The French Tech programme has chosen 50 French Tech Ticket winners. The start-ups receive EUR 25,000 and a year of mentoring in Paris. Six of the 50 winners have been chosen to pitch their project to president Francois Hollande. The initiative was launched in May 2015 to attract international talent to a French start-up ecosystem.
French Tech director David Monteau said internationalisation was the key to creating world class companies. After its Paris start, the French Tech Ticket programme is due to be extended nationally, with four times more winners in 2017.
Les Echos writes that French Tech took its inspiration from precursors such as Startup Chile and Sirius (UK). In France, participants also benefit from a fast track visa process, training, legal and administrative advice and six months of hosting at a partner incubator in Paris. The president was expected to announce the expansion of the programme to the thirteen French Tech metro areas.