Definition
French Tech (La French Tech) is the French government’s national brand and support ecosystem for technology startups, launched in 2013. It encompasses the French Tech Mission (a government body), the French Tech 120 and Next40 indexes of leading scale-ups, the Label French Tech for officially recognized startup communities across France and internationally, and an international network of French Tech hubs in major cities worldwide. French Tech is not a funding program — it is a brand, a network, and a coordination mechanism that amplifies the effectiveness of funding programs like France 2030.
Role in France 2030
French Tech and France 2030 are the twin pillars of France’s startup and innovation strategy. Where France 2030 provides capital, French Tech provides visibility, coordination, and international positioning. The two programs are deeply complementary: many France 2030 competition winners are French Tech 120 companies; many French Tech 120 companies are France 2030 beneficiaries.
The French Tech Mission actively promotes France’s innovation ecosystem to international investors, corporates, and talent. This promotional function is critical for France 2030: foreign direct investment and international talent are necessary complements to public funding for France to build globally competitive companies. The annual Choose France summit at Versailles, where President Macron announces major investment commitments, is partly a French Tech showcase — a demonstration to global business leaders that France is the premier destination for European innovation investment.
French Tech international hubs — present in over 100 cities worldwide from San Francisco and New York to Singapore and Tokyo — serve as bridgeheads connecting French startups to foreign capital and foreign companies to the French ecosystem. For France 2030-backed companies seeking US or Asian investors, the French Tech network provides an institutional framework for introductions and relationship-building that would otherwise require years of individual relationship development.
Key Facts
- Launched 2013 by President Hollande’s government, expanded significantly under Macron
- French Tech Mission: government body coordinating ecosystem support across ministries
- French Tech 120: 120 leading growth-stage French tech companies, selected annually
- French Tech Next40: 40 most advanced scale-ups, IPO and unicorn candidates
- Label French Tech: awarded to official startup communities in France and internationally
- International French Tech hubs: present in 100+ cities across 5 continents
- France’s startup ecosystem reached €8.6 billion in venture funding in 2023
Why It Matters
For French startups, the French Tech label provides legitimacy, network access, and a structured relationship with government support systems. Being selected for the French Tech 120 or Next40 indexes signals to investors — domestic and international — that the company has reached a threshold of credibility and scale that peer evaluation has validated.
For international investors, French Tech is the most important entry point into France’s startup ecosystem. The French Tech Mission actively facilitates investor connections, provides market intelligence, and advocates for regulatory improvements that benefit the startup ecosystem. Investors unfamiliar with the French market typically begin their engagement through French Tech infrastructure rather than direct cold outreach.