Frederic Boy

Are French unicorns ready for their IPO? I'll say yes, and probably even a bit better than German startups! Let me tell you why. Most IPOs are driven by the CEO / CFO couple but there is a third important wheel to this constellation: the CMO! A big part of a successful IPO and then stock exchange valuation is communication. It's all about trust, baby! And trust is built through communication & thought leadership. French startups are often very strong in being transparent and proactive in their communications. So this is a solid basis to work on. Here are my learnings from working on KATEK GROUP's IPO: ‣ It's not all about the press: Yes, mandatory investor relations (IR) news have to be communicated through the press. By going further and also using your company's owned channels you show even more transparency to your stakeholders. Communicating on LinkedIn will enable dialog with your investors. ‣ IR does not need to be boring: Financial reports might not sound as sexy as the next big brand campaign, but it can be. Use videos to explain the numbers further, plan live Q&A sessions with the CEO. Be creative and stay true to your brand's values. ‣ It's about the people: The stock exchange market is a numbers and money world. By involving your C-level in the communication you will be able to build up a stronger trust in your company. In people we trust! Here think about news hijacking to position your C-level as the experts they are, do video interviews or quote statements. You can read more about KATEK's IPO and strategic communication here: https://lnkd.in/dFYscP3k #IPO #ListedInFrankfurt #FrenchTech #StartupCommunication

3

Inspired by recent posts like the one by Sebastien Douville, companies like AISDR and Artisan have raised over $40M in seed investments, aiming to automate the outbound sales process. But what can they do it? In my opinion, AI still has a long way to go before it can effectively replace humans in outbound outreach, especially in the more intricate process of deal sourcing. I don't see that happening anytime soon.   Most companies using AI SDRs will burn through their market quickly, generating some leads, but it’s not a sustainable strategy. Business owners are receiving more cold emails than ever—almost 2x what they were 18 months ago. As AI-driven outreach increases, inboxes become more crowded, making it harder to stand out, so it is likely to affect everyone relying on cold email to generate opportunities. Kyle Coleman produces great content around this. AI works best when it’s used within strict boundaries, automating single tasks to free up time for your team. The more complex the task you ask it to complete, the less reliable it becomes. This is particularly true in deal sourcing, where you often have a limited and niche pool of potential targets. Here, human knowledge is irreplaceable. Building trust and closing deals requires relationships, creativity, and strategic thinking. Rather than replacing your team, AI should enhance what they do. It’s a tool to boost efficiency and allow your team to focus on the parts of the process that require human insight and expertise. As outreach continues to become more saturated, balancing automation with human insight will be essential. What are your thoughts on how AI and automation will impact your business?

17

2 commentaires

#SaaS | #venturecapital : "What's Wrong with SaaS? - An insightful piece from Avenir . Key Takeaways- (1) #Software remains a significant sector with hundreds of high-quality businesses. Within it, SaaS has suffered in recent prime years primarily due to deterioriating fundamentals, NOT a change in the valuation paradigm. The dearth of software #IPOs is due to mismatched expectations, NOT a shuttered IPO market. Today's private -high growth software companies can and probably should IPO. (2) The simplest explanation for deteriorating fundamentals is that we have passed the center of the SaaS S-curve and incremental revenue will be harder to come by going forward at the sector level. So far, SaaS companies have responded to this by spending more, leading to deteriorating sales efficiency and underperformance. What management teams have referred to as "tough macro" is likely a new normal. (3) Though growth will be harder to come by, it will still be meaningful. #AI represents a promising new #product development vector, and incumbents will generally be beneficiaries. Either way, SaaS companies have a long way to go before they are run in a financially sound way - multiples for the group could well be higher in a few years based on improving profitability and financial discipline. https://lnkd.in/gaUeVGJV

6

3 commentaires

🇫🇷💀 And... it's official: It's over for Ÿnsect After years of being (overly) funded by the French state, Ynsect is placed in receivership. Beyond the case of Ynsect, it's worrying for the whole French ecosystem, which, as in other areas, has played the "old leader" strategy: state institutions chose one startup, their "champion", put all energy and efforts into it, and ignored the others. However, this strategy is a failure. For insects, as for food delivery, the "choose one" was not the winner. This gets me (slightly) angry because, at the end of the day, all the French FoodTech startups will pay for it, as they will lose in attractiveness and will be seen as less relevant from the point of view of foreign partners and investors. So, now, we can only hope that there will be someone to take over Ynsect and turn it around. 👉Link: https://lnkd.in/eqrkKjgd

357

117 commentaires

‘Le Chat’ ‘la platform’ Mistral AI artificial intelligence, France’s Startup Darling, Takes Aim at the US Market : Mistral's edge could come from customers that want to avoid being locked into particular cloud companies “Customers are even saying ‘Le Chat’ and ‘la platform’ It seems that the French touch is having an effect.” opportunity is huge — Bloomberg Intelligence estimated that the software and cloud market in generative AI market could reach $350 billion by 2032 : Mistral is going after OpenAI’s home turf “They do not want to be forced into an AI stack” “They want choices” Mistral released a series of AI models, which power generative AI services, and a ChatGPT-like feature called Le Chat : US manager says businesses are looking for alternatives to Big Tech : will find customers through these partners as well as via direct deals with companies using its open-source models. Open source is one of Mistral’s main selling points : the approach — where the underlying computer code is openly shared and tweakable — as a safer, more versatile method than closed systems offered by OpenAI and others : Mistral’s open-source models on-premises, with data stored in local servers instead of with public cloud providers ---- generative artificial intelligence ---

1

1 commentaire

🚀 Super new blog post about the partnership between Smeetz and Adyen: The perfect combination for seamless payments in the leisure industry 🎢 Kudos to the teams 👏 who contributed to this joint success Morgan Siffert, Liza Tripet, Jorge Lopes, Sami Chiadmi, Edouard Coiraton and Daniel L.. Smeetz and Adyen have joined forces ! With a modern payment platform and a unified SaaS solution, leisure venues can now centralize their transactions and provide a seamless payment experience. Discover how this collaboration is transforming the leisure industry! 🚀

23

At Beo Healthcare, we partner with multiple health professionals to ensure that #alix, our hybrid artificial intelligence, includes the right features and benefit for patients' quality of life. Alix is designed to target multiple diseases, including #cancer We want to thank MD, brain surgeons at CHU de Brest for sharing relevant research publications with us to allow the right developments of Alix, in particular to have a solution that is customized, specific to each individual Extracts from the Abstract ⤵️: " Fatigue is one of the most common adverse effects of cancer that might persist for years after treatment completion in otherwise healthy survivors. Cancer-related fatigue causes disruption in all aspects of quality of life and might be a risk factor of reduced survival. The prevalence and course of fatigue in patients with cancer have been well characterized and there is growing understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms. Inflammation seems to have a key role in fatigue before, during, and after cancer-treatment. However, there is a considerable variability in the presentation of cancer-related fatigue, much of which is not explained by disease-related or treatment-related characteristics" "... a variety of intervention approaches have shown beneficial effects in randomized controlled trials, including physical activity, psychosocial, mind–body, and pharmacological treatments..." #md #hospital #cancer #AI #AIforHealth #Healthcare #Europe #USA #futureofmedicine #physicalactivity #customizedmedecine #patientqualityoflife #brainsurgeon #fatigue #cancerrelatedfatigue Sophie Deniel Yannick GUILLODO Chloé Le Douarin Sullivan Gauville Lucas Morisseau Maxime B'chir Benoît Quero Jean-Luc DUFOUR Mathieu Champenois Yann Le DOUARIN Nature Research Custom Media UCLA MACMILLAN PUBLISHERS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

8

Looking forward to sharing my perspectives and hearing how others are approaching the global VC landscape at this session at #GRIC2024!

19

📊​ Last month, Bpifrance released an encouraging report highlighting the significant growth of green #technologies in France in 2023. New entrepreneurs are actively contributing to the country's reindustrialization by establishing modern, less carbon-intensive companies and promoting scientific research to address the challenges of global warming. ​ 🌿​ This wave of #green entrepreneurship is accompanied by a substantial increase in #deeptech investment, paving the way for cleaner #energy solutions and sustainable industrial breakthroughs. Additionally, it is driving the creation of numerous new jobs and fostering a more eco-friendly European economy. 🌱​ The Greentech sector, at the forefront of this transformation, is tackling major challenges such as the preservation of water and biodiversity and the development of new environmentally friendly materials. 💪​ With an ambitious vision, we can revolutionize the #IT sector through disruptive innovation—an approach we have already adopted at Exaion. We've initiated this transformation with projects such as waste heat recovery and the reuse of end-of-life materials. 🇨🇦 We are leveraging research breakthroughs, particularly in Canada, in core areas such as #quantum technology, #AI integration, #blockchain, and #cybersecurity. These advancements enable us to directly support industrial projects, catalyzing innovation and sustainability across Europe and North America. 👀​ I invite you to consult the #Bpifrance report for more insights (article in French) 👉​ https://lnkd.in/eR5Wjmn4 Cc Simon Napierala - Julien Villeret - Louise Vilain - Catherine Jouny - Mathieu Bertrane - Tiphaine David (Croville) - Anthony M. - Jeanne Colombet - Laurent BERNOU-MAZARS - Christophe Rodrigues - Simon Thomas - Sébastien Pussiau - Adrien Fournillon - Emerson BAGUET - Gilles Deleuze - Joachim Simon-  Alice CHAVIGNY

34

Frankly I find ` OOPS generally excessively complicated . The simplest ` object is an " address space " an ordered list . I've commented to Alan Kay long ago , eg: https://lnkd.in/gTSi-fRy https://lnkd.in/gJiuCyFQ , that that what ` objects miss is the ` geometric attribute that APLs , including K , naturally retain . In CoSy.com , evolved from K as an open vocabulary in Forth , the 3 cell header for an ` object is simply `( Type Count refCount )` ( where ` refCount handles memory management , free on return to 0 ) . Upon that , any more complex Types can be constructed ` inheriting the entire general list manipulating vocabulary , again , evolved & greatly simplified from APL via K .

"Socket gives us the confidence that our supply chain is monitored effectively, allowing developers to safely incorporate external dependencies without compromising our security standards." - Frédéric Charpentier, Head of Product Security, at Doctolib ⚡ Check out our latest case study to learn how Socket helped Doctolib - protect previously unmonitored risk areas - automate supply chain threat detection for their #Typescript and #Ruby open source libraries - enhance compliance and meet audit requirements https://lnkd.in/eTKum_mY

26

More prizes for the #1 Impact Startup Awards… Discover them now! 👇 What if we could offer square meters? I recently met the right partner for all startups out there: “We create steady square meters for entrepreneurs to shake things up” - Quoting Alexandre Ponchon and Axel Kuborn - co-founders Silversquare. In a fast-changing world, companies and individuals alike are rethinking their use of space and time, seeking more efficiency and flexibility, while preserving a sense of community and togetherness. Silversquare was born from this state of mind. Aware that the workspaces of tomorrow will be the cornerstone of new lifestyles, we provide state-of-the-art coworking venues to meet every need and every dream. I’m happy to announce the Silversquare prizes of the future #1 Belgium Impact Startup Awards winners. All Prizes are valid for 12 months in the 12 Silversquare spaces across Belgium 🇧🇪 and Luxembourg 🇱🇺: 🥇 1 FREE event in collaboration & hosted at Silversquare + 10 day passes. 🥈 10 day passes.  🥉 5 day passes. + 🏅 Special B2B Prize: 2 FREE FLEX memberships. 🏅 Special B2C Prize: 2 FREE FLEX memberships. Are you an impact #startup or #scaleup? Apply now! https://lnkd.in/gDxeth_C Apply with a 10-slide pitch to make a lasting impact! Let's scale up! 👏 #startups #scaleups #buildingbridges

78

5 commentaires

🔥 I'm trying something new for CyGO Entrepreneurs. I am a LinkedIn Event 100% in English for our global audience ! Don't worry; we trained ourselves with the French version...😁 Now, we are ready to rock at the European level!⚽️😉 SAVE THE DATE - Thursday, June 27th - 4 pm CEST With Aurélie, we will explain everything about our Venture Studio's way of operations and also disclose our first projects! Answer all the questions, from the simplest to those that burn your lips.🔥👄 - What is a Studio? - What do you mean by "We are Co-Founder"? - How it works? - What is an **European** Studio? Who should attend? - CISO and Security Practitioners who want to join our "club" - System Integrators, MSSP, and Consulting Companies who like to collaborate - Entrepreneurs who'd like to build with us. You don't need to be in Cybersecurity. CyGO Entrepreneurs is about extending the cybersecurity community to punchy salespersons and brilliant software engineers. 🚨 Spoiler: we have nothing to sell you, so come as you are and share your cyber stories with us. Be the first to ask, I'll answer directly in the comments section 👇

31

1 commentaire

Let's go. Following up on the #ridiculous cost to start as self-employed in Belgium (🥉 in the cost to register, woop woop), we got to discuss what should happen to enable more citizens to #start as self-employed with Robin Gille at La Libre 🎙️. The article here (in French) ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eVvZjcsp #Keytakeaways - The cost to register is indeed only the 1st barrier: next up are social contributions (min. nearly 900€ in 2024, before you earned your first €) - Private companies and local communities can help but, in the end, it's up to policymakers to set the frame & lower those costs. - It's up to us to push those regulators to up their game. This question isn’t just a business issue, it’s a societal one: by imposing high set-up costs, we discourage our brightest minds from pursuing their passion & entrepreneurial dreams 💭. We all lose out on potential advancements, job creation, and economic dynamism. Being self-employed already comes with many hurdles, and extra financial stress simply makes it harder. Let’s continue this conversation and build a future where everyone has the opportunity to succeed without unnecessary financial barriers ✨. Thank you Robin Gille for the nice conversation 💜

51

4 commentaires

🌟 CRYPTO STARTUP SPOTLIGHT 🌟 Join us for an exceptional side event where the KRYPTOSPHERE® Accelerator partners with PyratzLabs & Bpifrance France to showcase the latest innovations in Web3. 🚀 📅 Date: June 10 📍 Location: Place Fintech, Palais Brongniart Today, it is time to introduce our second selected startup, which will be pitching on the mainstage: InFlow InFlow will be represented by their CEO, Danny Ba, who will present their groundbreaking project. But before that, here's a sneak peek of what B is all about: Many online merchants in emerging countries either lack access to payment providers or face high fees and significant risks of account blocking. In some countries, payment provider services are not even available. Inflow combines local payment methods, which are most commonly used, with blockchain technology to connect merchants to the global economy. This approach enables anyone to offer and sell products in any country at reduced fees. Get your tickets now to discover our incredible startups! ⚡ Thank you to our sponsors for supporting us on this adventure! Bpifrance, Veiga Management, Chaire Fintech Dauphine, PyratzLabs, La Place Fintech | DeFi

44

2 commentaires

Carbontribe Labs OÜ (Techstars'24) Labs Featured in L'ADN: Tackling N₂O with N2O Removal Digital Assets. We’re excited to announce that L'ADN, a French media, has featured Carbontribe Labs and our work on N₂O removal digital assets. While CO₂ gets most of the attention, gases like N₂O—300 times more potent than CO₂—are critical to achieving carbon neutrality. N₂O reductions offer high-impact opportunities, particularly in agriculture, where optimized practices can drive measurable change. Why N₂O Matters 1️⃣ More Actionable: N₂O reductions are targeted and practical, focusing on clear sources like fertilizers. 2️⃣ Broader Impact: Diversifying efforts to include N₂O unlocks new opportunities, engages sectors like agriculture, and maximizes GHG reduction potential. At Carbontribe Labs, we’re leveraging AI and Web3 to create cutting-edge digital standards for CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O, covering 98% of global GHG reduction activities. With innovative algorithms and science-backed methods, we’re expanding the possibilities for impactful climate action. Let’s redefine GHG removal and drive meaningful change! Kaveh Zahedi, Martial Bernoux, Fiona Maria Bottigliero, Laura Guien

6

I was honored to join a panel yesterday, moderated by Jean Rognetta and Morgan Hunault-Berret, with fellow panelist Olivier Martret. The provocative topic on our agenda: “Have French VCs already lost against US VCs in GenAI?” It was the opportunity to share our thought at daphni, here are a few takeaways: 1) Fund size matters: While it's evident that apart from BPI, French VCs lack the critical size to play a significant role in foundational models funding rounds. However, reducing GenAI startups to 200M+ seed rounds is an oversimplification. We see a clear market segmentation between foundational models - that share caracteristics with infrastructure deals - and application layers. There are probably 4 deals in the last 18 months where French VC could not positionate. The issue of the size of French VC funds is an old debate, older than ChatGPT. 2) International mindset: French startups have been criticised a lot in the past for lacking ambition and international mindset. We have been expecting what’s happening right now for a while: it's time to celebrate. Most of the world's leading VC funds are now co-investing with us in France. 3) A Seed GenAI startup still have the problematic of a seed startup: Seed has always been dominated by local actors for sourcing reasons but also because the support you can bring is really ecosystem specific. 4) Co-investment: We're actually very enthusiastic about co-investing with US VCs, who bring added value and help French startups penetrate international markets. From an exit perspective, pursuing a US IPO remains the best scenario and requires to success in the US at some point. Having the right US VC in series A is a great support. 5) Building a Top Ecosystem: France is on track to establish itself as one of the world's top three ecosystems for GenAI, a feat not possible without foreign VCs. This isn't just national pride – it's a sentiment echoed by global investors who recognize the dynamic changes occurring within our borders and knock at the door to exchange about it. More to come soon! Thanks Louis Petitjean and Matthieu Bouhelier 

71

5 commentaires