Chris O’Brien

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

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
The Family feud: cofounder of iconic French incubator accused of embezzlement
Analysis
March 29, 2022
The Family feud: cofounder of iconic French incubator accused of embezzlement
Alice Zagury and Nicolas Colin have launched a legal campaign against their cofounder Oussama Ammar, claiming he refuses to account for €3m.
Chris O’Brien
250 of France’s top entrepreneurs launch seed fund
News
March 17, 2022
250 of France’s top entrepreneurs launch seed fund
The Galion Project wants to leverage its elite French founder membership to close the early-stage funding gap
Chris O’Brien
Brunch with Sorare cofounder Nicolas Julia
Interview
March 14, 2022
Brunch with Sorare cofounder Nicolas Julia
He's running France's hottest startup while hobnobbing with some of the world's biggest sports stars. So why isn't he breaking a sweat?
Chris O’Brien
Why Europe is speeding ahead in autonomous shuttles
Analysis
February 16, 2022
Why Europe is speeding ahead in autonomous shuttles
Autonomous shuttles may not make your heart beat fast, but they have emerged as the most practical form of self-driving vehicles. And a handful of European companies are in the driver's seat
Chris O’Brien
Exotec raises $335m to become France’s fourth unicorn in 2022
News
January 17, 2022
Exotec raises $335m to become France’s fourth unicorn in 2022
The company’s warehouse robots help retailers compete with Amazon
Chris O’Brien
Back Market becomes France's most valuable startup
News
January 11, 2022
Back Market becomes France's most valuable startup
The refurbished gadget platform raised $510m for a $5.7bn valuation
Chris O’Brien
Qonto valued at €4.4bn after French fintech funding record
News
January 11, 2022
Qonto valued at €4.4bn after French fintech funding record
The neobank raised €486m to target SMEs.
Chris O’Brien
Predictions for French tech in 2022
Analysis
January 3, 2022
Predictions for French tech in 2022
What’s going to happen in the French tech ecosystem in 2022? We asked some big brains to find out.
Chris O’Brien
Move over, Facebook: How France became a hotbed for social networks
Analysis
November 1, 2021
Move over, Facebook: How France became a hotbed for social networks
Defying the odds, France has become a hotbed of social networking apps like Zenly, Yubo, Powder and BeReal.
Chris O’Brien

Chris O’Brien

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

The Family feud: cofounder of iconic French incubator accused of embezzlement

250 of France’s top entrepreneurs launch seed fund

Brunch with Sorare cofounder Nicolas Julia

Why Europe is speeding ahead in autonomous shuttles

Exotec raises $335m to become France’s fourth unicorn in 2022

Back Market becomes France's most valuable startup

Qonto valued at €4.4bn after French fintech funding record

Predictions for French tech in 2022

Move over, Facebook: How France became a hotbed for social networks