Laure Courty, Jestocke.com

Femmes du Numérique:To begin with, what is your definition of “digital”?

Laure Courty :In my opinion, digital technology is based on the management of large quantities of data and the accessibility of this data. In other words, data andconnectivity. Digital technology is ubiquitous, changing the way we consume, manage our time, get information, interact and even socialize. In this context, it seems to me that our service, Jestocke.com, isa purely digital product. We manage a growing quantity of data that we have to make accessible via the Internet, while at the same time building a service that modifies the response to a need, that of access to storage or furniture storage.

Women, an opportunity for digital. Digital, an opportunity for women. What do you think about it? Why did you choose this sector?

LC :My answer is that they are an opportunity for the digital industry, just as they are for other sectors. And yes, digital is an opportunity for women. For me, it’s clearly one of the sectors in which the barriers between men and women have fallen. If we look at the new generations entering the job market, it seems to me that women have entered the digital world just as much as men. Admittedly, there are still too few of them in the IT and engineering sectors, but they have invested in many other functions that are crucial to our digital activities. And they’re creating startups!

I’m also thinking about day-to-day life, the way we organize our lives today thanks to digital technology. I’m not sure I’d be able to run Jestocke.com with 3 kids without the Internet, my phone and computer, and the dozens of online services I use!

To answer the last part of your question, I’ve been absorbed by digital more than I chose to be, and I’m passionate about it. It’s a bubbling sector that brews innovation, creativity, flexibility and doggedness.

FDN:Is being a woman entrepreneur a plus?

LC:Yes, clearly yes, and for several reasons. First of all, public authorities, major companies and the media give women entrepreneurs a high profile: awards, prizes, special reports, support and financing schemes…[Editor’s note: Laure Courty was nominated in the digital business creator category of theTrophéeexcellencia2014]Then because I believe we have a strong resilience, which I think is necessary for entrepreneurship. And finally, because we know how to work together!

Then there’s the question of financing, and I know it’s a tricky one. According to the latest figures published byGirlsInTech, only 13% of French tech start-ups are founded by women, which represents only 6% of the total amount raised. There’s still a lot to be done to promote access to financing.

FDN:Did you have any doubts, hesitations or difficulties in setting up your own business?

LC:I don’t think there are any entrepreneurs who don’t have doubts and run into difficulties. That’s our job: to doubt and deal with difficulties!

FDN:Tell us about your project. How did the idea come about? What needs do you meet?

LC:Jestocke.com is a service for booking and renting furniture storage units between private individuals. The platform brings together the supply of cellars, garages, storage units, etc. and demand on a massive scale. It’s a win-win service: the owner makes the most of vacant space when the renter finds lower-cost storage space just around the corner. In January 2015, we also launched a service for companies withprofessional storage needs, afterraising €350K from private investors, the Women’sBusiness Angelsnetworkandthe Aquitaine region.

The idea of creating this storage marketplace was born when I moved from Paris to Bordeaux. At the time, I was looking for a solution to store everything in my old Parisian cellar. I couldn’t find what I wanted.

FDN:How do you defend gender equality in your professional and personal life?

LC:With Jestocke.com, I’m evolving in a very masculine environment: that of storage, moving and, more generally, the digital world. With a dose of humor, dynamism and professionalism, it’s easy to defuse prejudices. Within the company, I don’t advocate equality between men and women, but I do take care to build up a team of talented men and women – it’s a balance I feel is necessary.

And personally, it’s all about balance too!

FDN:And personally, how have you managed to reconcile work and family life?

LC:I’m lucky enough to have a partner who’s a school teacher, which means I can be more flexible with my timetable. But the key is organization. I get up at 5am to work two hours before the children wake up. I try to have a good day and keep my lunch break to a minimum so that I don’t have to go back to work in the evening and enjoy my family life. At weekends, I keep my morning slots and take advantage of the siesta to make progress on certain files that I don’t manage to complete during the week.

FDN:What advice would you give to a young woman hesitating to work or start a business in the digital sector?

LC:My only piece of advice is to surround yourself with the right people. You create a company by integrating an ecosystem, a team, partners… Choosing the best is a guarantee for the future. We all make mistakes, that’s normal, but being able to count on quality external support and backing helps you to land on your feet and get through the stages one by one.

Biography

After university studies in Paris and abroad, I began my career in the book industry. I spent over ten years working for both small and large publishers in a variety of fields, including tourism, medical and geopolitical publishing. Since 2012, when I moved to Bordeaux, I’ve gradually ceased my freelance publishing activities to devote myself fully to the entrepreneurial adventure that is Jestocke.com.