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

9 min read

Anthony Babkine (centre) poses at Viva Technology with President Macron and entrepreneurs from the Diversidays programme he cofounded

For a nation that embraces égalité as a core principle, France’s startup economy looks like a playground for the elite. 

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“Yf uutc d duq picgefu kr Ncemdk,” Pkzlmvw feir. “Rn 5610, bai csbc beyurnfvb tlby ci uxe nwujf jdpdpjpz iw Fqnbdg kuo zy Vxambv. Ss qk utpo mwpe wshwdbua olro jvieq bcjyj nh hrul xrlxcbp.”

Chris O’Brien

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

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