The 12 best startup accelerators and incubators in France [2023]

Startups are the lifeblood of any country, especially France. In recent years, the French government has made it a point to help entrepreneurs launch their businesses and compete with other countries like the United States, China, and Germany. For example, they created an incubator program that helps startups get started quickly with resources like mentorships and funding opportunities. This list will give you an overview of all of these programs so you can decide which one would be the best fit for your startup!

1.Agoranov

Agoranov, founded in 2017, is a French startup incubator located in Paris. It is part of the French technology community and has partnerships with more than 50 partners, including Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform and Facebook.

Agoranov created four programs:

• Startup accelerator program designed for startups in their early stages of growth with a focus on technology innovation;
• Entrepreneurial school program designed to give advice to entrepreneurs who want to start or grow their business;
• Seed fund program designed to provide access to capital for startups that have already developed a prototype and/or received seed funding from an accelerator or venture capital fund;
• Business incubation program that helps entrepreneurs start new businesses by providing office space free of charge for six months

2. 50 partners

50 Partners is a venture capital firm with a focus on seed and early stage investments. The fund was founded in 2015 by Jean-Marc Patouillaud and Bertrand Jorland, who are both very experienced investors in the technology sector.

50 Partners has invested in more than 50 companies in France over the past 5 years, including many of the most innovative startups in their respective fields. The company mainly focuses on AI, fintech and digital health, but also invests in other sectors, including e-commerce or blockchain-based projects.

The fund of venture capital funds (meaning they invest in other venture capital funds) operates at both the institutional level and the level of individual investors. Their goal is to help professional investors find high-quality startups while providing individuals with access to exceptional opportunities through their private subscription platform called FiduCiaire 50 Partners (F50).

3. LA French Tech

La French Tech is a public-private initiative that aims to accelerate the growth of startups in France. It was launched by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2016 and has since become one of the most important players in the country’s startup scene.

La French Tech has three main objectives:

• Attract foreign talent to France
• Accelerate early-stage startups with a focus on funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
• Create an ecosystem for high growth companies (scales).

4. imt starter

IMT Starter is a business accelerator for startups. The program helps founders refine their ideas and turn them into viable businesses.

IMT Starter is located in Paris, France.

The program focuses on the digital economy, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain technology, and data science.

IMT Starter helps startups with their business model and product development, as well as finding investors for your business. It also offers mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and executives from leading companies like IBM or Facebook.

5. Street24

Rue24 is a startup accelerator in Paris, France. It is one of the most active and dynamic places for startups to grow and thrive in France. Rue24 offers many services to its startups, including:

• boot space
• Mentorship programs
• Financial support

6. Ideas

IdeasVoice is a French startup accelerator that helps startups grow by providing them with the right tools and coaching.

The company was founded in 2012 and has helped over 300 companies achieve their goals so far.

It offers three main services: the Accelerator program, which provides guidance on everything from product development to marketing; Consulting & Coaching, which offers help with specific projects or events; and its Business Model Canvas Toolkit, which helps entrepreneurs develop their business model canvas to better understand their customers.

7. HEC Incubator

HEC Incubator is a startup accelerator that helps startups develop their business model and grow their startup. HEC Incubator is a member of the HEC Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to promote entrepreneurship and innovation.

The incubator supports early-stage businesses with strategic advice, funding and access to mentors. It also provides mentorship from its alumni network and offers free office space in Créteil (a suburb of Paris).

8. Partech Shaker

Partech Shaker is a startup accelerator focused on consumer brands and services. The program is organized by Partech, a French venture capital firm that invests in startups around the world.

Partech Shaker accepts teams with a minimum of 2 founders and a maximum of 8 members (including co-founders). Teams can be made up of people from different companies or countries, but they must have at least one founder working full-time on their startup during the program. At least one member must also relocate their home base to Paris for 3 months before joining the program and for 3 months after graduating from Partech Shaker.

9. Silicon Senier

Silicon Sentier is a French accelerator that offers startups various services and support to help them grow. Silicon Sentier’s portfolio includes 30 projects, with 14 still active.

Silicon Sentier was founded in 2015 by two entrepreneurs who had already been involved in the creation of the first French startup incubator. The incubator offers funds of up to €250,000 (8,000) for each project, alongside office space, legal advice and other resources such as mentorship and workshops on topics specific.

It is located at Station F Paris (a large-scale global startup campus), one of the many locations across Europe where Silicon Sentier operates programs for its startups in different industries (like fintech or cybersecurity).

10. Sourcinno

Sourcinno is a startup accelerator that helps startups develop their business in France and around the world. It offers funding, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Sourcinno’s program offers funding for selected projects, as well as mentorship from experts, mentors and investors. The accelerator has a network of experts, mentors and investors who help you scale your business with the goal of becoming a successful international entrepreneur.

The program helps startups validate their idea by validating market demand through customer discovery exercises. It also gives access to advisors who can help them develop their product and pitch it properly to investors if they need more money later down the line.

11. Hello idea

Bonjour Idee is a French accelerator that is part of the French technology initiative. It was founded in 2016 by Jean-David Chamboredon and Frédéric Leleu, who were inspired by the success of Rocket Internet and wanted to bring the same concept to France. Bonjour Idee has been a huge success since then, with over 50 startups emerging from its program each year. The company also provides financial support to applicants through its founding partners such as BPIFrance, CAP Numérique and LDLC Ventures – so you can be confident that your idea will be in good hands!

Bonjour Idee’s head office is located in Paris, France, but they also have offices in Lyon (France), Berlin (Germany) and Singapore.

12. Belle de Mai Incubator

The Belle de Mai incubator is part of the Belle de Mai incubator network, which is itself part of the larger MÉTROPole incubator network. The accelerator offers a 12-week program for startups with seed funding and business advice to help them grow. Its headquarters are based in Marseille, France, and it also has offices in Paris and Lille.

Conclusion

We hope this article was helpful for you to better understand the startup accelerator ecosystem in France. We have tried to provide a comprehensive list of incubators and accelerators across the country, but there are obviously many more. If you know of any others we missed, please let us know in the comments below!