iES!

About iES!

iES! is an incubator and support hub for social economy enterprises in Wallonia, Belgium. It presents itself as a single entry point for entrepreneurs and organizations that want to build businesses with a social purpose, combining economic viability with social and environmental usefulness.

The organization supports projects at different stages of development, from first ideas to consolidation and growth. Its role is to help social enterprises develop through tailored incubation, training, resources, networking, and guidance on the practical dimensions of entrepreneurship in the social economy.

iES! also works to make the social economy more visible and accessible, while promoting a model of entrepreneurship based on democracy, participation, and a stronger balance between economic performance and social responsibility.

Core Values

• Collective action: iES! emphasizes collaboration, cooperation, participation, and shared learning as a foundation for building stronger social economy projects.
• Vision and innovation: The organization promotes a creative, ambitious, and forward-looking approach to social economy entrepreneurship, encouraging projects that go beyond conventional models.
• Optimism and social purpose: iES! frames social economy as a way to build a fairer, more sustainable, and more equitable society by putting people and the environment ahead of profit alone.
• Consistency and ethics: It stresses alignment between principles and actions, including democratic governance, responsible decision-making, and a balance between economic success and social responsibility.

Unique Aspects

• Wallonia-wide gateway: iES! positions itself as a one-stop entry point for social enterprises across Wallonia, combining incubation, training, resources, and networking in one place.
• Collective incubation method: Its support model combines group training, peer exchange, individual follow-up through partner agencies, and networking activities, creating a multi-layered accompaniment approach.
• Strong ecosystem links: iES! works with a broad network of Walloon partner organizations, including several conseil agencies and ecosystem actors, to extend the support available to entrepreneurs.
• Dedicated social economy focus: Unlike a general business incubator, iES! is specifically built around the needs, principles, and governance models of the social economy.