On April 20, 2026, the Palatine Women Project officially launched its fifth cohort. This marks a new milestone for a program that, for the past four years, has been supporting female athletes in their transition to entrepreneurship. ALLY Avocats was there as a partner, but above all as a teammate.
What is the Palatine Women Project?
The Palatine Women Project is a support program unique in France, designed for elite female athletes who want to embark on an entrepreneurial journey. The idea is simple yet powerful: athletes already possess the qualities of an entrepreneur—resilience, discipline, and a drive to excel. The program gives them the tools to apply these qualities in the business world.
Each cohort brings together a group of women selected for their projects and profiles, and supports them over several months through a network of mentors, partners, and experts.
The role of ALLY Avocats in the program
A partner of the Palatine Women Project for the past four years, ALLY Avocats works alongside the winners on legal issues related to business creation and management. Legal status, intellectual property protection, contracts, and compliance: these are all factors that determine the strength of an entrepreneurial venture from its very inception.
At the launch of this fifth cohort, Clotilde Biron, a partner at the firm, took part in a panel discussion on business creation and management alongside female athlete-entrepreneurs from previous cohorts. During the discussion, she shared a conviction that guides our approach every day:
“Starting a business is a bit like playing sports: you can do it as an amateur, but if you really want to make a difference, push the limits, and truly excel, there’s no room for amateurism. You need to surround yourself with the right people, have the right tools, and know how to use them at the right time.”
Partnering, not just advising
What drives us in this partnership is a particular vision of support. Raisy Bantoo, an entrepreneur and athlete from the second cohort, has cited Jérôme Sujkowski and Clotilde Biron as indispensable teammates. This acknowledgment sums up our philosophy: we’re not just watching from the sidelines; we’re out on the field, right alongside the women who are building their businesses.
The legal function as a strategic lever. It is in this spirit thatALLY Avocats supports the winners of the Palatine Women Project, year after year.
Congratulations to the 5th graduating class
We would like to congratulate the new winners:
- Aude Amadou: a former professional handball player, Audehopes to expand her strategy and influence consulting firm.
- Elodie Clouvel: a two-time Olympic silver medalist in modern pentathlon, Elodieaims to create immersive experiences inspired by elite sports for executives and companies.
- Caroline Colombo: A former biathlete, Carolineaims to maximize real estate opportunities through the renovation or development of building lots.
- Marine Fatou Camara: an Olympic boxer, Marineis the founder of SORORITY Boxing, the first all-women’s boxing club.
- Laura Georges: A former player on the French national soccer team, Laurais the founder of the nonprofit organization “Grande Sœur.” She aims to expand support services for women in leadership roles in soccer and sports in France’s overseas territories.
- Jessye Gomesse: French modern pentathlon champion, Jessyehopes to start her own interior design firm.
- Léa Jamelot: An Olympic kayaker, Léahopes to organize events on a houseboat, aiming to provide a fun and social experience in a unique setting for both businesses and individuals.
- Aurore Kassambara: a former Olympic athlete and three-time French champion in the 400-meter hurdles, Auroreis the founder of Couloir 4.0. She aims to help independent female sports coaches streamline their businesses using no-code tools and AI.
- Valérie Marqueton: a sailor, Valérieis the founder of Lady Grit Sailing. Her goal is to compete in the legendary Mini Transat and to help women advance their careers through sailing.
- Mélissa Micaletto: a former professional basketball player, Mélissaco-directs a program that helps basketball players gain admission to U.S. universities.
And our gratitude to the entire Palatine Women Project team— Séverine Desbouys, Nathalie Bulkaert-Gregoire, Thierry Martinez, and Lorene Resseguier—for the trust they have placed in us over the past four years.
