French Startup Ecosystem: Geographic Clusters and Sectors
France’s startup ecosystem comprises 30,000+ startups, 25+ unicorns, and $13.2 billion in annual VC funding (2024). While Paris dominates, France’s innovation geography is increasingly multi-polar.
Ecosystem by the Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Startups | 30,000+ |
| VC Funding (2024) | $13.2B |
| Unicorns | 25+ |
| French Tech Visa Holders | 8,000+ |
| Startup Employees | 1.1M+ (tech sector) |
| FDI Rank (Europe) | #1 (6 consecutive years) |
Geographic Distribution
Île-de-France (Paris): 70%+ of VC funding. AI, fintech, SaaS, marketplace. Details.
Lyon-Grenoble: Semiconductor, deeptech, biotech. STMicroelectronics, CEA-Leti.
Toulouse: Aerospace, space tech, autonomous systems. Airbus cluster.
Sophia Antipolis: Telecom, IoT, cleantech. 2,500+ companies.
Nantes-Rennes: Digital services, cybersecurity, marine tech.
Lille: E-commerce, retail tech (Euratechnologies hub).