Rude VC: The Resources vs. Agility Trap
These are times of tremendous uncertainty for France’s startup ecosystem. Uncertainty of how the new administration of President Hollande will treat startups. Uncertainty over upcoming revisions in the tax code that will affect entrepreneurs and investors alike. Uncertainty in the French jobs market. Uncertainty hanging over the euro. Uncertainty over how exothermic macroeconomic events, such […]
Ifeelgoods partners with leading e-gifters InComm
Ifeelgoods, a leading digital promotions platform and specialist in Facebook credits, has announced that they are entering into an exclusive partnership with InComm, a global leader in e-gifts and prepaid products. As Ifeelgoods aim is to enable marketers to engage with and convert audiences through fulfilment of gift rewards via Facebook (ie Facebook credits), iTunes, Amazon […]
Kontest "reboots" its Facebook Contest Platform
Last week, Paris-based startup Kontest launched the v2 of their Facebook contest managemnt platform, with new features, a new look, and new analytics. The two-year old startup has been working with brands like Adobe, Orange, Easyjet, and Samsung, as well as agencies like Publicis & Valtech to help brands entertain their community while making efficient […]
CNC-Oseo-RIAM can help fund your "image" startup
Although it has existed in its current form since 2007, the CNC-Oséo RIAM call for proposals is still a little-known way of getting funds for projects that deal with the “production, channelling and distribution of interactive or non-interactive images and/or sound, in a linear or non-linear form”. One of our most renowned French startups, Dailymotion, is using […]
Lengow awarded 'International' prize at E-Commerce Paris 2012
Last week Paris welcomed one of the biggest and most successful e-commerce tradeshows / conferences, E-Commerce Paris 2012. In addition to holding 350 workshops and training sessions, hosting 500 exhibitors, and welcoming over 30k visitors, the organizers of this mega event also make time to honor those firms in e-commerce deemed to be leaders and […]
Paulin Dementhon on the future of P2P Car Sharing
Just last week, P2P Car-sharing service Voiturelib announced a fund-raising round of €2 Million – investors included Alven Capital & Index Ventures. The service, which counts 5,000 cars actively available to rent in France alone and more than 50,000 registered users as of September, allows everyday Joe’s like you and me to rent cars from […]
Online advertising still going strong, France well-positioned
Clipperton Finance, a leading corporate finance firm focusing on tech and media, recently published a whitepaper evaluating the trends and opportunities in the online advertising space. According to Clipperton, online advertising is still going strong, demonstrating robust growth (CAGR 02 – 11 of 24%) which is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Not surprisingly, […]
Capitaine Train raises €1.4M for European Train Ticketing
At the end of last week, JDN[FR] reported that Capitaine Train, an eCommerce startup which aggregates train ticket sales for all major European train lines, had raised €1.4M from Index Venture, Fotolia CEO Oleg Tscheltzoff, and other investors. The startup, founded by three engineers, looks to make buying train tickets easy. Purchasing tickets on sites like Voyages-SNCF, […]
Why France Needs to re-invent the Jobs Market
Yesterday, while grabbing lunch I was nearly straddled by CIF protestors along Blvd Haussmann distributing pamphlets emblazoned with the cautionary words, “Tu te perds mon François- Repense à toutes ces années de service!” In the first week of September the CIF was greeted with the resignation of their CEO, a government bailout approved by the […]
Joliebox acquisition brings Birchbox to Europe
For those who missed the news last night – I first heard it from PandoDaily via twitter, so they get the credit – Paris-based Joliebox was acquired by their US counterpart Birchbox, which will allow Birchbox to double their brand relations and quadruple the number of markets they enter. You’ll notice my emphasis and tone, which comes from […]