London’s French Tech community announced the launch of the French Tech Hub London

London’s French Tech community announced the launch of the French Tech Hub London

London’s French Tech community announced the launch of the French Tech Hub London on Thursday 14 April at 6.00 p.m., in the presence of Emmanuel Macron, French Minister of the Economy, Industry and the Digital Sector and Axelle Lemaire, Minister of State for the Digital Sector.

For some years now, the French Tech ecosystem has seen rapid growth, driven by a new generation of entrepreneurs, investors, engineers, designers and other talented people.  France is becoming a “start-up nation”, home to vibrant tech hubs and talent and imbued with a strong entrepreneurial culture.  The name of this movement is “La French Tech”; it is led by entrepreneurs and backed by the French government.

The French Tech Hub programme consists of a worldwide network of tech entrepreneurs, investors and executives. These 11 (soon to be 20) French Tech communities are designed to build bridges between major innovation hubs and facilitate the international growth of French start-ups.

London is the first European capital to be labelled as a French Tech Hub, coordinated by Albin Serviant, CEO of Easyroommate.com and Appartager.com, and under the patronage of Bernard Liautaud, Patron of the Hub, General Partner at Balderton Capital, founder of Business Objects.

To date, London’s French Tech community includes the following members under the French Tech London label: French Digital, FrogValley, FrenchConnect London, Business France, the French Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain and the French Embassy.

The evening also featured flagship start-up founders and CEOs, with a panel discussion and Q&A on international growth.

– Fanny Moizant – Co-founder, Vestiaire Collective

– Philippe Gelis – CEO and co-founder, Kantox

– Xavier Louis – CPO and co-founder, Peak

– Ning Li – CEO and co-founder, Made.com

– Mike Tuchen – CEO, Talend

– Jules Minvielle – CEO and founder, Mozoo

Devialet powered the sound system and showcase its technology with their last product, PHANTOM, a 100% wireless speaker integrating the ADH® intelligence , while OVH presented its latest Digital Launch Pad start-up accelerator programme.

The six members of the panel listed above met the press before the launch of the French hub, from 5.30 p.m. onwards, as well as Bernard Liautaud (Patron of the Hub, General Partner at Balderton Capital, founder of Business Objects),  Albin Serviant (coordinator of the French Tech Hub London, CEO of Easyroommate.com and Appartager.com) and Hiren Parekh (Sales and Marketing Director, OVH UK).

Emmanuel Macron said a few words to the press at a short and very informal Q&A opportunity around 8.00 p.m.

Axelle Lemaire also discussed digital issues, for example developments in the French legal framework.