The Truth: French VCs ARE on Twitter

One of my first posts was called “France, Meet Twitter” where I happened to very slightly criticize French VCs for their absence on Twitter. Well, I take it back. I discovered some very high-profile French VCs on Twitter, namely Guillaume Lautour (@G_Lautour) of AGF Private Equity. Even though I haven’t come across the Twitter accounts of anyone from Partech International, Sofinnova or […]

French start-ups that got VC funding in January 2010

I think the VC community in France had a promising start for 2010. The month of January included the launch of the Paris Founder’s Club and tech innovation cluster System@tic launched its investment club with 17 VC firms. In addition, quite a few start-ups got funding, including (and obviously not limited to): eYeka (@eyekafr) This company likes to […]

The Little Lady Got Published in TechCrunch Europe :)

It’s been almost a month that I’ve had this blog and I must admit, so far it’s been a success! I just published my first article in TechCrunch Europe on the CEO drama @ French Start-up Deezer. Please don’t hesitate to let me know what you think and keep me posted on other events in […]

Would a company like Twitter get funded in France?

Yes, it happens. French companies get funded, regardless of what Silicon Valley may like to think. Hot start-ups like Deezer, Eyeka, DailyMotion, Streamezzo, MXP4, etc. can all vouch for this. But would someone like Twitter ever get funded in France? French VCs tend to position themselves as different types of investors than their American or […]

A Few Noteworthy French Music Start-ups

Midem (@midemnetblog) – the music industry’s largest international event – is taking place in Cannes, France from January 24-27. So, why not take a look at some rather interesting French music startups… MXP4 (@theremixculture) The company has created an interactive music platform – which lets listeners personalize and mix their favorite tracks – with €6.5 million raised to date from Sofinnova and […]

Looking for funding? Why not ask Sarkozy…

Through January 28th, start-ups and entrepreneurs can apply to receive between €45,000 and €450,000 from the government and OSEO (French parapublic SME support organization). And you don’t have to be French to score funds. The contest is open to entrepreneurs of all nationalities (although the company needs to be set-up in France). If you’re just a Francophile […]

Facebook: Still Not the Leading Social Network in France?

01Net published an article on Friday based on a recent study by Ifop (The French Institut of Public Opinon) on the progression of various social media platforms in France. Facebook is still not #1. According to this study. Of the 1,002 people to participate in the study, 49% had an account on French social network site […]

France goes to Silicon Valley: French Tech Tour 2010

Just a quick note for French tech companies interested in developing activites in Silicon Valley or establishing relationships with some of the big US tech stars: La Mission Economique and UbiFrance are now accepting applications for the 2010 French Tech Tour. From June 4-11, 15 leading French companies hand-picked by the following list of leading […]

Invest in a Start-up = Reduce your Taxes

Yes, that’s right my friends; while Silicon Valley was over there spreading rumors that it’s impossible to score VC money in France, the French government got a little creative. Since 2007, French tax payers can lower their wealth tax (ISF) by investing in a company. French taxpayers can now reduce their wealth tax by up to […]

“Hadopi” is French for “Oops”

Ok, well not exactly. “Hadopi” is actually the name of the French law for creative protection rights on the internet. The name comes from the organization that oversees internet copyright protection, the Haute autorité pour la diffusion des oeuvres et la protection des droits sur Internet (Higher Authority for the Distrubution of Works and the Protection of […]