MBS graduate Jérémie founded EcoMatelas, a unique start-up combining ecology with savings
MBS graduate Jérémie founded EcoMatelas, a unique start-up combining ecology with savings
Having graduated in 2011 and obtained his Grande Ecole Master’s Degree in 2013, Jérémie Adjedj is now a CEO and returned to MBS for the final vivas in the StratMeUp teaching programme with his EcoMatelas start-up. It was the perfect occasion for him to tell us about his entrepreneurial adventures !
How did you know you wanted to start a business ?
You could say that my entrepreneurial spirit developed thanks to the work done by MBS on this subject, which was reinforced by numerous professional experiences that led us to simulate the creation of an innovative company. I was able to use my creative potential in my Bachelor’s degree and also to learn how to manage a company in a national and international context. When I had the opportunity to turn my desire to start a business into something, I knew that I had everything I needed to make it a success, without getting lost along the way.
How was the EcoMatelas project born ?
It’s kind of a family story! My uncle has a bedding store in Agde and old mattresses were often collected and thrown away, even when they were in perfect condition. There was a real environmental problem to solve and a business opportunity to seize. So my brother and I decided to sell second hand mattresses on-line. It was such a success we decided to go further. We spent two years researching and developing an optimal process to recondition bedding so that we could produce the 1st totally recycled and 100% ecological mattresses at prices up to 4 times cheaper than new products.
You launched the business in 2017 with a range of 100% recycled products under the neutral brand EcoTex. How are things going and what are your ambitions ?
We had the right idea at the right time and social media allowed us to make a name for ourselves right from the launch. Less than a year later we have opened a bricks and mortar store in Baillargues to complement the website and we have already been able to recycle over 10,000 mattresses and frames, which is over 200 tonnes of raw materials and 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide that haven’t been emitted into the atmosphere! We want to be able to industrialise our mattress reconditioning process within 3 years, to reduce the environmental impact in France and then in other European countries. Even today, 40% of mattresses are still not recycled in France alone, there’s still a lot to do.
As part of your development, you entrusted the strategic diagnosis of EcoMatelas to final year MBS students as part of the StratMeUp programme! What problem did you set them and what did you come away with ?
The objective was for them to propose financial solutions to accelerate our growth. The final interview was held this week and allowed students to present us with their work over the past 4 months, under the tutorship of their coach. It was really interesting to receive the fresh, outside perspective of the latest MBS generation concerning our young business, and the experience was as enriching for them as you learn a lot from the strategic analysis of a business, no matter what stage of development it’s at.
