The sphere that I am approaching in this work is far from unknown to me. I have already practiced it for several years, as it is a passion of mine. In terms of passions, I have many others, such as those of science fiction and even antiquity. What is their relationship with the topic of this book?

In science fiction, there is almost always a hero smart enough to resolve an extraordinary situation. Antiquity is synonymous with mythical stories involving good guys, as well as bad monsters and cruel gods. Science fiction, like antiquity, projects me into a world which, far from making me forget what I feel, captures images of what I encounter, or even of what I imagine myself experiencing. Should I remind you about Troy’s story? Probably not. Why this metaphor, given the main theme of this book – the corporate incubator? Here are some elements that I leave you to freely interpret through this division of roles…

Ulysses is the manager of the corporate incubator. The Trojan horse is the structure of the business incubator. The latter carries within its belly the best start-ups. The Citadel of Troy is the big company. There is a certain hierarchy in Troy, with its King (the CEO), its princes (the Executive Board), its nobles (senior executives) and the people (the employees). It should be noted that the king and princes of Troy fervently desire that the horse, the offering of the Greeks (the ecosystem of the start-ups), enters the citadel. In any case, this is what they reveal to us. Finally, regardless of the real motives, we will have to find ways to deal with the Troy syndrome so that the horse is not a vehicle of fear and disorder for those who welcome him, but on the contrary is a source of peace and fertility. This is not a simple concept as the subtle mix of fear and fascination, inspired by start-ups, is indeed present in the minds of all Trojans, regardless of their rank.

This story, which began a long time ago, is still being written before your very eyes. I do not know how it ends. I confine myself to this work to simply explain the mechanisms of it. Happy reading!

Pascal LATOUCHE

October 2018