Étape 1 / 4 - Compréhension

Reading Comprehension

5 questions sur le document Back Market. Difficulté croissante.

1. True or False? Justify with a quote from the text.

Back Market was founded because the three entrepreneurs could not afford new smartphones.

✗ False - they were motivated by the 50 million tonnes of electronic waste problem, not personal cost. "It was this uncomfortable reality that led three French entrepreneurs…"

Back Market owns a large stock of refurbished devices that it sells directly to customers.

✗ False - "Back Market does not own or stock any devices. Instead, it connects verified refurbishers with buyers."

Back Market achieved unicorn status, meaning it was valued at over $1 billion.

✓ True - "achieved unicorn status with a valuation exceeding $5.7 billion." (A unicorn = valued at over $1 billion.)

2. The main competitive advantage of Back Market is:

Lower prices thanks to a factory in Asia.

Building consumer trust in the refurbished electronics market through a certified marketplace.

Manufacturing its own range of refurbished smartphones.

Offering the fastest delivery times in the electronics sector.

3. How does Back Market generate revenue? Describe its business model in one complete sentence.

Back Market generates revenue by connecting verified refurbishers with buyers through its marketplace platform and taking a commission on each sale - without owning or stocking any devices itself.

4. Why do you think traditional electronics retailers were concerned about Back Market? Give two reasons based on the text.

Traditional retailers may have been concerned because, first, Back Market's marketplace model does not require expensive physical stores or stock investment - making it highly scalable and cost-efficient. Second, it targets the same customers but at a lower price point, making the traditional "new is better" retail model less attractive, especially as consumer interest in sustainability grows.

5. In your own words, explain what makes Back Market "disruptive". (2-3 sentences)

Back Market is disruptive because it fundamentally challenged the assumption that consumers always prefer new electronics. By building a trusted marketplace for certified refurbished devices, it created an entirely new category in the retail sector. It also disrupted the traditional business model by operating without any physical stock, relying instead on a network of verified third-party sellers.

Étape 2 / 4 - Grammaire

Grammar Spotlight

Modal Verbs for Business Communication - les outils rhétoriques du pitch et du rapport professionnel.

1. Observe

These sentences come from start-up pitches and business reports. What do you notice about the verbs in bold?

a. "This technology could revolutionise the entire online shopping experience."

b. "Investors should consider the scalability of our platform before committing."

c. "Start-ups must demonstrate clear market traction to secure funding."

d. "The market might not be ready for this level of disruption yet."

e. "With proper funding, we can reach profitability within 18 months."

f. "We will deliver a working prototype by Q3 of next year."

2. The Rule

Modal	Meaning in business context	Typical signal words
can / could	Can = current ability / Could = future potential or polite suggestion	capacity, potential, possibility
should / ought to	Strategic recommendation or expert advice	advisable, recommended, best practice
must / have to	Absolute obligation or market necessity	required, essential, non-negotiable
might / may	Probability or cautious projection	possibly, perhaps, under certain conditions
will	Certainty or firm commitment	definitely, certainly, guaranteed

In a pitch, the choice of modal is a strategic decision: will shows confidence, could shows potential, might shows intellectual honesty. Using the wrong one changes how investors perceive you.

3. Identify the nuance

For each sentence, select the meaning expressed by the modal:

a. "Our app can process 10,000 transactions per second."

Current capacity / ability

Obligation

Uncertain projection

b. "You should pivot your business model before expanding internationally."

Firm commitment

Strategic recommendation

Absolute obligation

c. "The company will launch in three new markets by December."

Uncertain possibility

Recommendation

Firm commitment / certainty

d. "Investors might be hesitant given the current economic climate."

Absolute necessity

Cautious probability / uncertainty

Current ability

4. Complete the pitch extract

Choose the most appropriate modal for each gap in this investor pitch:

"Good morning. We are EcoBox. Today, I show you why sustainable packaging become a €50 billion market by 2030. Our technology reduce packaging waste by 70%. Companies comply with new EU packaging regulations by 2026 - and that's exactly where we help. Early investors be concerned about margins, but our model shows profitability at scale."

Word bank:

5. Write 4 sentences about a start-up

Imagine a start-up selling AI-powered fitness coaching. Write one sentence with each modal type:

Étape 3 / 4 - Lexique

Vocabulary in Action

Matching · gap-fill · catégorisation - le lexique du chapitre activé en contexte.

1. Match the term to its definition

1. unicorn

2. pivot

3. venture capital

4. scalability

5. pitch

6. MVP

2. Gap-fill - Pitch extract

Complete this pitch extract using the word bank below:

Word bank: ecosystem disruption angel investor business model entrepreneur

As a young , I grew up in Paris, where the start-up was just beginning to emerge. We identified a clear opportunity in the fashion resale sector. Our connects sellers and buyers directly, taking a 12% commission on each transaction. Our first provided €60,000 in seed funding - and believed in our vision when no one else did.

3. Categorise the vocabulary

Click each term to assign it to the correct category. Each term belongs to one column only.

Innovation & Ideas

Funding & Growth

Communication & Strategy

Étape 4 / 4 - Production guidée

Write a LinkedIn Post

Contexte guidé - respecte les consignes de fond, de forme et de registre.

Scenario

You are a junior marketing assistant at EcoWrap, a French start-up developing sustainable packaging solutions for e-commerce. Your manager has asked you to write a short post for the company's LinkedIn page (80-100 words) to attract potential investors and B2B clients.

Your post must: explain the environmental problem EcoWrap addresses · present the innovative solution · show the business potential using at least one modal verb · use at least 3 vocabulary items from this chapter.

Sentence starters

"We founded EcoWrap because…" / "Our innovative solution…" / "Unlike traditional packaging companies, we…" / "With the right investment, we can / could / will…"

Ta réponse :

0 motsObjectif : 80-100 mots

Model answer (~90 words):

🌿 At EcoWrap, we believe the e-commerce boom should not come at the planet's expense.

Every year, online retail generates 165 billion packages - most wrapped in single-use plastic. We founded EcoWrap to solve this: our compostable, plant-based packaging can replace traditional materials at comparable cost, with 90% lower carbon impact.

Our business model targets mid-sized e-commerce brands looking to reduce their environmental footprint and attract eco-conscious consumers. The market could reach €8 billion by 2030 - and we're ready to disrupt it.

💡 Interested in investing in sustainable innovation? Let's connect.

#StartUp #SustainablePackaging #EcoWrap #Innovation #Entrepreneur

Passer à Appliquer

Chapitre 03 - Start-ups & Innovation Culture

Reading Comprehension

Grammar Spotlight

1. Observe

2. The Rule

3. Identify the nuance

4. Complete the pitch extract

5. Write 4 sentences about a start-up

Vocabulary in Action

1. Match the term to its definition

2. Gap-fill - Pitch extract

3. Categorise the vocabulary

Write a LinkedIn Post

Aide