"Le petit dormeur" wins 1st prize in A.N.F. Entreprendre-Barnes competition

More than 80 people flocked to the A.N.F. salons on the evening of January 22 for the presentation of the A.N.F. Entreprendre-Barnes awards (as many present by remote video conference). This was the 7th edition of the competition devised and set up by the A.N.F. to reward entrepreneurs from noble families. Michel de Vasselot, creator of "Le Petit Dormeur", took 1st prize of 6,000 euros, while Hyacinthe de Chavagnac with Goodshifter and Bénédicte de Feuardent with "En confiance" shared the other two prizes.

After the customary words of welcome, the conditions for taking part in the competition were recalled: for candidates, to bear the name of a family listed in the A.N.F. table, to be the founder or director of a company less than five years old, innovative and promising in terms of creating value and jobs, and respecting the values of the Noblesse. Thibaut de Saint Vincent, Chairman of the Barnes International Group and sponsor of the award for several years, eloquently explained his commitment to the cause of entrepreneurial nobility: "It is a great honor to welcome you this evening for the presentation of the A.N.F. Barnes Entreprendre award. This prize, born of a partnership between the A.N.F. and Barnes, aims to highlight a young "entrepreneur" whose project stands out for its innovative nature, its economic potential and, above all, its alignment with our shared values.

The values of nobility - honor, a sense of service to others, a taste for performance, courage, self-control and spiritual transcendence - are at the heart of the French identity. They remind us that all success must be put at the service of the common good, and that an entrepreneur cannot be content to prosper alone: he is a builder of progress, a committed player who works for the betterment of society as a whole. These values are fully in tune with those of Barnes: Global Accompaniment, which consists in supporting and guiding with benevolence; Trust, without which no lasting relationship can be established; Excellence, the prerogative of those who wish to see their ambitions through to the end; Elegance, which manifests itself in the nobility of our actions and words; and Vision, the ability to imagine, anticipate and boldly find our place in the future.

This evening, we celebrate the meeting of two requirements: nobility of heart and spirit, and forward-looking entrepreneurial ambition. Our prizewinners have demonstrated, through their work and creativity, that it is possible to combine economic performance with respect for fundamental values. Their projects bear witness to their desire to contribute to the common good by providing new, sustainable and responsible solutions. On behalf of the A.N.F. and Barnes, I would like to salute the commitment, perseverance and humility that have guided their entrepreneurial adventure. We are proud to present this award to a promising talent, a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come. And now we'll welcome all the nominees here present. "

Emmanuel de Vauxmoret and Amaury de Buchet then presented all the entries, underlining how difficult it was for the jury to choose the winners from among them... The candidates present then had the opportunity to tell the story of their adventure.

Then it was time to unveil the winners of this 7th edition, starting with the Tanguy de La Lance prize (formerly known as the "Coup de Coeur" prize and renamed in memory of a young competitor who died a few years ago). Worth 1,000 euros, the prize went to Bénédicte de Feuardent for "En confiance". This personal services company (housework, childcare, musical awakening, pet-sitting, DIY and gardening) aims to meet a variety of needs with a high level of quality that guarantees good working conditions with fixed, advantageous salaries, full-time permanent contracts and numerous social benefits. The icing on the cake is the use of certified, local or abbey ecological cleaning products to ensure efficient, environmentally-friendly service.

The second prize of three thousand euros went to Hyacinthe de Chavagnac with Goodshifter, a company with a mission to promote more sustainable and healthier consumption habits. This involves an application that scans supermarket shopping receipts, analyzes the products purchased in terms of their impact on the planet, the environment and society, and suggests better products available in the supermarket.

Finally, the prize of 6,000 euros went to Michel de Vasselot and "le petit dormeur". This company manufactures and sells innovative travel accessories designed to improve sleep on the move. The patented travel cushion is designed to offer several sleeping positions, whether on a plane, train or car... Eco-friendly, the product is manufactured entirely in France. Since September 2023, the company has enjoyed strong growth, with a number of successes: the Made in France trade show, strong interest at Christmas markets, resale of products at Paris CDG airport and in the Iberia airline in-flight catalog.

Congratulations and the presentation of cheques (symbolic and real!) followed, before giving way to a warm reception where numerous contacts were exchanged, helping the dynamic A.N.F. Entreprendre community to grow even further, with some 200 very active members today.