BNP Paribas, leveraging Open Innovation to build the 'Bank of Tomorrow' [Sponsored]
The Bank of Tomorrow As with many sectors, the financial sector is undergoing fundamental shift thanks to technology. The rise of Fintech is changing how both consumers and companies bank. While regulation is a challenge for Fintech, it’s evident that over time, laws will evolve and new models of financial management, investing, and banking will […]
Hotel Tonight's growth accelerates in France and beyond (Part I)
The market for last-minute travel is certainly not a new one. Starting during the first dot.com boom, online last-minute travel tended to focus entirely on price without giving much thought to quality and user experience. Years later, Hotel Tonight, a SF-based startup founded in 2011, is looking to change all that, proving that a high quality, fairly […]
I have not invested a second reading about you. Now can you give me an hour of your time?
Robert Shrimsley’s column in the FT this past weekend with advice for journalism job seekers (Dear millennials: a few interview tips . . .) resonated with me. Shrimsley laments how every Spring he witnesses newly-minted journalism graduates aspiring to work at the Financial Times who seem to have so much to offer — degrees from elite universities, a […]
INNOV8 acquires Ascendeo to create leading connected objects retail outlets in Europe
INNOV8, top European retail channel for smartphones and connected objects, has acquired Ascendeo, leader in the conception and distribution of smartphone accessories. Connected devices will the the principal focus, as the two plan to build on their €358M in revenues to create the top retail channel in Europe for connected objects. INNOV8 has already shown their […]
Nokia to acquire Alcatel-Lucent for €15.6 billion
Nokia announced late yesterday that they’ll be acquiring Alcatel-Lucent for €15.6 billion in an all stock deal. The deal has been approved by the boards of both companies, but will still need the ‘final ok’ from various regulatory authorities. Combined sales of the new company will be approximately €26 billion/year. IoT The IoT space is increasingly a […]
Connected objects startup Sevenhugs raises €1.5 million seed round
Just a year after their launch, Sevenhugs have just announced closing a €1.5 million seed round with several investors, including CapDecisif Management with the FRCI, NovX Capital (investment arm of the Noveo group), Kima Ventures, and business angels networks BADGE (Business Angels des Grandes Ecoles), Femmes Business Angels (FBA), and Investessor. Sevenhugs is yet another example of […]
After Kickstarter success, 3D Sound Labs raises €1.1 million for 'Neoh'
The big launch of their 3D surround-sound headphone Neoh at this year’s CES, was just the beginning of a string of success for 3D Sound Labs. First came their captivating pitch at our Paris Founders Event in January. Next came their Kickstarter campaign which turned out to be a roaring success for the 3D Sound Labs […]
Search’XPR raises €1.9 million to scale-up its consumer insight solution Oorace
Clermont-Ferrand based startup, Search’XPR, has just closed at 2nd financing round at 1.9 million euros. This round included a diverse group of investors, including Shanghai-based Unicore Technology Company, Sofimac Partners, BPI, the region of Auvergne, and e-business company Event. This new round brings the total funds they’ve raised thus far to €3.2 million. Search’XPR was founded in 2011 by previous […]
When Chinese High Tech companies Invest in France
This post is by guest writer and China-based blogger Thomas Meriaux, who has worked and lived in China for several years. The world knows it: China has been the “El Dorado” for many foreign companies. They’ve all ‘flown over’ to Shanghai, Shenzhen or Beijing. Now, let’s turn the tables for a minute and take a look […]
Negotiating your compensation, part deux
When I first moved to France fourteen years ago, the joke among educated expats was that the best way to get hired for a job in France was to apply for one in which you possessed direct experience in the exact same sector but for lower pay. This is admittedly a slight exaggeration, but back […]