Interview: Paris 2024 Olympic Innovation Chief Omar El Zayat
How the Olympic Committee sourced 600 startups and chose 17 to work with the Paris Games -- and what this could mean for France's SportsTech future.
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Spotlight Interview: ChangeNOW CEO Santiago Lefebvre Wants You To Believe Again
ChangeNOW 2025, the "world expo of solutions for the planet," is in full swing this week. Ahead of the Paris opening, I spoke with Lefebvre about how a bold idea born at COP21 became a global gathering, and why, in a divided world, hope and action still matter.
Spotlight Interview: Keles' Laurent Van Lerberghe On Digital Health Investing
"The region between the UK, France, and Benelux is becoming something like a new Palo Alto. Everything is reachable within two and a half hours, creating a concentrated ecosystem of talent, capital, and market opportunities."
Spotlight Interview: Fly Ventures' Marie Brayer
"What's really exciting is seeing the emergence of academic entrepreneurship in France."
A Fight for Fairness: Maud Sarda on building a more ethical economy with Label Emmaüs
Sarda: "This isn’t just about the survival of a business; it’s about justice and survival as a whole. We’re fighting for a fairer world where second-hand goods are valued and everyone has access to high-quality, sustainable options."
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🤖 La Machine #30: Is France Losing Its AI Funding Mojo? 🤖
Also: Meet Gigi, an AI matchmaker that scrapes your digital footprint to recommend connections for business, networking, and dating -- whether you asked it to or not. The Black Mirror-esque platform, already backed by Sequoia, OpenAI, and Monashees.
Is France Losing Its AI Funding Mojo?
Despite government initiatives and the Paris Summit, France's AI startup ecosystem is struggling to secure funding in 2025, raising just $372 million so far compared to $2.8 billion in 2024. With fewer big rounds and declining deal volume, France lags behind the UK and Germany in AI investment.
French Tech Funding Wire May 9: Kalent, WeMet, Raidium & Softway Medical
Only 4 startups raised from May 5 to May 9 amid the slow French holiday season.
🇫🇷 French Tech Wire: OpenAI Makes French Connection With Fidji Simo
The native of Sète has risen from this seaside fishing town to become one of the top players at tech's most influential company. As CEO of applications, she also now stands as one of the most prominent Frenchies in tech.