France supports innovative entrepreneurs through several programs and initiatives. It has a favorable environment for startups, including strong public and private research institutions that spin off over 100 startups per year. The Young Entrepreneurs Initiative is a platform that mentors and networks US entrepreneurs interested in setting up technology ventures in France, and has supported 36 laureates since 2005. Testimonials from laureates highlight how the program helped them connect with partners in France and apply for additional funding opportunities.

1. How does France support
innovative entrepreneurs?
p
Géraldine Quetin – Young Entrepreneurs initiative
+1 617 401 24 50 / yei.mst@consulfrance-boston.org

2. France in facts : get rid of clichés
Number of international ventures per
Number of days required to set up destination in Europe (in 2005)
a new company (in 2005)
Data source: AFII - Doing Business Report 2006 (SFI, World Bank Group) Data source: AFII - Ernst and Young, 2006
% population (aged 20 to 29) with a university degree
in science & technology (2004 or last publication)
- quality of transportation network
-support of ventures and innovation
and...
-leading tourist destination in the world
Data source: AFII - Eurostat, 2005
April 2009 - Geraldine Quetin – YEi

3. An increasingly favorable environment
y The French startup support system
y 100 spin-offs/year
y Strong public and private research with
p blic pri ate ith
spin-off facilities : example Inria
y Montpellier Business and Innovation
Center : Outstanding Incubator of the
Y
Year (NBIA – 2007)
nbia.org/awards_showcase/2007/incubator_montpellier.php
April 2009 - Geraldine Quetin – YEi

4. From idea to successful company
An increasingly favorable environment
OSEO
Competitiveness Clusters
TEPA law Venture funds (private + CDC)
tax i
incentives
i
new Business- Angels “Pépinière / CEEI”
Tax exemptions = incubator
Start-up Competition -low cost facilities
SME pact -free coaching
free
“Incubateur” - network
= pre-incubator
- loan
TTO - facilities
-financing - network
-support - free coaching
Startup cycle
Feasibility & Prototyping incorporation & launching Maturity & development
April 2009 - Geraldine Quetin – YEi

5. Clusters
April 2009 - Geraldine Quetin – YEi

6. The Inria’s example
y 2200 researchers
y world class IT labs
+ 1 incubator (Inria Transfert)
+ early stage funding
y 90+ spin-offs Ÿ 54 still active (20+ acquired)
y Il
Ilog 800 employees, listed Nasdaq -Euronext, acquried by IBM in 2008
Kelkoo acquired by Yahoo in 2004 for $ ½ billion
Realviz acquired by AutoDesk in 2008
q y
April 2009 - Geraldine Quetin – YEi

7. Young Entrepreneurs initiative
Platform for mentoring and networking US-based entrepreneurs
willing to internationalize their activity, and to set up a
technology venture in France
A « young » and successful program
- 2005 : 1st call
- 2007 : housing in Campus MIT
- 2008/09 : 5th call for proposal
2010 : transfer of the program
Projects
Laureates
Total candidates 140
Laureates 36 • 48% LS, 39% IT
success 11 • 38% MA, 28% CA, 10% NY
in progress 13 • 62% feasibility, 38% development
• 53% French natives
April 2009 - Geraldine Quetin – YEi

8. Testimonials
“Our company was able to identify an engage with technology firms and R&D
centers in France with expertise that can further accelerate our product
development.
We would not have been able to move so quickly without this
active support”
François Silvain/ Herve Pluche
Founders StoreExperience - Laureates Yei2008
quot;The Young Entrepreneur Initiative is an amazing catalyst for businesses wanting to
create or expand their operations in France. The program brought us support in
three different ways. (1) It provided us with an easy channel to connect with France
and the right networks. (2) It helped us organizing a trip to France to identify the
implantation region and partners. Finally (3) it helped us understanding the
entrepreneurship environment in France and improving our application to the
Creation Development
Creation-Development French competition quot;
competition.
Thibaut Scolash/ Sebastien Payen
Founders Fruition Sciences - Laureates Yei2008
April 2009 - Geraldine Quetin – YEi

9. Usefull Links
• RETIS - network for innovation www.retis-innovation.fr
• AFIC – French Venture Capital Association
www.afic.asso.fr
• CURIE - network of TT offices www.curie.asso.fr
• Competitivity Clusters www.competitivite.gouv.fr
• APCE - agency for business creation www.apce.com
• AFII - Invest in France Agency www.invest-in-france.org
www.invest in france.org
• Inria Transfert www.inria-transfert.fr/
April 2009 - Geraldine Quetin – YEi

10. Contact
Géraldine Quetin
Project manager YEI (Boston)
Ph: 617 401 24 50
yei.mst@consulfrance boston.org
yei mst@consulfrance-boston org
www.france-science.org/innovation/yei