Azeem Azhar's Exponential View / Season 5, Episode 28

Startups and the State: Growing French Tech

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France’s tech scene is building momentum. Can it reach 25 unicorns by 2025?

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May 05, 2021

In less than a decade France has gone from tech backwater to the startup engine of the EU. It recently celebrated its 12th company to achieve a $1 billion valuation and is well on the way to President Macron’s goal of “25 unicorns by 2025.” Kat Borlongan, director of La French Tech, joins Azeem Azhar to explore how her government taskforce has been working to effectively drive growth in the French startup scene.

They also discuss:

  • Why achieving tech sovereignty has become a key motivator for governments.
  • How France’s visa scheme is part of their offensive strategy to attract top tech talent.
  • Why the French government is directly investing in startups via public investment bank Bpifrance.

@katborlongan
@azeem
@ExponentialView

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