\Public & Academic Analysis/ “Unicorns, who cares?”, French founders tell Macron There’s a shift in focus from asking for state funding to eyeing business from government contracts. By Marie Mawad in Paris 16 September 2020 Credit: Voodoo co-founders Alexandre Yazdi (left) and Laurent Ritter. Credit: Voodoo co-founders Alexandre Yazdi (left) and Laurent Ritter. \Startup Life Not everyone can become an entrepreneur in Europe By Marie Mawad in Paris 26 February 2021 \Public & Academic Analysis/ “Unicorns, who cares?”, French founders tell Macron There’s a shift in focus from asking for state funding to eyeing business from government contracts. By Marie Mawad in Paris 16 September 2020 With French entrepreneurs, flattery isn’t always the best strategy. On Monday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted more than 100 founders at his presidential palace to talk about his government’s plans to put €7bn into funding the digital economy. But when time came for kudos and congrats, Macron didn’t get the kind of reaction he expected. “A year ago we set a goal to create 25 unicorns, and we’ve created 13,” Macron cheered. “We’ve shown we’re a country that can spawn startups as well as grow them into unicorns.” To that, entrepreneurs responded: “Who cares?” “Let me start by saying: Who cares about unicorns?” said Alexandre Yazdi, the cofounder and chief executive of gaming startup Voodoo. Strong words, especially as Yazdi had been invited on-stage to talk about how his company became a unicorn last August after Tencent bought a stake. “I agree with Alexandre, who cares — unicorns don’t matter. We need to find another measure for success,” Jean-Charles Samuelian, the founder of health insurance company Alan, called out to the president a little bit later in the evening during questions and answers. Macron hosted founders at the French presidential palace this week. What matters more than funding for startups is the ability to grow business and to quickly expand globally, both founders said. Samuelian pitched the idea that France should aim to spawn mega global tech companies, judged according to their revenues and ability to change the world. The comments from founders to the president reflect a broader shift in focus in the French ecosystem, after years of government funding. By trickling down through state-backed fund Bpifrance, government investment helped spur a buzzing ecosystem and attract investors from all over. Now, the view from founders is that what the ecosystem needs most isn’t more funding from the state. Expectations have focused instead on the idea that more business and contracts should be handed out to French and EU startups. Government contracts “It’s important to get not just funding money, but also contracts,” Frederic Mazzella, the founder of BlaBlaCar and co-president of startups grouping France Digitale, told Sifted. “That’s money that boosts startups in more than one way, by helping them build a better product too,” Mazzella said. “France needs to buy more European solutions.” France this month unveiled a €100bn envelope for its stimulus package, meant to help the country’s economy bounce back after Covid-19. It’s split into three categories: ecological transition, boosting the competitiveness of businesses, and more cohesion between French regions. Digital is a sub-category, and of the announced €7bn budget for digital, €3.7bn will go to reinforcing startups financing, including through Bpifrance, Macron said. But Macron also argued that much of the total €100bn French economic stimulus will actually come back to startups indirectly, including through contracts with the government. “Digital, of course, is not a single sector,” Macron said on Monday. “A large part of the €100bn will actually get you all involved.” Marie Mawad is Sifted’s French correspondent. She also covers AI, and tweets from @Marie_a_Paris Want the best of Sifted in your inbox? Our newsletter brings you the latest, greatest stories on startup Europe. Sign up Terms of Use Related Articles Super speedy grocery delivery startup Dija launches in London By Amy Lewin Click here to read more Hopin almost triples valuation to $5.65bn just one year after launch By Amy Lewin Click here to read more 4 reasons why startups and corporates should work together In partnership with Digital Catapult Click here to read more Dutch supermarket app Crisp raises €30m By Amy Lewin Click here to read more Get the best of Sifted in your inbox By entering your email you agree to Sifted’s Terms of Use Sign up to \Future Proof Sifted’s weekly \Corporate Innovation roundup email By entering your email you agree to Sifted’s Terms of Use Most Read 1 Member \Deeptech 11 European quantum computing companies to watch 2 \Deeptech European companies set to dominate psychedelics market 3 \Venture Capital Is it time for more SPACs in Europe? 4 \Startup Life Can startups grow without venture capital? 5 Member \Venture Capital Who will be Estonia’s next unicorn? 3 Join the conversation Subscribe newest oldest most voted Notify of new follow-up comments new replies to my comments PierreDear Macron, you should stop financing companies and cut down taxes. You’re the worst of two worlds : socialist with large enterprises, you keep funding them and nationalizing losses, you’re also a liberal to the small ones. Funding with public money Bridgestone instead of offering them tax cuts. Result : they take your money, overpay the shareholders and leave our country once they’ve squeezed it neat. AntonioIt would be interesting a benchmarking about startups funding through public money. Are we in a Fair Game? MouWell I agree with the entrepreneurs but the thing is that they simply can’t do that (award contracts to those startups) . Our beloved EU is behind watching and they simply don’t like member states protecting or helping their companies so they would have to go through a public tender where other companies (US and Chinese mainly) will come and compete (the same thing isn’t happening that much in those places). The fact is that EU hates big companies (when they are from EU and especially if they are not german). Have a look at what they want to do… Read more »
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