Brigadoon Weekend
Emerging issues shaping commerce and culture.
October 31, 2020
Station F Only.
STATION F DEEP DIVE FIVE
Tech incubator Station F ‘putting France on the map’: In June 2017, a vast disused rail depot in the south-east of Paris became Station F, the largest start-up incubator in the world and a much-touted symbol of France’s tech renaissance. Funded with €250m from telecoms entrepreneur Xavier Niel, Station F “put France on the map,” said Oussama Ammar, co-founder of The Family, an accelerator for new companies. “The most important thing is that Xavier Niel showed everyone that France is not scared of doing something bold.” Today, more than 1,000 tech start-ups have taken advantage of Station F’s cheap workspaces, where desks cost from €195 a month.
+ FT
"With more than 30 startup programs, 35 public administrations, 100 VC funds, 4 mentorship offices and 600 events per year, STATION F offers all the best resources and knowledge to help entrepreneurs grow their companies."
Queen of 1,000 startups – Interview with Roxanne Varza, Director of Station F: Born in California with Iranian roots, Roxanne Varza today runs Station F in Paris, the largest startup campus worldwide, backed by Xavier Niel. Before her current role, Roxanne was the lead for Microsoft’s startup activities in France and former Editor of TechCrunch France. Being listed by Business Insider as one of the top 30 women under 30 in tech, Roxanne is a passionate startup enthusiast who co-founded StartHer (ex Girls in Tech Paris) and is the co-organizer of the Failcon Paris conference.
+ EU Startups
Brunch with Roxanne Varza: She’s the head of Station F, Paris’ startup mega campus — and the (non-French) face of French tech. But who, really, is Roxanne Varza?
+ Sifted
Station F: the world’s largest startup campus opens in Paris: A 1920s freight station in Paris has been transformed into the world’s biggest startup campus, named Station F. The former railway depot, previously known as La Halle Freyssinet will house more than 1,000 startups in a 34,000 sq m space.
+ The Spaces
Station F: A symbol of France's startup ambitions: Station F's resident startups' success has seemingly made the accelerator the physical manifestation of the growing popularity of France's VC ecosystem. Year after year, the country has seen record amounts of capital go into its startups. French VC deal flow increased from €1.6 billion in 2015 to €2.5 billion so far in 2019, while the median VC deal size for French companies increased from €2.2 million last year to this year's €3.2 million, per PitchBook data.
+ PitchBook
BRIGADOON EVENT
Brigadoon Monthly | Member Call
November 18, 2020
2:00 pm ET
Title: Uncertainty and why it’s a good thing
Speaker: Gerald Ashley | Managing Director @ St Mawgan & Co + Independent Non-Executive Director @ Equitile Investments
Gerald is one of the UK’s leading advisors, writers, and speakers on behavioral risk, disruptive change, and decision making.
Before becoming a full-time consultant in 2001, he spent 25 years in banking and finance, most recently at the Bank for International Settlements.
Looking at risk from all industries and areas of life and study, Gerald seeks to challenge the classical economic models, attempting to predict behavior with linear, rational processes.
Want to join? Click here and email, "Yes."
STATION F DATA POINTS
Station F: A business incubator for startups, located in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. It is noted as the world's largest startup facility. Situated in a former rail freight depot previously known as la Halle Freyssinet
The campus was founded in 2017 by telecom billionaire Xavier Niel who invested $285 million into the campus around the same time Emmanuel Macron became French president.
The building spans the Eiffel Tower's length lying down and greets 5,000 people through its doors every day.
One ecosystem: Station F is seen as the only startup campus where the whole entrepreneurial ecosystem is under one roof.
Station F's creation has inspired many women and people from minority backgrounds to work on the campus, importantly the residents from the working-class suburbs or banlieues.
Twitter: @joinstationf
"We would compare our services more to a university." -- Roxanne Varza
The official language at Station F is English.
A third of its residents are women, and 45 percent of its flagship program has female founders.
BRIGADOON WATCHES | STATION F
Touring Station F's massive startup campus in Paris
+ TechCrunch
Inside the world's largest startup campus
+ CNBC
Foundation: startups, women in charge
+ Station F
TWEET
An incredible lightning rod for Parisian & French & Europan tech startups!!
@tfadell
Anthony Fadell is an American engineer, innovator, designer, entrepreneur, founder, coach, and active investor. Born in Detroit, Michigan.
Have a great weekend. See you next week.
-Marc
Curation and commentary by Marc A. Ross | Founder @ Brigadoon
Brigadoon is conversations and insights for a better world.
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