France has a vibrant startup ecosystem, particularly centered in Paris, which is becoming a major European tech hub. As of 2023, France is home to around 20,000 startups. The French government supports innovation through initiatives like La French Tech, which provides funding and resources for startups. In 2022, French startups raised approximately €10 billion in venture capital. These factors collectively highlight France's dynamic and rapidly evolving startup landscape.
As of 2023, France's startup ecosystem includes around 20,000 startups. In 2022, these startups attracted approximately €10 billion in venture capital funding. This substantial investment underscores the ecosystem's growth potential and robust nature. The market's size and financial backing reflect its capacity to foster innovation and sustain a competitive edge within Europe and beyond.
France's startup ecosystem is characterized by several key strengths, including strong government support, a high-quality education system, and a strategic location in Europe. The country excels in sectors such as fintech, healthtech, and deep tech. These strengths are bolstered by France's robust industrial base and government support, positioning it as a leader in the European startup scene.
Paris is the primary hub of France’s startup ecosystem, known for its vibrant tech scene and concentration of startups. The city attracts entrepreneurs and investors from around the world. Major corporations and research institutions in Paris foster a collaborative environment for innovation. The dynamic ecosystem in Paris is instrumental in driving France's economic growth and technological advancements.
In addition to Paris, emerging hubs like Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse are gaining prominence in France’s startup ecosystem. Lyon is known for its strengths in biotech and digital industries, Marseille for its focus on maritime and logistics tech, and Toulouse for aerospace and advanced manufacturing. These emerging hubs are expanding the reach and diversity of France’s entrepreneurial landscape, offering new opportunities for innovation and growth.
France’s startup ecosystem benefits from a strong network of incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces that provide essential support and resources for entrepreneurs. Initiatives like Station F and Paris&Co have been pivotal in fostering a supportive environment for startups, providing access to resources, mentorship, and funding. This supportive infrastructure is crucial for nurturing early-stage companies and fostering a collaborative entrepreneurial environment.
Despite its strengths, the French startup ecosystem faces challenges such as bureaucratic hurdles and high labor costs. Navigating regulatory frameworks can be time-consuming and complex for startups. Additionally, labor costs in France are relatively high, which can impact the profitability and scalability of new ventures. Addressing these challenges requires strategic efforts and supportive policies to sustain growth and competitiveness.
France has significant opportunities for growth in sectors like fintech, healthtech, and deep tech. The country's strong focus on sustainability and green technology drives innovation in renewable energy and environmental technologies. France's strategic location and trade agreements provide startups with opportunities for international expansion. With continued investment and innovation, France's startup ecosystem is poised for further growth, contributing significantly to the global innovation landscape.
France's startup ecosystem demonstrates remarkable resilience and adaptability. The country's commitment to innovation, coupled with strong government and institutional support, enables startups to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities. The diverse talent pool and high-quality research institutions attract entrepreneurs and investors alike, ensuring sustained growth and success in the face of global economic shifts and market dynamics.
Paris, France
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Hospitality (& Events) • Education • AgroTech • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • IoT (& Wearables) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Food & Beverage • Robotics
Co-Founder & Partner @Daphni
Co-Founder & Partner @Daphni
Latvia, U.S.A. - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland, Monaco
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • PropTech • Education • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Robotics • Real Estate (& Construction) • Woman Focused
Managing Partner @Change Ventures. Kauffman Fellow Class 22. Chairman @TechHub Riga. Co-founder @TechChill.
Backing ambitious Baltic founders from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, building global success stories.
Most Interested In
The best Baltic founders building global businesses.
Not Interested In
Any investments that don't have Baltic founders - sorry, but it is outside our investment scope. Founders who don't have the "grit" (passion and perseverance) to build big, global, scalable businesses.
Paris, France
IoT (& Wearables) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Autonomous vehicles (& Cars) • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Robotics
Investment Director at Samsung Catalyst Fund
Investment Director at Samsung Catalyst Fund
London - San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - France - U.K.
Hardware (& Manufacturing) • IoT (& Wearables) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Autonomous vehicles (& Cars) • Robotics • Aerospace (& Defense) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Nanotechnology • Consumer
Barbara Belvisi is cofounder at Hardware Club.
Berlin Paris, France,, Germany
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • IT (& TMT) • Media • Education • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Insurance (& InsurTech) • Robotics • Healthcare (& Wellness) • LegalTech • Life Science • Mobile • Mobility • Nanotechnology • Oncology
Investor at Partech
Investor at Partech
Consumer products - Human capital - Los Angeles / Southern California - Parenting/families - Paris, France - Brazil
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • IT (& TMT) • Media • Education • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Cosmetics (& Fashion) • IoT (& Wearables) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Insurance (& InsurTech) • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Payments • Robotics • Healthcare (& Wellness) • LegalTech • Life Science • Mobile • Mobility • Nanotechnology • Oncology • Online Social • Consumer
Founded in 1982 in Silicon Valley, Partech Ventures is a global investment firm with a team spread across offices in San Francisco, Paris and Berlin. Most Partners have been entrepreneurs themselves or have held management positions within tech companies. The partnership acts and invests as a single team, helping entrepreneurs build fast-growing tech and digital companies addressing large markets across multiple continents. Partech Ventures partners with entrepreneurs at the seed (Partech Entrepreneur), venture (Partech International) and/or growth (Partech Growth) stages. Companies backed by Partech Ventures have completed 21 initial public offerings and more than 50 major M&A transactions with leading international companies. Since 2012, the team has built a pioneering business development platform fostering synergies and business relationships between entrepreneurs and strategic partners.
California Paris, France,, United States
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • IT (& TMT) • Media • Education • Businesses Solutions • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Insurance (& InsurTech) • Robotics • Healthcare (& Wellness) • LegalTech • Life Science • Mobile • Mobility • Nanotechnology • Oncology • Consumer
Partech is a venture capital firm headquartered in Paris, France, and spread acruss 30 countries in Europe, the US, Africa, and Asia. The firm invests tickets from 200K to 50M in B2B and B2C technologies reshaping industries. Companies backed by Partech have completed more than 21 IPOs and more than 50 strategic M&A transactions valued over $100M.
Paris France - New York City (NY) - San Francisco California - London, United Kingdom - U.K., United Kingdom
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • IT (& TMT) • Education • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • IoT (& Wearables) • Robotics • Real Estate (& Construction) • Investment Management • LegalTech • Life Science • Mobile • Mobility • Nanotechnology • Woman Focused
Investor in early stage tech
Angel Investor, engineer, geek, mentor; Angellab founder, INSEAD EIR, xMillion capital ex-partner. Reformed management consultant from Andersen, Ernst & Young.
Los Angeles - California, U.S.A. - Germany - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Icela
PropTech • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Energy • CleanTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • Robotics • Real Estate (& Construction) • DeepTech • Mobility • Woman Focused
Most Interested In
We're interested in teams re-imagining cities in 3 areas - GHG reduction, climate adaptation and solving problems associated with high density (like traffic or public safety). Cities are complex, so founders continue inspire and amaze us by identifying new systemic issues and solutions. If you're re-imagining city life, we'd love to hear from you.
Not Interested In
We don't invest in edtech or healthtech. Certainly not a vote on whether we want to see these categories succeed, we just think they need additional focus/skills which we don't have. That said public health is a growing area of interesting.
Shaun Abrahamson is a Founder and serves as Managing Partner at Urban Us. Shaun is a Member of the Investment Committee, and he leads investment selection and communications with portfolio companies, members of the Network, and limited partners in Fund II. Before founding Fund I, Shaun was an active angel investor, investing in more than 20 firms between 2007 and 2013 in his personal capacity. Early-stage investing and advising is informed by his experiences building MediaSentry (acquired by SafeNet in 2005), Starmedia Network (acquired by France Telecom) and Oculus Technologies (MIT CADLab spin-out). In 1999, he was an early employee at govWorks, one of the earliest startups focused on serving local government. govWorks was ahead of the market and failed during the dot-com bust, becoming the subject of the documentary Startup.com in 2001. Shaun has written for organizations such as The Economist Intelligence Unit, The Huffington Post, and CNNMoney. Crowdstorm, published by Wiley, was his first book and is a guide to working with large online crowds to find and evaluate ideas. The book is based on Shaun's experience working with Starbucks, Omnicom Group, $300 House, and Life Edited. Shaun has an MSc from MIT; an MBA from the Berlin School of Creative Leadership; and a BSc from the University of Cape Town. He is also an Angel Investor.
New York, U.S.A. - Canada - Mexico - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland - Brazil
PropTech • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Entertainment (& Sports) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Insurance (& InsurTech) • Logistics (& Distribution) • Robotics • Real Estate (& Construction) • Mobility
Most Interested In
FinTech/InsurTech/PropTech/ESG/Enterprise Software - Seed to Growth Equity - Global Investment Mandate - Contact: jeff@rueoneinvestments.com
San Francisco Bay Area, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
FinTech (& Financials services) • IoT (& Wearables) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Robotics
CEO + General Partner at Pegasus Tech Ventures