La Mission French Tech

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A government-led startup ecosystem support program launched in 2013 that coordinates public-private initiatives to promote French technology entrepreneurship domestically and internationally.
What are the main aims and objectives?

La Mission French Tech operates with three core strategic ambitions: promoting the French startup ecosystem internationally to position technology companies as a major economic advantage; accompanying and supporting startups through targeted programs that help develop high-potential technological companies addressing major societal challenges; and federating the ecosystem by coordinating actors through networks of French Tech Capitals and Communities across France and in 52 countries worldwide. Since 2019, France has maintained its position as the top European country for attracting foreign investment. The mission's strategic priorities include developing world-class technology companies capable of providing solutions to major societal challenges, improving the dissemination of French Tech solutions throughout the French economic fabric to strengthen technological sovereignty, accelerating the ecosystem's opening to all talents and territories, and positioning French Tech as Europe's leading ecosystem for ecological transition.

How does the program work?

La Mission French Tech is a public administration attached to the Directorate General for Enterprises (DGE) within the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. Unlike traditional government agencies, it operates from Station F, the world's largest startup incubator in Paris, placing the administration directly at the heart of the French tech ecosystem.​

The mission comprises six internal divisions: Management and Cabinet Office, Operations (legal and financial implementation), Territory (leading the network of French Tech Capitals and Communities in France), International (managing communities abroad), Support (running accompaniment programs for winning startups), and Communication (promoting ecosystem successes and managing the French Tech brand).​

The mission deploys multiple interconnected programs targeting different startup segments. French Tech Next40/120, launched in 2019, is a state accompaniment program dedicated to the 120 highest-performing French scale-ups capable of becoming global technological leaders, selected half on revenue criteria and half on fundraising criteria. French Tech 2030, launched in 2023, supports 125 companies in the first cohort and 80 in the 2025 cohort that respond to major societal challenges aligned with France 2030 strategic priorities, providing financial and extra-financial support coordinated by the Mission French Tech in partnership with the General Secretariat for Investment and Bpifrance.​

French Tech Tremplin, launched in 2019, promotes equality of opportunities by supporting entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds (residents of priority neighborhoods, beneficiaries of social minimums, refugees, scholarship students) with training, mentorship, and financing up to €22,900 for the Incubation phase. French Tech Central, launched in 2017, facilitates access for all startups to main public services in their territory, while French Tech Rise, launched in 2021, is an annual initiative supporting startup financing at the regional scale.​

The mission operates through a unique public-private partnership model, working alongside 17 French Tech Capitals and labeled private associations (Communities) that serve as primary representatives in all regions. This network includes 1,400 volunteers and 6,000 startups bringing French Tech to life across France and globally. The mission also coordinates with the network of 60+ French Tech Correspondents—partner administrations and public services (Bpifrance, Business France, CNIL, Euronext, etc.) mobilized to contribute to startup success.​

The "Je choisis la French Tech" initiative aims to double the use of startup solutions by public and private sector players by 2027, strengthening technological sovereignty by meeting the needs for digital, technological, and ecological transformation of the economic fabric and public administrations.​


 

What is the overall cost?

It is estimated that La Mission French Tech had a budget of €215 million (approximately $249 million USD at November 2025 exchange rates), including €15 million (approximately $17 million USD) for international development.

Program-specific funding includes the French Tech Community Fund with €1.5 million (approximately $1.7 million USD) allocated by the French government for the 2024-2025 period to support initiatives led by French Tech Communities. French Tech Tremplin provides financial support up to €22,900 (approximately $26,500 USD) maximum per laureate in the Incubation phase, financed by the State and Caisse des Dépôts via Banque des Territoires, operated by Bpifrance. An additional €1 million (approximately $1.2 million USD) was allocated to this program in the 2025 budget.​

How was it implemented?

La Mission French Tech was created in November 2013 under the government of President François Hollande by Fleur Pellerin, then Minister Delegate for SMEs, Innovation and the Digital Economy. The initiative emerged from the need to promote the growth and international influence of French digital startups and make France a "startup nation". The founding philosophy deliberately avoided creating a new administration or public tool from scratch, instead building on existing initiatives to enhance their visibility through the common "French Tech" banner and promote shared ambition among all actors.​

Implementation unfolded through several key phases. In January 2014, the first 9 French Tech Métropoles were labeled, beginning decentralization across French territories. In October 2016, the first 22 French Tech Communities internationally were labeled, extending actions globally. In January 2017, French Tech Central was created to facilitate startup access to public services.​

In September 2017, Mission French Tech moved from Bercy (Ministry of Economy and Finance) to Station F, the world's largest incubator. In October 2018, the strategy refocused on three axes: helping startups scale to become scale-ups, promoting "tech for good" with positive social impact, and better integrating women and social diversity into the tech ecosystem.​

In April 2019, the first labeling of 13 French Tech Capitals and 43 French Tech Communities occurred for a 3-year duration. In July 2019, French Tech Tremplin was created, followed by French Tech Next40/120 in September 2019 to support 120 young French companies considered promising and capable of becoming world-class technological leaders. French Tech Rise was created in July 2021, and in June 2023, French Tech 2030 was launched with announcement of 125 laureates, associating the ambition of the France 2030 plan with accompaniment by Mission French Tech and Bpifrance expertise.​

Leadership has evolved through several directors. David Monteau, formerly of INRIA, became the first director in 2014. In May 2018, Kat Borlongan replaced him. Clara Chappaz was nominated Director in November 2021, and after her appointment as Secretary of State for Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy in September 2024, Julie Huguet became the new director in October 2024.

What impact has been measured?

The French startup ecosystem has expanded dramatically to encompass 18,000 active startups employing 450,000 people directly as of 2025. Employment in the sector grew by 4.6% in the first half of 2025 alone. France has maintained its position as the top European country for attracting foreign investment since 2019 and attracted €8.3 billion (approximately $9.6 billion USD) in fundraising in 2023 and €7.1 billion (approximately $8.2 billion USD) in 2024.​

The 2025 French Tech Next40/120 cohort generated €10 billion (approximately $11.6 billion USD) in combined net revenue in 2024 (up 3% year-on-year), with one-third of revenue-selected laureates generating over €100 million in annual turnover. These 120 companies created 42,000 direct jobs in France and internationally, with 93% having an established international presence, generating 35.6% of revenues outside France.​

A 2021 Roland Berger impact study projected that French Tech Next40/120 companies would generate over 160,000 direct and indirect jobs in France by 2020, with each direct job creating 5.2 indirect jobs. The study projected these companies would contribute 6% of French GDP growth by 2025 and 14% of growth in French exports of goods and services between 2020 and 2025.​

French Tech Tremplin has supported more than 2,000 entrepreneurs since 2019. Companies that completed the Incubation phase demonstrate impressive results: 79% remain active, with survival rates of 66% for the first cohort (2019-2020) and 86% for the second cohort (2021-2022)—significantly outperforming the French national average of 61% for companies created five years earlier. Revenue growth has been exceptional: the first cohort's revenue quintupled on average five years after the program, while the second cohort's revenue tripled in three years. Over half (58%) recruited at least two people by their second year of existence.​

The 2025 French Tech 2030 cohort of 80 startups collectively raised €1.1 billion (approximately $1.3 billion USD) in funding and generated €188 million (approximately $217 million USD) in revenue in 2024. They created nearly 3,200 jobs in France, with workforce growth expected to surge 45% in 2025. Nearly 40% are based outside the Paris Region, fueling regional economic vitality. Their intellectual property pipeline includes 353 patents, with R&D investment exceeding €130 million (approximately $150 million USD).​

A significant geographic shift has occurred: 56% of startups are now installed outside Île-de-France. Regional employment is progressing by more than 5%. While Paris still concentrates 47% of fundraising, the South of France attracts 36% of investments thanks to the vitality of deeptech and greentech.

What lessons can be learned?
  • Ecosystem-building approach validated: The strategy of building on existing initiatives rather than creating new administrative structures from scratch has proven effective, with the unique public-private partnership model creating genuine ecosystem momentum.​
  • Dual feedback mechanism creates value: Programs create bidirectional value flow where startups receive support with specific problems while simultaneously providing "reality checks" to government, helping identify systemic problems and establish fixes that benefit a far greater range of companies.​
  • Diversity remains challenging: Despite programs like French Tech Tremplin, diversity issues persist. The 2024 French Tech Next40/120 cohort included only 8 startups with female co-founders. The ecosystem is still perceived as "too white, male, and from privileged backgrounds".​
  • Budget instability undermines long-term planning: The 2025 budget discussions revealed significant vulnerability with approximately €3 billion in cuts to innovation programs. The Jeune Entreprise Innovante (JEI) status threshold was raised from 15% to 20% of expenses in R&D, potentially excluding approximately 1,000 startups and costing individual companies up to €250,000 annually. This instability contradicts the visibility startups need for long-term planning.​
  • Exit gap persists as major shortcoming: Lack of exits remains "perhaps the biggest shortcoming with no easy solution for accelerating them". Despite scale-up support helping companies reach international competitive size, finding strong exits remains challenging.​
  • Quantitative selection criteria may disadvantage certain sectors: Programs using primarily quantitative criteria (revenue, fundraising) make it difficult to balance for diversity and may disadvantage deeptech/medtech companies with "long development cycles often disconnected from immediate market indicators".​
  • Procurement barriers remain despite initiatives: Despite the "Je choisis la French Tech" initiative, changing entrenched procurement practices favoring larger global distributors over homegrown startups remains difficult. Startups hoped French and European agencies would focus procurement programs on homegrown companies to support local economies, but implementation has been challenging.​
  • National champion policy contradiction: French tech policy contains a fundamental tension—attempting to scale down US tech companies in hopes of scaling up French companies, despite evidence that "what hurts US tech companies hurts not only French consumers but also French tech entrepreneurs".​
  • Dependency risk on government support: Many startups now depend on government aids and tax incentives to finance early-year development and attract investors. This creates vulnerability when budget pressures force reductions in support mechanisms.

CURATED BY

Tom Hancock

Research Associate
Global Entrepreneurship Network
United Kingdom