In a bustling kitchen at the Cité Fertile, a creative hub in Pantin on Paris's northeastern edge, Marie-Clarisse assembles elegant canapés. "These are cassava and okra mini-quiches with mango curry sauce," she says, pointing to one tray. Nearby sit skewers of chicken marinated in mafé, a West African peanut stew. Her dishes, a fusion of French technique and Congolese ingredients, are destined for a high-profile event in the city that evening.
Marie-Clarisse's journey to this kitchen began decades ago when her family fled conflict in Congo-Brazzaville, finding refuge in France. Today, she runs her own catering business, Maison Kolia. "I learned French culinary techniques to showcase ingredients from back home," she explains. "It's a bridge between Congo and France."
In another kitchen within the same complex, Milena prepares a delicate nikkei ceviche, blending Peruvian and Japanese influences. Born in France to Peruvian parents, she left a career as a financial auditor to pursue cooking. "I wanted to make Peruvian cuisine more widely known," says the chef, who now operates her venture, Wankas.
Both women are part of a growing cohort of entrepreneurs forged by Meet My Mama, a Paris-based foodtech startup with a dual mission: to deliver premium catering and to unlock the professional potential of women, often from immigrant backgrounds, whose culinary talents have been historically overlooked.
From Home Kitchen to High-End Venture
Founded nearly eight years ago by Loubna Ksibi, Donia Souad Amamra, and Youssef Oudahman, the company was born from personal observation. "We grew up around women with incredible skills who didn't realize they could turn them into careers," Oudahman states. They identified a stark imbalance in the industry, noting that "in the gastronomy business, 80 to 90% of leadership roles are still held by men."
Meet My Mama's response is not merely about creating entry-level jobs. "We don't just want to make room for these women, we want them in premium positions," Oudahman emphasizes. The core of their model is the 'Mama Academy,' a training program that equips participants with advanced culinary skills and the business acumen needed to launch and run their own enterprises.
"It's not just economic inclusion," explains co-founder Loubna Ksibi. "We wanted these women to become independent entrepreneurs, and to shine." The training covers everything from recipe costing and marketing to client management, ensuring the chefs are owners, not just employees.
To date, approximately 80 women have launched independent catering businesses through the platform. Meet My Mama acts as an agency, securing contracts for major corporate events, international conferences, and private functions across Paris. The chefs then fulfill these orders through their own branded companies, creating a scalable ecosystem of small businesses.
A Model with Multiplying Impact
The social impact extends beyond individual empowerment. "We give chefs the power to have power," says Donia Souad Amamra. "And they'll pass that on to their families and communities. So the indirect impact is huge." This focus on creating lasting economic independence distinguishes it from traditional social enterprises.
The commercial success has been significant. The company now caters more than 600 events annually for a clientele that includes major French and international corporations. Its growth positions it among the leading caterers in the competitive Paris market. This commercial clout, the founders argue, is essential to their mission. The more business we do, the more impact we create. And the more impact we create, the more business follows, reflects Loubna Ksibi.
The startup's success highlights broader European themes of integration, female entrepreneurship, and the economic potential of diverse cultural heritage. It operates at the intersection of technology, business, and social innovation—a sector where European startups are increasingly prominent. Its model also emerges amid wider discussions on economic resilience, as global instability affects local economies.
Looking ahead, Meet My Mama is planning for international expansion, aiming to replicate its Parisian model in other European cities. The vision is to build a network that redefines professional gastronomy. "I don't know how much further we'll go," Ksibi says. "But we've achieved wonderful things together. And we'll continue to do so." For chefs like Marie-Clarisse and Milena, the platform has provided more than a business—it's a means to write their own professional narratives, bridging personal heritage with entrepreneurial ambition on a prestigious stage.
