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Published on: 04/24/2026 - 11:15 Modified on: 04/27/2026 - 2:43 p.m.

In this episode of Pas 2 Quartier – At the microphone, Ahmed Bouzouaïd, director of the “neighborhood entrepreneurship 2030” project at the BPI and author of the book “I must make cash, boy”, explores the realities of entrepreneurship in working-class neighborhoods, between social ambition, migratory heritage and economic innovation.

Going against the dominant discourse, Ahmed Bouzouaïd highlights a significant progression: the creation of businesses from neighborhoods has increased significantly in recent years, revealing a potential that is still underestimated.

But this dynamic takes place in a complex environment, where opportunities remain unequally accessible:

“When you cross the street, it’s easier to find a drug dealer than a job opportunity”

A strong sentence which illustrates the structural challenges faced by many young people, while underlining the urgency of promoting alternative trajectories such as entrepreneurship.

From “cash” to success: obstacles, financing and realities

This episode deciphers the concrete obstacles to success: lack of network, difficulties in accessing financing, discrimination, but also the weight of representations. For Ahmed Bouzouaïd, the main obstacle is internal:

“The first wall is ambition. It’s your ability to see yourself succeed”

Between system D culture, hip-hop influence, associative solidarity and entrepreneurial spirit, neighborhoods appear as laboratories of ideas, capable of inventing new economic models. But transforming this energy into lasting success requires structuring career paths, supporting talents and giving meaning to the notion of success, beyond simple “cash”.

This in-depth exchange sheds essential light on the place of neighborhoods in entrepreneurship in France and on new generations of entrepreneurs.

Dive into this episode of Pas 2 Quartier – On the microphone to understand how working-class neighborhoods are redefining the codes of entrepreneurship in France and subscribe to Pas 2 Quartier to not miss any debate!

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