# France

It is up to developers — not builders — to make AI safe, says Mistral AI founder
News
October 4, 2023
It is up to developers — not builders — to make AI safe, says Mistral AI founder
Speaking at Sifted Summit, Mistral AI cofounder Arthur Mensch says it’s developers who should ensure that AI applications are safe — not those building large language models
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
Pausing AI development now would be premature, says UK’s top AI advisor
Interview
October 4, 2023
Pausing AI development now would be premature, says UK’s top AI advisor
UK’s AI Safety Summit needs to understand the risks posed by AI, says Matt Clifford
Cristina Gallardo and John Thornhill
HCVC’s new $75m hardtech fund will back technologies that “exist in the physical world”
News
October 3, 2023
HCVC’s new $75m hardtech fund will back technologies that “exist in the physical world”
The French VC has raised a new $75m fund dedicated to “hardtech” — and focused on tackling big challenges, from climate change to aerospace
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
UK-France AI rivalry heats up with dual summits
News
September 27, 2023
UK-France AI rivalry heats up with dual summits
French AI conference will take place just a fortnight after Britain’s AI safety summit
Cristina Gallardo
25 deeptech startups at the heart of Europe’s tech sovereignty
Analysis
September 26, 2023
25 deeptech startups at the heart of Europe’s tech sovereignty
Companies on our list have raised more than $100m from investors and are working on areas that will help Europe remain competitive
Cristina Gallardo
Who's winning the tech tussle between Germany and France?
Analysis
September 26, 2023
Who's winning the tech tussle between Germany and France?
France and Germany are both vying to be the startup hotspot of choice for founders and VCs — but who's winning?
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet and Miriam Partington
Founders, motive matters. What’s yours?
Opinion
September 19, 2023
Founders, motive matters. What’s yours?
There’s nothing wrong with being a mercenary founder — as long as your investors and cofounder feel the same
Tessa Clarke
Founders, at some point you might need to fire your friends
Opinion
September 18, 2023
Founders, at some point you might need to fire your friends
You should never keep someone because you like them
JooBee Yeow
French gigafactory scaleup Verkor raises record €850m equity round
News
September 14, 2023
French gigafactory scaleup Verkor raises record €850m equity round
The three-year-old startup has raised the second largest round in Europe this year to build a gigafactory in the north of France
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
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
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
France’s Eurazeo closes second smart city fund at €400m
News
July 18, 2023
France’s Eurazeo closes second smart city fund at €400m
The investor’s third and final closing will continue to target high-growth startups developing smart city technologies
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
Meet the Big Tech Alumni building AI startups in Paris
Analysis
July 14, 2023
Meet the Big Tech Alumni building AI startups in Paris
Mistral's €105m raise is just the start — French AI founders think Paris is the place to be
Tim Smith
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
Pigment, Payfit and Owkin-backer Frst has closed €72m of third fund
News
June 26, 2023
Pigment, Payfit and Owkin-backer Frst has closed €72m of third fund
Investors in Frst's new fund include the European Investment Fund, Bpifrance, Axa Venture Partners, Isomer and Mubadala, along with numerous founders
Amy Lewin
The 15 fastest-growing French startups
Analysis
June 26, 2023
The 15 fastest-growing French startups
From quantum computing to warehouse robotics, we pick out the startups whose teams are growing at light speed
Alexandra Bacon
Accel-backed insurtech Luko acquired by Admiral Group
News
June 16, 2023
Accel-backed insurtech Luko acquired by Admiral Group
Luko had been scouting for a buyer after filing with the French bankruptcy court last week
Amy O'Brien
French gigafactory Verkor set to announce a €2bn fundraise
Analysis
June 15, 2023
French gigafactory Verkor set to announce a €2bn fundraise
Verkor’s raise will rank among the largest rounds in Europe this year
Freya Pratty
15 French startups to watch in 2023, according to investors
Analysis
June 15, 2023
15 French startups to watch in 2023, according to investors
Sifted asked VCs from Singular, Iris, Sofinnova, Elaia and Ventech who they have their eyes on
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Meta and Deepmind alumni raise €105m seed round to build OpenAI rival Mistral
News
June 13, 2023
Meta and Deepmind alumni raise €105m seed round to build OpenAI rival Mistral
The company will be devoting a large chunk of the money towards compute power
Tim Smith
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
French oil giant TotalEnergies sells entire climate tech portfolio
News
May 31, 2023
French oil giant TotalEnergies sells entire climate tech portfolio
The move goes against the trend of rising appetite from oil and gas companies in backing climate tech startups.
Freya Pratty

# France

It is up to developers — not builders — to make AI safe, says Mistral AI founder

Pausing AI development now would be premature, says UK’s top AI advisor

HCVC’s new $75m hardtech fund will back technologies that “exist in the physical world”

UK-France AI rivalry heats up with dual summits

​​25 deeptech startups at the heart of Europe’s tech sovereignty

Who's winning the tech tussle between Germany and France?

Founders, motive matters. What’s yours?

Founders, at some point you might need to fire your friends

French gigafactory scaleup Verkor raises record €850m equity round

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

Can French startups overcome their elitist image?

Eurazeo's growth team quits to start new fund

France’s Eurazeo closes second smart city fund at €400m

Meet the Big Tech Alumni building AI startups in Paris

BlaBlaCar’s winding road to success

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

Pigment, Payfit and Owkin-backer Frst has closed €72m of third fund

The 15 fastest-growing French startups

Accel-backed insurtech Luko acquired by Admiral Group

French gigafactory Verkor set to announce a €2bn fundraise

15 French startups to watch in 2023, according to investors

Meta and Deepmind alumni raise €105m seed round to build OpenAI rival Mistral

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

French oil giant TotalEnergies sells entire climate tech portfolio

25 deeptech startups at the heart of Europe’s tech sovereignty