TEAM & PARTNERS

Christophe GERSCHEL

Founding Partner

Christophe is Director of the Master’s program in Mergers & Acquisitions at Université Évry Paris-Saclay and Founding Partner of the law firm Alérion.

Committed to fostering a fertile environment for the next generation of entrepreneurs within the University, he initiated the creation of The Bench Incubator.

He began his career as a Tax Inspector (1989–1994) before joining the law firm Bignon Lebray.

A graduate of the Institut d’Études Politiques de Toulouse, he holds a PhD in Law from Paris I University and a postgraduate degree (DEA) in Business Law from the same institution.

He served as a member of the entrance examination jury for the École Nationale d’Administration (ENA) and as a member of the supervisory commission of professional championships within the National Directorate of Management Control of the French Professional Football League for nearly ten years.

Beyond his interest in startups, he is actively engaged in volunteer work, particularly in projects dedicated to biodiversity protection. He is the founder of the NGO Green Sanctuaries, which works to protect endangered remarkable forests around the world.

Antoine JOUANNAUD

Entrepreneurship Project Officer

Antoine began his career with immersive experiences in organizations facing diverse challenges, ranging from facilities management at STMicroelectronics to HR support at EF Education First. This early operational versatility enabled him to master the fundamentals of organizational structure and internal communication.

Driven by a strong entrepreneurial mindset, he simultaneously became involved in student and community initiatives, emerging as one of the founding members of Start in Sceaux. It was through this experience that he discovered The Bench, which he joined as part of the third cohort of the Aventurine program in 2025.

Building on this experience, he officially joined The Bench in April 2026 as an Entrepreneurship Project Manager. Within this committed ecosystem, he now supports impact-driven entrepreneurs, actively contributing to pre-incubation and incubation programs aimed at turning societal challenges into tangible opportunities. Recognized for his intellectual curiosity and his ability to navigate rapidly evolving environments, Antoine leverages the principles of sustainable innovation and human-centered support to successfully carry out his missions and foster the growth of the entrepreneurs he works with.

Jonathan CHANTEUX

President – Partner

Jonathan began his career in international event management before gradually moving into Executive Education, working with prestigious institutions such as INSEAD and ESSEC.

For the past 12 years, he has specialized in designing and delivering customized training programs, covering everything from pedagogical design to operational implementation and commercialization.

His professional experience has allowed him to support a wide range of organizations, from large corporations to family-owned SMEs and individual entrepreneurs, while operating in culturally rich and diverse international environments.

Dedicated to the professional and personal development of students and executives, this passion drives him to thrive in intellectually stimulating and varied environments. Colleagues often describe him as possessing the energy and vision to move mountains and open new perspectives through an entrepreneurial mindset and innovative ideas.

A true team player, Jonathan prioritizes the well-being and development of his teams, placing people at the heart of his leadership approach.

Capucine DUROT

Entrepreneurial Projects Manager

Capucine Durot began her career at Cegid, where she played a central role in the creation, development, and management of an acceleration program. As Program Manager, she oversaw the entire initiative, from startup sourcing and operational support to coordinating a network of mentors, managing ecosystem partnerships, and organizing around thirty major events.

Building on this experience at the intersection of innovation, strategic management, and ecosystem development, she joined The Bench in 2025 to lead its flagship support programs (Aventurine, Amazonite, and Emeraude), designed to nurture high-impact entrepreneurial projects from ideation through acceleration.

Alongside her professional career, she competes at the highest level in sport as a member of the French national Viet Vo Dao team. A multiple-time French champion and world medalist in the discipline, she brings the values of rigor, commitment, resilience, and collective performance to every mission she undertakes.