After graduating from KEDGE in Bordeaux in 2010, Mikael Gandon worked for 10 years in consulting and auditing firms. He then threw himself into entrepreneurship, convinced that he could support chartered accountants by automating low-value-added tasks using AI. In 2018, he founded Chaintrust, a fintech that has raised over €5M and now has over 400 customers.

After my BAC (A-levels), I did two years of preparatory classes, then joined KEDGE , where I followed the PGE (Programme Grande École) until I obtained my master's degree. During these 5 years of study, where the watchword was " grow by doing", I was taught to think differently. And it was by cultivating this originality and difference that I felt the urge to set up my own company a few years later.

With my diploma in hand, I worked for Deloitte Luxembourg for three years before returning to Paris to take my DSCG. Following this accounting diploma, I worked in an accounting firm. It was during this experience that I realized that many accounting tasks were manual and repetitive.

As an entrepreneur at heart, I decided to solve this problem by creating a unique solution to automate accounting data entry. This idea became a startup: Chaintrust. Pierre Hersant (CPO and co-founder), a childhood friend, and Robin Tessier joined me in the adventure in 2018. Pierre and Robin both had experience in fast-growing startups, which they had joined at the very beginning of the adventure. We found ourselves wanting to create our own company at the same time and not join the adventure of other founders.

It was my course at KEDGE that introduced me to the world of entrepreneurship. The training, while very generalist, was quite comprehensive. I learned how to draw up a business plan, how to pitch, how to convince investors... We had courses on purchasing management and margin management. We also had case studies that required a thorough command of Excel and the ability to summarize. Many of the courses were in English, with a strong emphasis on public speaking, which I found very useful later on.

But what really stood out for me at KEDGE was the human aspect. During my time at KEDGE, 2 friends and I created the association Le Cannelé d'Adresses, and thanks to this experience I learned to work as part of a team and to surround myself with the right people. One of my friends with whom we created this association has since gone on to create his own startup.

Chaintrust is a tool that automates accounting data entry for all accounting firms. Our solution was designed by a professional accountant, for professional accountants. So we're as close as possible to their needs. The ambition of Chaintrust and its team is to enable chartered accountants to save time on repetitive tasks that add no value to the firm. This enables them to concentrate on other, more strategic activities, such as consulting and supporting their clients.

Why waste time on manual data entry when everything can be done automatically, and with a guaranteed lower error rate!

In 2021, we were voted the most innovative startup by the Ordre des Experts Comptables (Eurek@ competition). This clearly demonstrates the interest of chartered accountants in our solution. Behind this success is a team of over 40 people who work hand in hand every day to satisfy our 400 or so customers.

The values instilled in me during my years at KEDGE have forged the entrepreneur I am today, and are reflected in the genesis of Chaintrust. I'm thinking in particular of diversity, which is at the heart of our identity. When we recruit talent, we make a point of hiring people with varied profiles and skills. Whether you're a recent graduate or have a more experienced profile, with a classic or more atypical background, there's a place for you at Chaintrust! We have a doer strategy: whatever your diploma or training, it's what you can do that counts. At Chaintrust, we're also committed to parity and to ensuring that social diversity is respected within our team.

We will continue to roll out our solution to chartered accountants. Recently, we launched a mobile application for greater ease of use, and we are currently developing APIs to open up our solution to other business tools. In the years to come, we will continue with this strategy of openness to create a whole ecosystem of solutions designed to make life easier for chartered accountants.

Finally, let's not forget that Chaintrust is co-built with our community of chartered accountants. We will therefore be creating new features on our platform, based on the needs of our customers. Our tech business unit is very responsive, and that's something our customers appreciate.

When I look back at how far I've come with my team, I realize just how extraordinary the entrepreneurial adventure really is! And I advise all students who want to take the plunge, who feel the entrepreneurial spirit within them, to do so, because it's a unique experience that teaches us a lot about ourselves and about others. Have fun, create and innovate. You'll gain experience in sales, financial management, people management...

Even if this experience doesn't work out, the risks are non-existent, and no one will hold a year's interruption on your CV against you if you explain that you wanted to create your own project - on the contrary.