Frequently Asked Questions about
non-dilutive funding

Reki is a non-dilutive funding advisory firm for startups and innovative SMEs, spun out of the Hexa startup studio in 2024. Our consultants support founders with Bpifrance grants and loans, the French R&D and innovation tax credits (CIR and CII), JEI status, France 2030 and regional and European programs.

Reki identifies the funding your company is entitled to, writes the applications, submits them and handles the relationship with the funder until the decision. At the end of the program, we justify the expenses to release the final payment and support you in case of an audit.

Reki stands out from other non-dilutive funding advisory firms in three ways: its consultants understand the technology of the startups they support, they reply the same day on Slack or by email, and its fees are 30% lower. Feel free to contact us to discuss your project.

A consultant who knows your sector follows you from the first call to the payment. They talk with you on Slack or by email, with a same-day response.

Between 2 and 5 hours per application, including exchanges with the funder. Reki starts from your existing documents and tools, and only asks for what is missing.

Reki connects to tools such as Slack, GitHub and Linear to collect the information needed for the application without asking you twice. We only collect the data that is strictly necessary.

Your data is encrypted, isolated per client and hosted on AWS following security best practices. Details are in our terms of service: terms.reki.eu/terms-of-services

Email us at contact@reki.eu or book a meeting from the website. We reply the same day.

At Reki, fees are 7% on grants and 3.5% on loans, only if successful. The R&D and innovation tax credits (CIR and CII) are billed at a fixed fee based on company size, set in writing before we start.

A percentage of the tax credit creates an incentive to inflate the claim, which increases the risk in case of an audit. With a fixed fee, our interest is a fair and defensible application.

On grants and loans, our fees are success-based: a rejection costs you nothing. We only submit applications that have a real chance, and 99% of those we submitted were approved.

No. Our contracts have no automatic renewal: you can stop whenever you want and your applications remain yours.

It covers all funding that does not require giving up equity: grants, repayable advances, innovation loans, honor loans and tax credits such as the French R&D tax credit (CIR). It finances R&D and growth without diluting the founders.

Depending on its stage and project: Bourse French Tech, Bpifrance grants and loans, CIR, CII, JEI status, France 2030 calls for projects, regional and European programs. Reki's radar reviews more than 2,000 programs to identify the ones you are entitled to, with the amounts.

Yes, as a general rule. The company must be registered, or at least in the process of registration, before an application is submitted.

No, most innovation grants do not require traction at the start. Some programs, especially loans, become easier to access once the business model is validated.

Yes. A solo founder can apply, although funders look closely at their ability to carry the project alone.

As early as possible, and continuously. Funders are more willing to support a company whose indicators are green, and some moments open new doors: incorporation, a capital increase, a first technical hire, reaching profitability.

No document is mandatory to start. A pitch deck or a business plan speeds things up, and Reki fills in the rest from your tools and an interview. If you have neither, our consultants will talk with you to pinpoint the information needed.

The two are complementary. Reki handles the technical side of the application and the relationship with the funder; your accountant supports you on the business plan and the accounts, and Reki can help you finalize the business plan if needed.

A first 30-minute call to frame the project and choose the programs, then a more in-depth interview with your consultant. Reki writes the application and the business plan, you review and approve, then the application is submitted and followed up until the decision.

Usually 2 to 4 weeks, depending on how available the information is and how quickly you respond.

Usually 2 to 4 months of review, then a payment about a month after approval. It can take 5 to 6 months when there are back-and-forths on the application or when budgets run out at the end of the year.

From the official submission date of the application. Expenses incurred before are generally not covered, which is why it pays to submit early.

Reki submits the application when possible; otherwise you submit it with our full preparation. The Bpifrance account manager talks with the founder, and Reki prepares every meeting with you.

Not technically, but the format is strict and account managers have precise expectations. Without knowing them, preparation quickly takes several days, often the CTO's.

The registered address has little impact on national programs. Avoid mere mailbox addresses, though: Bpifrance has already asked companies to move their head office back, and some regional programs require the funded jobs to be created in their region.

A fundraise opens access to Bpifrance debt, such as innovation loans. Usually 30 to 50% of the amount raised can be matched with debt, depending on equity, available budget and the quality of the application.

About a month before closing. The application is then ready to be submitted as soon as the funds arrive.

It is a Bpifrance grant of up to €30,000 for innovative companies less than one year old. It covers up to 70% of the project's expenses and is paid in two installments: 70% at signature, then the remaining 30% once expenses are justified.

An innovative, differentiated project, technical expenses to incur, equity at least equal to the grant (share capital or shareholder current accounts), and ideally first commercial signals.

Expenses linked to the innovative project: salaries of developers and engineers, technical services from an agency or a freelancer, prototypes. Marketing and sales expenses are not eligible.

The application must be submitted within 12 months of the company's incorporation. The review can end after this deadline.

The final payment is based on the expenses actually justified: it can be reduced, and part of the first installment may have to be repaid. Reki prepares the end-of-program report to release the final payment.

The French R&D tax credit (CIR) refunds part of R&D expenses, and the innovation tax credit (CII) part of the expenses for designing new products. Our complete guide to the CIR details the rates, eligible expenses and the technical file.

Yes, the same work can be funded by Bpifrance and then qualify for the CIR. The grant received is simply deducted from the tax credit base, which prevents the same expense from being funded twice.

Reki's free simulator gives a first answer in a few minutes: www.reki.eu/simulateur/eligibilite-cir-cii-jei. A consultant then confirms eligibility based on your projects.

With the company's annual tax return, using form 2069-A-SD. Expenses from the previous three years can still be recovered through a claim.

Reki identifies the eligible work, calculates the expenses, writes the technical file in the ministry's format and supports you in case of an audit. Fees are fixed, based on company size.

Yes, within the calendars and submission rounds of each program. We check your eligibility case by case, for example for French Tech Tremplin.

The main networks are Initiative France, Réseau Entreprendre, France Active and some acceleration programs such as WILCO. Granted to the founder and then contributed to the company's current account, they strengthen equity.

Yes. Contributed as shareholder current accounts, they strengthen equity and serve as leverage for Bpifrance debt or a bank loan.

It is rare, but possible to finance assets (stock, equipment) or with a strong application backed by funding already obtained or current account contributions.

Yes, under conditions. Some programs require the applying company and the intellectual property (patents, software, trademarks) to be in France; a case-by-case analysis helps adapt the structure if needed.