Station F: Inside the World's Largest Startup Campus
Station F is the world's largest startup campus — a 34,000 m² converted railway depot in Paris's 13th arrondissement that houses over 1,000 startups, 30+ international accelerator programs, and a complete ecosystem of investors, mentors, and corporate partners under one roof. Founded in 2017 by serial entrepreneur Xavier Niel (founder of Free/Iliad Group), it has become the gravitational center of French tech and a model for startup infrastructure globally.
The Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total area | 34,000 m² (world's largest single-roof campus) |
| Resident startups | 1,000+ |
| Accelerator programs | 30+ (Microsoft, LVMH, Meta, Ubisoft, L'Oréal) |
| Employees on campus | 4,000+ daily |
| Countries represented | 65+ |
| Events per year | 700+ |
| Total funding raised by alumni | €9B+ (cumulative) |
| Desk cost | From €195/month per person |
How Station F Works
Station F is not a single accelerator — it's a platform of programs. Partners operate their own accelerators inside the campus, each with distinct focus areas. Key programs include:
Founders Program — Station F's flagship in-house program for early-stage startups. Free desk space for 2 years. Highly selective (5% acceptance rate). Provides access to mentors, perks (€1M+ in cloud credits from AWS, Google Cloud, etc.), and investor introductions.
Microsoft for Startups — Azure cloud credits, AI/ML engineering support, enterprise client introductions. Focus: enterprise SaaS, AI, deep tech.
LVMH La Maison des Startups — luxury-tech accelerator. Access to LVMH's 75 maisons (Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany). Focus: retail tech, supply chain, sustainability, digital experiences.
Meta (Facebook) — focus on social commerce, VR/AR, creator tools. Provides engineering mentorship and platform access.
Ubisoft — gaming and interactive entertainment. Focus: game studios, esports, immersive technologies.
Applications are rolling throughout the year via stationf.co/join. International founders can apply through the French Tech Visa, which provides a 4-year residence permit for accepted program participants.
Notable Alumni and Success Stories
Station F's alumni network includes several companies that have gone on to raise significant funding or achieve exits: Alan (health insurance, €4.5B valuation), Ynsect (insect protein, €372M raised), PayFit (payroll SaaS, €254M raised), Spendesk (expense management, acquired for €100M+), and Zama (homomorphic encryption, $73M raised). The campus has produced 3 unicorns and dozens of companies valued above €100M.
Infrastructure and Ecosystem
The physical campus includes: 3,000 desks across open-plan zones, 26 dedicated program areas, a 600-seat auditorium, 60 meeting rooms, a FabLab with 3D printers and prototyping equipment, an on-site restaurant (Café Joyeux), a post office, and a sleep pod zone. It also houses Flatmates — a 100-unit co-living residence for international founders at below-market rent.
The surrounding 13th arrondissement has evolved into Paris's de facto startup district, with Bpifrance's headquarters, multiple VC firms, and hundreds of tech companies within walking distance. The campus is 5 minutes from Bibliothèque François Mitterrand (Line 14 métro) and 15 minutes from Gare de Lyon (high-speed rail). See our Paris tech scene guide and detailed program directory.
For International Founders
Non-EU founders accepted into a Station F program are eligible for the French Tech Visa — a 4-year renewable residence permit with full work rights and family reunification. The process takes 2–4 weeks. Station F's international team assists with visa applications, banking setup, and relocation logistics. Over 65 nationalities are represented on campus, making it one of Europe's most cosmopolitan startup environments.