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 […]

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 […]

I Love2Recycle: Cellphone Recycling à la Française

It’s all about being green. Inc. Magazine published an article last month on San Diego-based ecoATM, a start-up developing kiosk or ATM-like machines where people can deposit their old cellphones for cash. Sounds like a brilliant idea. I remember seeing a company that wanted to do the exact same thing at a Silicon Valley Launch […]

“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 […]

The Sarkophone: Thalès Téorem

Just because Sarah Palin is the only average Joe to get a call from President Sarkozy doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be interested in his mobile device. Not an iPhone, not a Blackberry. Recently all the buzz has been around Sarko’s new handset, the Téorem by Thalès. Sarkozy asked the SGDN (French National Defense) to stop using the […]

French Animation: A very pretty picture

If anyone is going to give Pixar a run for their money, it’s French animators. Of course, everyone knows and loves Les Triplettes de Belleville, the French, Belgian and Québecois collaboration feature film that was nominated for 2 Oscars in 2003 . Two shorter, more recent, no-to-be-missed animations are: French Roast, which won SIGGRAPH’s Best in Show award […]

Silicon Valley Connect

To any French and international companies interested in expanding or setting-up in Silicon Valley, you may want to consider this virtual event (done via Adobe Connect – computer + headset mandatory, webcam optional). Hosted by Marc Dangeard (founder of Entrepreneur Commons, former President of the European American Angel Club, Managing Partner at Paris-based investment banking firm […]