To mark the 5th anniversary of the Altavia Foundation, we spoke with its director, Coralie Abram-Palti. From formalizing the group’s corporate philanthropy to actively supporting micro-entrepreneurs, she reflects on the highlights of this human and collective journey — and shares a glimpse of the exciting projects ahead.
New Mobility
Altavia Foundation is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year. Can you tell us how the adventure began?
Five years ago, Raphaël Palti and I decided to create Altavia Foundation, a non-profit organization within the group. Why? The idea was to structure our corporate philanthropy, which had always existed informally. But above all, to strengthen it by pursuing one clear, new mission: supporting micro-commerce. By “micro-commerce”, we mean any independent small-scale activity related to trade, craftsmanship, or service provision.
What are its main missions and initiatives today, such as Small is Big?
The Foundation grew very quickly—like a start-up—with a desire to act directly. First, we regularly update our platform microco.com with new resources: podcast episodes, masterclasses, articles and tutorials to support current or aspiring entrepreneurs. We also improved Microco’s user experience and navigation.
Second, we continue to organize our “Small is Big” Festival every year. Each edition is bigger and more ambitious than the last. At our most recent edition, we welcomed over 40 micro-business owners to our festival village and introduced a new service: speed coaching sessions. Third, we coach around 20 entrepreneurs each year, including the “Small is Big” winners, through pro bono missions. These are all independent entrepreneurs—traders, small business owners or artisans—who need support in areas such as strategy, branding, community management, premedia, and digital marketing. My team and I act as intermediaries, matching each entrepreneur’s needs with the right expert. All the experts are Altavia collaborators.
Lastly, in collaboration with several partners, we helped bring to life an important study: “Beyond the Merchant.” Thanks to an innovative methodology, it sheds light on the non-commercial value created by local shopkeepers. The findings are clear: micro-businesses and independent retailers are vital pillars of our cities—fostering social ties, local solidarity, neighborhood life, health, safety, environmental care, and contributing to public space.
In five years, the Foundation has already laid strong foundations. What do you think have been the highlights or greatest successes of this collective adventure?
I’m proud of the progress made across all our projects. But what stands out the most to me are the human encounters and the positive impact we’ve had on the journey of so many entrepreneurs.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the Altavians involved in our pro bono missions. Their contributions—skills-based volunteering—have helped improve and accelerate the development of the entrepreneurs they supported.
And now, looking to the future: what are the next steps for Altavia Foundation?
We have big ambitions! We’re opening a boutique in Saint-Ouen (France) where entrepreneurs can test their business models and offerings. In the spirit of “Small is Big”, 10 entrepreneurs will be selected every 3 months to benefit from this opportunity. Rent will be kept very low to make it accessible for entrepreneurs who can’t afford a store at the beginning of their journey.
We’re also bringing “Small is Big” to shopping malls! Yes, you heard that right—we’re planning to organize the festival in shopping centers. The idea is to create a unique experience for mall visitors, spark interest in craftsmanship, and encourage local purchasing.
Don’t miss any of Altavia Foundation’s upcoming projects! Stay tuned: Instagram: @microco_ LinkedIn: Altavia Foundation Podcast: microco.com/podcast
