Entrepreneur Highlight: Clément Monnet, Founder of Cinessance
The Streaming Platform of French Cinema
One thing I learned shortly after moving to the US is that you shouldn’t be afraid of connecting with people. While I’m shy by nature, I’ve taken it upon myself to go beyond my fear of rejection and reach out to people who seem like they have a fascinating story. That’s how I got to connect with Clément Monnet, French serial entrepreneur and founder of Cinessance, the streaming platform of French cinema.
One LinkedIn message and a few emails later, we were setting up time for an interview and partnering for a special BFF promotion: one month of free access to the platform offered in La Box Spring Edition. More details on that at the end of this post, but for now, let’s dive into the interview...
Clément, tell us about you.
I am a French entrepreneur born and raised in Auvergne (central region of France) and now based in Oakland, CA. I’ve been an expat for over ten years, first in Singapore, then China and now in the U.S. since 2015.
Even though I don’t live there anymore, I am deeply passionate about France, its history and its cinema.
How did you get to where you are? Do you feel like you always had that entrepreneurial spirit in you?
I wouldn’t say I’ve always had it in me. I grew up in a family of teachers, in the middle of the French country… But I’ve always been curious, and when I started my career in engineering, I noticed I enjoyed doing extra projects on top of my day-to-day. My experience in China made me realized I had a passion for innovation and I wanted to be where the next big thing happens. The Silicon Valley seemed like the perfect place to start a business so that was my next stop.
After co-founding and growing my first tech company Voom, an Uber for helicopters, I decided to put my B2C and tech experience towards a different field, that would reflect my passion for French cinema. That is how Cinessance was born.
When did you start Cinessance? How long did it take you to launch?
The idea of Cinessance came from two pain points. First, I was frustrated I couldn’t watch French films online, or show them to my friends here. Secondly, it was knowing that France is the second largest exporter of movies in the world, yet there are only 3% of French films on the main streaming platforms.
It is such a miss for Francophiles and lovers of cinema.
So in April 2021, I partnered with three advisors to create the business. We raised the funds and started building the platform and in November 2021, we launched Cinessance. It all went by very fast!
What is the raison d’être (the why) behind your business, and what impact do you wish to have?
As I said, I love my home country, its history and heritage. I’m nostalgic of the time the French language was spoken in the courts of Europe. France used to be at the center of the world, and I found it regrettable it is not anymore. So I’m on a mission to promote French culture and savoir-faire, and make it shine abroad by giving access to exceptional French films online. I think globalization has helped people in some ways expand their horizons, but they don’t necessarily want the same stores everywhere, the same type of super-hero movies, etc… I want Cinessance to represent an enriching experience, that showcases the best of France, the beauty of its landscapes and the beauty of its stories too.
I believe that thanks to my past experience in B2C and tech, and my passion for French cinema, I am the right person for this.
Any advice you can give for the aspiring entrepreneur that may read this?
Everything is possible when you put your mind to it, so in the face of challenges, don’t give up and keep working. I’d also say: talk about your project to as many people as you can, and take advantage of people’s knowledge and experiences.
Do you have a mantra or quote that keeps you going?
“Impossible n’est pas français.” (Impossible is not French) ~ Napoléon.
I hope you enjoyed getting to know Clément and his streaming platform Cinessance. Because we have the same mission of showcasing the best of France abroad, we have partnered to offer ONE MONTH OF FREE ACCESS to the platform when you subscribe or buy La Box Spring Edition. The code will be in your package!