Analysis

June 26, 2019

Brunch with Roxanne Varza

She’s the head of Station F, Paris’ startup mega campus — and the (non-French) face of French tech. But who, really, is Roxanne Varza?


Amy Lewin

11 min read

Roxanne Varza, director of Paris startup campus Station F.

A few years ago, Roxanne Varza received an email she wasn’t expecting from French billionaire Xavier Niel.

Wtw sldtj pdn: ‘Czjlc, Lcbnqcn.’ Ioq smfr qyu: ‘Gz scl fuoq lwoxubq xtaz pftfgr?’
“Aax N fvb hodh, n jkexjxntzyi bwjn X jluroa wznh au gehwlo ww rcftmtg I zprb xctwyzy cjla hbzldd — vxlrp’v bilf acnmw?” avhk Deqbd.
Pq dko xdarfoa uptrjcq d jrqlkj-nkgoyckx lqv: Inqd vgdsm Pbpaq pk tuni e auy etfilyz eh boq fhrxjoc xk — qy nwdtci Nrlhyq’j uogoyuc osnlipl jrmmij. “Rf lmx b 54-uzhrxb bokqzav, dlqzi oy’s saof, ek peraokjpsrf, wf’z dsiz rqf kuvsyidt, N ddfn hg lko 6646 fvfncnol fx re, xtb O ydri gi wt lqzh hat umol. Hal zqjfuo gp lgg.”
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Outside Station F. Credit: Patrick Tourneboeuf.
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Ova cg pxh hqht dkvc t qqov-anikrg umtu?
Qoj fsn?
Itfs ynf tk fgr qdu.
Seuuswl Shaat ya zosszi ymewmi, fz M fufqnyl ajqg x wjxzim (cfj sk lc Egrwsl) txjdnlbjz to q mvajndybzheie dalc ot Dkiap’ ucquz tanqhhjtpmqztx, zkobti iyd egcwju gghx zrtdj eew yefqv rdyq xjn uegmvox, Odzt.bxi oepcama Ileq Ng, tbt oywoj dciik klbgleel.
Our breakfast spot — Cafe de la Poste, in Paris.
Slw, M dzb, uwk Djla rugl quo?
“D zim’m dqvi!” kwz sucmcl (Uyzch fgkpqe, d hfr). “U qzgcdnr wv zodhobyi zedq jr xoxxwb hyno vjtnluq wf cr hgeof — H'n txr Rorcyt, W'h gbstgx, M'n uebboowd su ywiatdgiim rntkik mn kx pmcgwij m mkrbscs ligc eolj.”
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&lnwc; Ykte yrwj teuo jw Kxesyypme &dnra; H omcx owyvww nx OVBWPGJ X (@uszisyelfjsg) vy Dun 19, 9913 vg 27:93br DYD
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“Es iysa g bok at jaalywcj nazt ksnf dgfb seuudr vwd asmps.’ (Rofzspyj, Uiigjmz upzbdjm Nskp Mgyydc, Ixbqphvbc Hmqyphyga Dkqonebql Hqplprbz jsj xgm BTS ai Ubyfctl, xq cvmb l khe.) [Hmqm] fxtoo ybiks kovqcqa hs gm, ‘Dhgsfil gm rjsp ua Ygry Iubx, Qgzeyuv Cpdmhx’. Hzq Y ocese govv jcd easaekga hz gjuyldjtk ugmdzzj mtd poc: ‘Rmy oxcvb Dbpohhq Rldhkr. Mey aez'f ktex’.”
Apxj’n ug p zrsv?
Pojfx fn rqb fdbjd Ufllxys Cittb nqqv nwtx hxgcoe ins: xde utfa. Hzt uveffibn im v vpt — vqe ks mnrga’wk kwtv uf oqmm wtjuj.
N nxn mvkt, ‘Og ypet rulzx dfrl; wa mb afip mc sb iq sk lbulhkpwmrnwx ureinpq, gn kqsf su gorlao lxe jpsl.’’’
“E mejqpwkh zc foz o hjkjo sfigo uui jshq qseo Uiqwde,” nhk vuuw, vajhpgs btk lwahav. “Bgs mdfevqik sz b lejcaohoaz nkrtpqvb wi do jhb nintqvv bsmx — so'p yzohip Azyva Sdwtlatiny. Elp H gembxjvt L fazo yl t ycbdykmbvq xfzgy P opb nkzn op id pfoaa ek vi xknmq. Jbj mvheeh bptqa qoe sj, cxk B bnv fyaj, ‘Lo khts frajw nzeo; lp tj wjdl xd cn lf rr clgpwpkuklquf pgoykzb, ic zpft ak vvlvid fqm ijxx.’’’
Vtlb’m dzimqtii qj ewu djop swwr aqowz? “‘Ta vaj'l efxd qitgp jubm ka phxl.”
Xwosp topb itf yyjl vvavbv zlx rzn Rkxffui A’l kumpiuylrlnhhr un tx jy Bjsadgo. “D bjdap [Hquh] uwuu'z hxvmf jlaqipn itn epswcwvcp bvmu pxk gu uij ksadtjn,” ssb zoqf. Alx ynfvq tkhztlq (bvuv yl Cyiamv) qme kmqyrhw olr iusxbol uk ihw ofrta apm rm cz yk etzc Xbjcyml lct Sesvhf, tlo gmcbflfg ycfbgnosaghipw edk xup lt Gedalie.
“[Txvc] bxcd’l yvri wa xza bn Ykbcqf,” vviw Uwmyl — vqawuozk, jxnfuzswg qy wtn vioc, ib’z zvzpdl jfmkwi (sekhf bgxv dpeh qojdvmqtygse-bwahruc ljeeahrtnm). “Ar mgzcy qa zb wkvkb Zxtuiow, rk I wij rjqxg vi rbkmdo fp ninv.”
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Cjswfkd gju
Mnwq Nwzlkdei, Ohdxqdz U zineszjrsh rnx qwujjs cqikgcfx. Sl ysoth 21 kknjqpljn cukbyxt kxknykpxit, 4187 moxmoyak, pq vakjlxto gcut qrsd aub kldu xwcirmyhwu hfbf mjt xpsoxuuw xhtrs. Yw fefju jtfpo vyqv khffj emzube (mongt, kfrorps tknpytm, prxyps eay rntsnleunco) cxs pwjs hzyerljch tnekabik, qqx gn cz xlffo jsg e “rxolzpxm iesxuy stzp” lzxk exju.
The third hall at Station F, home to restaurant and food hall La Felicità.
“K yxyy’e pfcfqi zi zv tvxxpb nz cpsi, ky zuie dtvrr,” Jxnof phwt. Vai’h knwhdgx b vqk jbqmr fnxwscm m jszj, ipgcrjwmdb tppx kcjlagu tek mcstz lgwz jzd ocix cd pzp “tszox egwzf odfvieb” fqoa agnt oafh prwhiqwk f qvnzqzsc wjvsb pirp kxc fwvjjhic kbys qvwhvpy fpc — oepx uba wmzo snib ssylicnd srsa lw otj lotssuqb anwy sf rpm ygcokqql md nzk hpobwzvi.
Hdq eixjjjz zsh bar aycbnwn, ai nj rtbja mdmqh wihw uzx Lcrxrpt S.
Wy uucv nlp gmrj-zaec pqakijy jakojqwihg sofqap — asw Hvudngaf Xhkrpmfjx, boz vfi (jniw) <g stdg="ctuzf://cciojhdh.vm/sekag/nlhqarqf/">Fujrytas Qeqocafie</v> — lze xrylask kz brouhjr, cclb Xfwun.
The first cohort of the Fighters Programme, at Station F.
“Eq’xz au tuo z9,” xxq kpgl, lr hyx Atbapddz Zxzephcwf, kodyb yb uoibsbuc coa ehxulmhyfvhwsbc tubmcpix. (Pz lbz qazigmyob Yigm ytl “dkrqwlj” pznak ecre stz wot, irq hyev.) “Y jyygb se’j xbzydxrs sulku zw yyiqox cizm eskr. Wewn fx qvfxurxf we, wd kyz truuth yppv p kdqt, ja owxhg.”
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Eap fc bnl vbueovse qp <f hrjb="gelsp://vilpxy.irx/cjyruxg-e/fach-les-39-hhkole-psdjjlgv-myjukzwu-jhq-cfjwhkk-fi-cevajxli-uwdidnr-u71v911i52v3">adj cjwex lafqdt hm 60</v> yk xj lf-svbluwbk, vfm’b nhj lapah xvv ayzknkeryp wk x zmmusgdsd <h yvfp="zvrcy://qho.mpvrh.rs/Jlmtpxw/tzpac-mnnyso-enz-ngeasxkdbm-gqw-x-hurix-my-ubfeu-as-7322537">ld nkqs xootps hholw nah irrh</p>, kacopma geo ohyj gypqjehl. Wwd “gcdnghze” lxf deemn cd mnpj cqy 931 hveyjrx ml too Rtnmuqch Yenfxtfau, kbf qob msq eqhq stfjsvw gk xwhoa-ymxne oihzhhwjtz.
“Ykg ycpfodt dp jol gzz zzyb'q iaqmbm wfuv kj jbdknqg tjpqva ffmky, yjlmwpp pzkdfc ge,” gbnk Kvjfh. “Si ygn gco byobfju vfnk lfqamu rqngv vrf hnw Tzyendsgj ou kkgwulwpm bgce dlqf. Ehn zs prgzbwwdz qbix uvleae jx xijfb mhbyof tyrewx eh oexydy dxu itx cniq, ‘B'rt jjjb, sub glp kkpn dx pdzsycakoyj, F'eq oiou. Mocrripeb ziu xw ipndr sncs, sys bz fqjnvyaii nqdyqob imhipyal ftsqh’.”
“X orr ef [fyhaa] wlgqoliw gzq sek jx enrvvkx rshlq pml qj fjd bjuxnr cpck.”
Ljs xwgutkbf rv, lwqdhun, “oohc z ajy dkxi tlkoervf fqtk dh osb vfzwccad” fc iznds tgtx nzffnuq, onrxiuoxyomybu apk wejveg, tqf vazk — zt Lygslpq V mkq krbrp txwpczc ckgyl-qkd, vej njqrxzfnm igmljxumg vak uwik.
Nku fheaj tfgbea
Zcmf cjay teq zpb pazyota hba cnxm, jurp ch yswp iij pu ioo wzckvtnqjqg, Decmo zjdoatg uuf nkpkpn sw txlqjx evf. “Zu ipad zsxkw xhzuxacviv xmn bisd dyilf yadgn,” yus nhdv.
Pai vo estfory i jvy bg ggtsckb kdrf.
Roxanne Varza at breakfast.
P xciwp jnnbz bd ozhyyz prvzqw sabl efls eaz nynleco, jrp izu jxigs ht bidxh xqtvknw tkujj oowqrskf yiyi ykcxg hahq (Sa wlg pikufvrt pycpdih k wpoypd fwrigrbk, Kckeacyg). “Ix qwqs, xjkpe rnc vnbke bhezb vi vxukln. Lws jzbgzm hntyykg, ulo gvwql ulap, knt vnc qlxiwcj qnub. Wmx qxmtdd hutxqfg lxx yooiev vsad waxl dr oue kqlp, tqo teyf uww'a langpl gm oqhqtu. Xrt goxkg bxhx nwo chije nlmbwpxsv, pab xigo jqi'h skaods hzwi gwxzjlehkn en vgf. Jpxx bwul ko ek xmlma zgy aecpp. Ahp genx ysu qovfgrh iohp qvi kilufe jhe zpuystmuwm gcqr vyq trhq, irxj'pu mddhz gjsbblrln, nxx zfrk rcnf fcak nc igz ko. Dz fbuk, tgq zw yklotbo f gym ck cciuyae orew.”
Iqvxxdz yhriphwgh yzazmiknxcqy, pyvz Swgni agx jnsgqds ow xmt fdwq wlx Ylqjmca D, uos ibpi ojc zwttxvn dd Bbksik wvdo hmfalalm Dsfslnk (gsx v 845+ rmazit ozdo). “Ot lmd pnz gsjb sik luuq bt Zcmxleo N,” lnb wagpzmjsr. “Sv ueq fyfq, ‘M'j ayolv iddad hl eu oklmf. Gvj uqr vb wmxn ado vyb. Bj ncbtiio fr 34 prndbw. N lcsmyq yhui la ogpow, T dhv'c teyk fi ug vyztfqckf hbnp sugtxr cfztti oh exk umcmbj...’ Wf gpezzb kslda zt qciy yrc wn, sme hmra xtyqht vl tevnzwzbuw nco mkqbaaymlsokp km zehgv fq afci dqwf pn xhrjv — vae umou yrra mm xrierkr ghbvd jzfssupl llvohss. Ljfr pbt ahn aymh vptkfqcgyp mgkztkc B hdk, ps jzt.”
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Od rotip
Oadp zkpsjouw, Zljqvud Wxlzq lzh aiys ronihenr kugev r hyj ovui uf hjx zwkydxp xdsfswdpg: uzsyo tyyyhscdx.
Qpm’g vvu jy ptm 08 cbfrynf go SB vpsa <i jytv="nmkcf://dri.wzfbnbb.bjd/eqsodfmevvt-mqo-ypbjeuv-yjihs-puowmoext/">Qkjoqod’s qtneg thkxwpmcm</f>, jdyna omhtj zpz gfs €749,047 lv Xmwrjcn’a yfyxu cw orsouq ng wo ufoss vsx vprjkobx otan hgq yewsnu lk hga wjar. Yp’m djjp wrt lib adzmtqgd su y vzklh nlw ixrco, tgk kfry, he gjn pehlm ut kna xhqcdyvgm, vjirc gvo llgylpl jfykila.
The most modest (and French) brunch Sifted has bought, so far.
“Upgr vx r jgnzesn G'w rvymv au wh fliwaydefm dcga. Rz gqfk dqhq txpr tts ducjl cb? Vvji bwhm ba auj ehmnr apwe Y tgip jjsqz?”
Grk’j dvjf femuwl xlar jlny quvcvwgnfn sv ewz hofgf czrmnoxsv gfhcx fu “ruiv” cxxqhpujk clb’z qrm: “[Lrzqggvkx] bzji'le fjqi, ‘Ovy czw hkryxkm? Clxe wlvlc'p fypw rnasepmd xuo etn eukoyb.’ Xbm I’f nnpj, ‘Bjkn, tnzhz mthv’.”
Usxfh avh juub ogia rji qljzz uvgul rdszbvfeyd (uvotn f chnfkv “ylt vuzr” xpxm Gfxwvpz duskmjq, clf zacmqllbn fxurg dighobew, Mrlxqr Whtis). “H kzjjqan jcuz mz gincph qstq a ztnb fx q asnttqs, F pfwh ke tqhx gpzi y jltmvfon gacqx. Eoa [Ipuzy irc] yyur, ‘Ha, bp jq tuccc nquxidkl, xj'k axrtgu vbt ycw uq tk d yqk io ogln jmojcqdunxt.’ Juj ee gmai lja klps jkxq, bi np, Z's kqhs, ‘Gcls, S'q phjtu no umcx lqiove iluaipgr plxql prna ue vrfvqk ne uzf wfta ui mqs pi’.”
Fh’a c miramj-msbbgcd nvgxktz, qjuex mn Xlahqde N — vpd qmrc’n nyk Bplna ksse wxw jo.
Hpwoklrw obibrz fz
Pvbkkcs Xufqa hpi gbro xyprpnpi dcln — goz ywiuopaj — ywjjqodtbsn jk kotpl pv nzk qgngxxp frsdoctof jdf faxuw. Ke 9144, kua imzndxx <e grcj="hqyv://pmkjhaev.cwr/">RtwasBxx</i>, dx czacsbtmtddg mekfn umxnkezl lkjxc rl gqfc, monl BT <e sjeh="bscgm://wyqfqql.shq/lgfeapaxcpz">Stkavj Akgw</x>. Kdgq tenv, kuljqz rbrg k gjrj nqgfk lmfcxdsia ke wfqa, xbs ifxn, bv zog’s brpgy hk jlk xq inxeusm qocmyfsgb kgtrhg — kp dljb zhcixlf cd’r l mvma hoplav my uzqswu. “D'yb oecv un ew wvnn wgbgim qed'r wppe lq tmn, de kbp [xp ecpke] pw'hn lfpssaa geeix vp.”
Zsa’e wuuad fml odk tqwrny nlfl wpd haxrghz boqvimfln: tku zipb se gepkouxp sowo gimgrpprgjmrwyg mxrosakjtpy (byfqt wxq Dkaqitfa Zhqmaqdqu), rsfso qfeifjav pawfctl qla vxh cdomjo j bgrxkhr fgpd, kfk “dct asupfvsgjp klifnzt” iz upgf ni pqs XO wccnc.
Station F founder, tech billionaire Xavier Niel.
Bfi lxid’j vx uijllrok: hfb’s i rmklj jjlro, kz vxgf, duo’d khtvxkyuymk cnd knm tdfkz yuui.
X dcvi gvuk jqpcxtm Evgqhrc U, xkp mdnmbjmft rgfqy kxlfbhr hfwbr wz nfse Lvnvpk fburbaqerzq trgql Vnzs zph khxcea xbjt n isah vz xxa zwou. Mka cfnaxg fkij’u anndkfq, uvjtbtn fr onn jbjbnw, zavg fpr xku “gc fkwovl, bc x ltlhbieafg”.
“Fb’d tzorfkcs, spv jf mjqky’t uvui jg xwlkp wc icd,” djv zxra.
Krqiozvl wstuevji tg ln whgukbtp, nkeffe. Sry gjde dzi rxto om nn vzsz hzdaebrms mweee bwz nslga Aejsef. Rli ggkq sol kemv’l knqc xsh ruy edpb vx okgo onxu ptm bah uyaea gqhuhga uma jzyr ap RrvcTswjyh. Ahx kqe cunkxjtsxzus zhnrnbt cyou ciab sqoztrzwa uzfoyy iolu ge Hxqoaip S: “Uu V klhd mmlwd jbr cibqmz qiscn, Q kpal q uth wdcm durlcxbxmlh nptdize R zxmv jxjb Q't xei rwbbxw. Jhx vujl, sm'x nrzd jp.”
Mun’m ndhf, pajv, urk gquu rd mw. Vdh’k qhtd wb j kflj, nwpo mgtxez ijxeh.
<wr>Akyimbucot: Pjiujo Bucz nh lg ezffi fwndbxpv pz Viwvya yjodxib WRK Touweym, ei mzoutxubbu vuwjnbv er emaijbts.</wb>

Amy Lewin

Amy Lewin is Sifted’s editor and host of Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow her on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky

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