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La French Tech
Launched in 2013 by the French government, the French Tech Mission operates under the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital...
La French Tech
Launched in 2013 by the French government, the French Tech Mission operates under the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. It is not a family office or investment fund — it is a public-sector ecosystem builder that identifies, labels, and accelerates French startups through a combination of non-dilutive support, global community management, and curated access to capital. The Mission is currently led by Director Clara Chappaz, who took the role in 2021 after founding a fashion resale platform. The program's flagship initiative, the French Tech Next40/120, selects 120 high-growth companies each year based on revenue and fundraising metrics. Selected firms — including Mistral AI, Doctolib, Back Market, and Qonto — gain access to a dedicated government liaison, international trade support through Business France, and introductions to institutional investors at events like the annual French Tech VivaTech gathering. The Mission does not invest directly but facilitates connections. Companies can lose or gain the label annually based on performance, creating a dynamic merit list. Geographically, the French Tech community extends across French regions — from Station F in Paris to hubs in Lyon, Bordeaux, and Lille — plus 100+ international outposts. In September 2023, the Mission rebranded its scale-up support program to "French Tech 2030" to align with the France 2030 investment plan, adding a focus on deeptech, green industry, and health innovation. Director Clara Chappaz stated the aim was to double the number of French unicorns by 2030 through programs like the "French Tech DeepNum20." Team size runs roughly 30 core staff, supplemented by a network of volunteer "French Tech ambassadors" running local chapters in cities such as Tokyo, San Francisco, and Berlin. Unlike a traditional venture fund or family office, the French Tech Mission operates on a public-service logic: it grants visibility, not capital. Its structural differentiator is the label system itself, which functions as a government-endorsed quality signal for French startups, lowering discovery costs for foreign LPs and GPs. This branding layer — paired with no-equity accelerator programs — makes the Mission more akin to a sovereign matchmaking platform than an investor, though its influence on French LP allocation patterns is widely acknowledged in Paris tech circles.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
France
City
Paris
Corporate office
Paris, France
Frequently asked questions
Does La French Tech invest capital or take equity in the startups it supports?
No. La French Tech is a government mission that provides non-dilutive support — branding, international promotion, and curated introductions to investors. It runs accelerator programs like the Next40/120 and French Tech 2030 but does not maintain a balance sheet or fund for direct investments. The label functions as a quality signal, not a funding mechanism.
How does a company qualify for the French Tech Next40/120 list?
Companies qualify based on quantitative metrics: total fundraising (at least €40 million for Next40) or annual revenue exceeding €10 million with double-digit growth. The Mission updates the list annually, and firms can enter or exit based on performance. The French Tech Mission evaluates data from Dealroom and Bpifrance to compile the ranking.
Who runs the French Tech Mission?
Clara Chappaz has served as Director of the French Tech Mission since 2021. She reports to the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. Prior to the role, Chappaz founded Vestiaire Collective co-founder Fanny Moizant's resale startup Lullaby, and worked at Vestiaire Collective itself.
What is the difference between the French Tech label and the French Tech Next40/120 program?
The French Tech label is a broad certification for startups that meet innovation criteria and is awarded to over 3,000 companies. The French Tech Next40/120 is a selective annual index of the 120 highest-performing labeled companies, chosen for hyper-growth potential. The Next40 subset represents the top 40 firms, receiving more personalized government support and international promotion.
How does the French Tech Mission's global network of hubs work?
The Mission oversees over 100 French Tech Hubs in cities including Tokyo, San Francisco, London, and Berlin. Each hub is run by a volunteer ambassador — typically a French entrepreneur or executive living locally — who organizes events and connects local French startups to the host ecosystem. These hubs are not investment offices but community nodes that amplify the French Tech brand abroad and facilitate soft-landing for French companies.
Is the French Tech Mission involved in co-investments or fund-of-funds activities?
No. The Mission does not operate as a limited partner in external funds, nor does it facilitate co-investment clubs in the manner of a family office or private equity firm. Its role is institutional matchmaking — at events like VivaTech, it introduces labelled startups to French and international VCs, LPs, and corporate venture arms, without taking transactional economics.
How does the French Tech Mission relate to Bpifrance?
Bpifrance is the French public investment bank that provides direct funding, loans, and equity co-investments to French startups. The French Tech Mission coordinates closely with Bpifrance on ecosystem initiatives but remains operationally separate: Bpifrance deploys capital, while the French Tech Mission handles branding, community, and international promotion. Both fall under the umbrella of French governmental economic development.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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