Archive for April 2016
The Digital French Council is worried about French government position on Open Data
Just a couple weeks after a loud argument between RATP -a state-owned public transport operator, and CityMapper -a public transit navigation app, the CNNum calls out French parliamentarians in a press release, encouraging them to support open data on the occasion of the digital Republic draft bill led by Axelle Lemaire -Deputy Minister for Digital Affairs, […]
This week in French Tech venture capital: Yestudent, Pixmap, YouTransactor
The French Tech ecosystem this week continued to see a steady trickle of the kind of deals that increasingly seem to define it: small and early stage. The deals also were spread across the country. Here are some of the most notable: Yestudent: Based in Toulouse and born of a student project at a business […]
Meet the 5 startups selected to pitch tonight at #PARISFOUNDERS
Tonight, our 10th and last edition of #ParisFounders is taking place at Palais Brongniart. During the past editions, we brought together nearly 5,000 attendees and received more than a thousand applications for startups who wanted to present their product on stage. After this 10th edition, we will have seen 50 startups demo their on stage. Our alumni include including […]
Orange acquires Groupama to launch mobile bank in bid to become major fintech player
Orange announced today it has acquired a majority of Groupama and will use the service to launch a new mobile banking service. The former Groupama, a financial services and insurance company, will be re-named “Orange Bank” in 2017 and will be a pure mobile banking play. Orange acquired 65 percent of Groupama after months of exclusive […]
How Marc Rougier’s long entrepreneurial road to Silicon Valley led back to Paris
Toulouse native Marc Rougier sent a lightning bolt through the French Tech ecosystem last November when he announced he was leaving Silicon Valley to become a venture capitalist in Paris. Over the course of a couple of decades, Rougier had carved out an impressive record as one of France’s most successful serial entrepreneurs. Now, after spending […]
British technology investment bank GP Bullhound opens Paris office
GP Bullhound, the London-based technology investment bank, has announced the opening of a new office in Paris, attracted by the rising tide of French Tech fundraising and mergers. The new office will be led by Guillaume Bonneton, a partner since 2010. The Paris location will expand GP Bullhound’s global reach, in addition to its existing offices in […]
Fnac counters Conforama bid for Darty as French heavyweights battle over retailing prize
Just a day after French furniture retailer Conforama (Steinhoff Group) increased its offer to acquire London-based retail giant Darty, Fnac has launched an unexpected €989M counterbid. France’s Fnac raised the initial €558M offer it made in November 2015. The 60-year-old French company that sells cultural, and electronic products, announced that it was prepared to offer €1.84 per Darty share in a deal that values Darty at €989M. […]
Lendix acquires rival lending platform Finsquare to grab bigger share of crowdfunding market
Paris-based Lendix announced today that it has snapped up cross-town lending platform rival Finsquare. The deal is a small signal of a maturing Fintech scene in France. Both services allow small and medium businesses to use crowdfunding to borrow money for projects. In a press release, Lendix executives said the two companies offer complimentary services, as Finsquare […]
Axelle Tessandier on her six years in Silicon Valley and her return to France
The decision to leave France in 2009 was as obvious for Axelle Tessandier as was the decision to return last year. In both cases, the founder of the Axl Agency, felt the desire to be part of something new and exciting. And in both cases, there was something in her gut telling her to just go. […]
France VCs looking harder at hardware (infographic)
Next month, numerous movers and shakers from the global hardware and IoT ecosystem will descend on Paris for the 3rd edition of the Connected Conference. While those outside the industry might question why Paris is the home to one of the top events on everything connected, insiders know all too well the formidable IoT and hardware […]