Chris O’Brien

Chris O’Brien is a writer for Sifted. He covers French tech, and can be found on X and LinkedIn

From minister to tech bro: French tech is poaching talent straight from the government
Analysis
January 26, 2024
From minister to tech bro: French tech is poaching talent straight from the government
Government officials are joining the ranks of France’s growing “startup nation”. But strict laws to stop conflicts of interest are causing controversy
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet and Chris O’Brien
How French VCs beat the fundraising odds in 2023
Analysis
January 11, 2024
How French VCs beat the fundraising odds in 2023
Hint: It’s the government
Chris O’Brien
Inside Bpifrance’s Funds of Funds: ‘We are more willing to take risks than our private peers’
Analysis
January 11, 2024
Inside Bpifrance’s Funds of Funds: ‘We are more willing to take risks than our private peers’
Anne Germain, senior investment director of the Funds of Funds division, pulls back the curtain on how France's state bank has built the nation's VC ecosystem — and what's ahead in 2024
Chris O’Brien
France bets €1bn on startups building bus-sized nuclear reactors to fight climate change
Analysis
January 5, 2024
France bets €1bn on startups building bus-sized nuclear reactors to fight climate change
After years of playing defence, the nation's nuclear industry is seizing its startup moment
Chris O’Brien
How PhotoRoom became France’s hot young GenAI thing
Analysis
November 24, 2023
How PhotoRoom became France’s hot young GenAI thing
Taylor Swift and Barbie use the automated photo-editing tool. So do millions of small businesses. The result is growth that has investors swooning
Chris O’Brien
Brunch with 2050’s Marie Ekeland: France’s VC rebel with a cause
Interview
November 23, 2023
Brunch with 2050’s Marie Ekeland: France’s VC rebel with a cause
The influential investor has a plan to save the world. Step 1: Blow up the venture capital model
Chris O’Brien
How Grenoble became Europe’s deeptech hotspot
Analysis
November 14, 2023
How Grenoble became Europe’s deeptech hotspot
The French media has long called it France’s ’Silicon Valley’ for its microelectronics prowess and close ties between academia and business. Thanks to some recent big VC rounds, the secret is getting out.
Chris O’Brien
Quantum leap: France’s plan to win the future of computing
Analysis
October 23, 2023
Quantum leap: France’s plan to win the future of computing
French quantum startups have raised the second-most venture capital this year in Europe, just behind the UK
Chris O’Brien
Brunch with SISTAFUND’s Tatiana Jama: ‘I want to have real impact’
Interview
October 13, 2023
Brunch with SISTAFUND’s Tatiana Jama: ‘I want to have real impact’
After launching three startups and becoming a business angel, Jama is focusing her considerable influence and new venture fund on boosting female founders
Chris O’Brien
The big French fire sale: record numbers of startups are selling at big discounts
Analysis
September 11, 2023
The big French fire sale: record numbers of startups are selling at big discounts
The number of startup acquisitions in France is hitting record highs. But deal value is down, as cash-strapped businesses desperately seek acquirers
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet and Chris O’Brien
Capital problem: outside of Paris, French founders are struggling
Analysis
August 16, 2023
Capital problem: outside of Paris, French founders are struggling
Paris-based startups raise 80% of all funding in France, leaving its regions fighting for the attention of VCs
Chris O’Brien
Can French startups overcome their elitist image?
Analysis
August 2, 2023
Can French startups overcome their elitist image?
More than other countries, French founders are overwhelmingly white, male and previously wealthy. But a wide array of programmes are hoping to change that
Chris O’Brien
Eurazeo's growth team quits to start new fund
News
July 25, 2023
Eurazeo's growth team quits to start new fund
Four investors from the French investor's growth team have left to start their own fund
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet and Chris O’Brien
BlaBlaCar’s winding road to success
Analysis
July 5, 2023
BlaBlaCar’s winding road to success
From the pandemic to failed international expansions, the French mobility company has seen plenty of setbacks. But its new strategy and big growth in 2022 had investors bullish on the future
Chris O’Brien
Dream or delusion? An entrepreneur wants to build a European rival to Google
Analysis
June 27, 2023
Dream or delusion? An entrepreneur wants to build a European rival to Google
France’s Octave Klaba believes he can turn search engine Qwant into the cornerstone of a cloud services giant
Chris O’Brien
Liberty, equality, growth equity: Inside Macron’s plan to boost France’s tech IPOs
Analysis
June 12, 2023
Liberty, equality, growth equity: Inside Macron’s plan to boost France’s tech IPOs
President Emmanuel Macron wants to reverse French tech's weak IPO record. If the nation hits its goal of 10 tech IPOs, the benefits could be felt across Europe
Chris O’Brien
France looks to the UK for lessons on boosting business angels
Analysis
May 8, 2023
France looks to the UK for lessons on boosting business angels
Britain’s SEIS investment scheme has been widely praised across Europe. France wants to import a version as part of a plan to boost annual early-stage investment by €3bn
Chris O’Brien
The Family Files: Inside France's ugliest startup fight
Analysis
April 17, 2023
The Family Files: Inside France's ugliest startup fight
A chateau, a playmate and missing SpaceX shares are part of the drama revealed by court documents in the €4.5m legal fight over the influential community
Chris O’Brien
Brunch with Kima’s Jean de La Rochebrochard: 'You need to fight for every single deal'
Interview
March 22, 2023
Brunch with Kima’s Jean de La Rochebrochard: 'You need to fight for every single deal'
The man in charge of hunting pre-seed deals for French billionaire Xavier Niel may already be the kingpin of the French ecosystem, but it hasn't dimmed his drive to find the next great startup
Chris O’Brien
Meet The Whisperers: France’s mysterious tribe of super angels
Analysis
March 6, 2023
Meet The Whisperers: France’s mysterious tribe of super angels
An influential alliance of operator investors that started as an informal WhatsApp group mirrors the rise of angel investors in France
Chris O’Brien
Bpifrance: Inside the machine powering French tech’s rise
Analysis
February 27, 2023
Bpifrance: Inside the machine powering French tech’s rise
Understanding how Bpifrance spent €67bn in 2022 to fund innovation can be daunting. But its role boosting quantum-computing startup PASQAL demonstrates the breadth of its support
Chris O’Brien
Can BeReal build on its buzz in 2023?
Analysis
February 8, 2023
Can BeReal build on its buzz in 2023?
The Paris-based app became a global sensation in 2022. But as downloads slow, analysts say the anti-influencer social network is at a pivotal moment
Chris O’Brien
France plans to use the startup downturn to come out on top in Europe
Analysis
January 30, 2023
France plans to use the startup downturn to come out on top in Europe
French startups raised $14.6bn in 2022, up from $13.5bn in 2021. That made France the only major European ecosystem to see an increase in funding in 2022
Chris O’Brien
Inside Snap's decision to shut down Zenly
Analysis
September 6, 2022
Inside Snap's decision to shut down Zenly
Snap argues that its Paris-based mapping app can never be profitable but must formally ask French regulators for approval to shut it down. Zenly employees are challenging that rationale.
Chris O’Brien

Chris O’Brien

From minister to tech bro: French tech is poaching talent straight from the government

How French VCs beat the fundraising odds in 2023

Inside Bpifrance’s Funds of Funds: ‘We are more willing to take risks than our private peers’

France bets €1bn on startups building bus-sized nuclear reactors to fight climate change

How PhotoRoom became France’s hot young GenAI thing

Brunch with 2050’s Marie Ekeland: France’s VC rebel with a cause

How Grenoble became Europe’s deeptech hotspot

Quantum leap: France’s plan to win the future of computing

Brunch with SISTAFUND’s Tatiana Jama: ‘I want to have real impact’

The big French fire sale: record numbers of startups are selling at big discounts

Capital problem: outside of Paris, French founders are struggling

Can French startups overcome their elitist image?

Eurazeo's growth team quits to start new fund

BlaBlaCar’s winding road to success

Dream or delusion? An entrepreneur wants to build a European rival to Google

Liberty, equality, growth equity: Inside Macron’s plan to boost France’s tech IPOs

France looks to the UK for lessons on boosting business angels

The Family Files: Inside France's ugliest startup fight

Brunch with Kima’s Jean de La Rochebrochard: 'You need to fight for every single deal'

Meet The Whisperers: France’s mysterious tribe of super angels

Bpifrance: Inside the machine powering French tech’s rise

Can BeReal build on its buzz in 2023?

France plans to use the startup downturn to come out on top in Europe

Inside Snap's decision to shut down Zenly