. It is even more complicated when you are a foreigner like me. To meet the criteria of the lenders, the guarantor must, in particular, to declare his income in France. This excludes international students. How can we attract more young people and make at the same time their installation to be so complicated ?

In rentals, it is often "first come, first served". Not simple to add an intermediary ?

T. A. : It is for this reason that our form of eligibility can fill up in five minutes ! And our services are available to support the applicant in his steps. The certificate is issued within two hours, and the rental contract can be signed in for the day.

You have lifted 800 000 euros less than a year after have launched your start-up : what is your recipe ?

E. K. : build a good network and achieve his goals ! At the end of our studies, and after having integrated the incubator HEC at Station F, we have convinced several investors to bet on us with the promise of reaching the 1 000 insured persons. It is thing made since September.

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With how many partner agencies do you work today ?

T. A. : We work with 15 networks in student residences, or 250 in total on the French territory and 2 in Monaco. Yes, it may seem surprising, but some of our clients have found their happiness on the Rock.