The French Tech Connection

Emilie Vallauri on Community Building in Berlin

Emilie Vallauri serves as French Tech Berlin Board Member and Head of Program at Techstars for the EMEA region. In this interview, she shares insights about the French Tech initiative, its mission to support French entrepreneurs abroad, and how it fosters cross-border collaboration between the French and German tech ecosystems.

Emilie, you are a member of the board of French Tech Berlin. What kind of organization is this? How does it work? What are its activities?

French Tech Berlin is essentially a network for French, Francophone, and Francophile individuals in Berlin who work in the tech industry or tech-affiliated sectors. It's a platform where people meet and connect.

The French Tech brand was founded about ten years ago by Emmanuel Macron when he was Minister of Economy. He recognized that many French professionals in tech lacked both an ecosystem and an identity. Macron's objective was to position France as a global tech hub and create a platform for the French tech ecosystem.

The central institutions offer access to funding, resources, and international visibility to startups through dedicated programs. They also have the French Tech visa program, which simplifies immigration to France for people planning to work in French tech companies, found companies in France, or invest in French tech ventures.

So it's an economic support program for the tech industry in France. But French Tech Berlin seems different – is it sponsored by the French government or is it more community-driven?

It's actually a bit of both. The central entity is managed by the government in Paris, but there are also what we call French Tech Communities internationally. The French Tech brand is granted through a process that ensures our activities align with French Tech's objectives.

Each chapter – for example, French Tech Berlin, French Tech London, French Tech Munich – operates independently with volunteer board members who make everything happen locally. What we receive from the government is the brand and some support.

It is entirely volunteer-based, with no paid staff?

That's right for Berlin. Some communities may have the funds to hire people, but in Berlin, it's completely volunteer-driven.

What's the objective from the French government's perspective? Is it to give more visibility to the French tech ecosystem globally? Your aim isn't to bring companies to France, is it?

No, it's really about supporting French entrepreneurs and tech ecosystem actors abroad and fostering cross-border collaboration. In Berlin, we organize networking events and conferences with the objective of building and strengthening our existing community. We offer a platform for the French, Francophone, and Francophile tech ecosystem in Berlin to meet.

Is there a relatively stable community regularly attending your events? And what's the proportion of French, Francophone, and Francophile participants?

The proportions are difficult to determine. It depends on the type of event.

For our flagship French Tech Community breakfast, we partner with sponsors. We bring our community, the partner brings theirs, and these communities interact. We do have regulars, but we also welcome newcomers. What's interesting is that people meet others they wouldn't otherwise encounter without this collaboration.

We also organize larger conferences with panels followed by networking. Last year, I organized an ESG-focused event with N26. Many people were interested in different aspects – N26, impact investing, and French Tech Berlin – creating an interesting mix, though I still see many familiar faces even at these larger events.

So it's mixed and open – not just French expats, but also Germans and others, since Berlin's startup scene is quite international.

Absolutely. I always say that French Tech Berlin is the French network for French, Francophone and Francophile people in Berlin's tech industry, but everyone is welcome to join as long as they don't hate the French.

I get it. It has a French touch, but is open to everyone - maybe with croissants and baguettes served?

Exactly! But beyond the physical events we organize, which I think are very important for community building, we also organize digital, virtual events - no croissants. One of my colleagues focuses on more educational topics. For example, we recently had a series on local and government support for startups in Germany, organized by French Tech Berlin together with organizations such as GTAI, the High-Tech Founders Fund and Berlin Partner. So that's another aspect of our work, more on the educational side.

The French Tech board also supports scaleups from France that want to expand to Germany. Sometimes we organize events with them, make introductions to relevant contacts, or connect them with partners. These organizations usually have plans to expand to Germany, and they reach out to us for guidance.

And they reach out to you because they know French Tech France, and Paris points them to you as French Tech representatives in Berlin?

Yes, French Tech is very well-known in France. People reach out to me on LinkedIn saying they're interested in coming to Berlin, and ask for advice on opening an office or expanding their team here.

Sometimes larger organizations want to come for learning expeditions about specific sectors of Berlin's tech industry. That's why it's important to have strong connections within the broader ecosystem. Our board consists of about 12 people from diverse backgrounds – from the VC industry, legal, corporate sectors – creating a complementary group that can support the community.

How are French people in the startup scene different from Germans?

That's a difficult question. There are minor differences, but they aren't really relevant – like how French people are always a few minutes late while Germans are a few minutes early, you know?

Why should a German startup go to France? And why would a French one come to Germany?

When I consider why a French startup would go to Germany, there are tangible reasons. Germany is simply the largest market in Europe.

For French startups, there are natural markets to expand to, including Francophone markets like Northern Africa, Belgium, and parts of Switzerland. However, Germany is typically the first European market for French startups to expand to.

And what about the other way around?

Well, it’s the same. France is Europe's second-largest economy after Germany, so it makes perfect sense that expansion plans flow across the Rhine.

For both markets, it's interesting to note that VC funding also frequently crosses borders. We have several French-German funds, particularly French funds coming to Germany. In Berlin, for example, we have Iris Capital, a Franco-German venture capital fund. There's also Ventech and XAnge – all French funds with a presence in Germany. Last year, I organized an event with Atlantic Labs about the French-German VC landscape to explore these dynamics and understand the differences.

Both countries have excellent talent pools, especially for technical talent. France has a strong business and technical talent pool due to its business and engineering schools. Germany is quite similar, making both countries attractive. Berlin is very community-driven, with numerous small communities supporting various industry verticals. The Berlin ecosystem is very early-stage focused, while Paris might be more spread across different stages. But Berlin remains attractive because it's super vibrant.

You came to Berlin four years ago during COVID for job reasons, correct? How do you like it?

I love it. I first visited Berlin when I was 15, around 2011. I was captivated by the city and told my mom, "One day I'm going to live in Berlin." She responded, "Yeah, sure, whatever."

During my studies, I learned German. After graduating, when looking for my first job, I wanted to move to Berlin, but it was difficult to make happen at that time. So I started working in Paris. Then COVID happened, and I wanted a change. I decided to really focus on finding a position in Germany, especially Berlin, and I succeeded. I moved here to create the innovation hub for a French construction company.

So I came for a job, but I had ulterior motives: I had learned German and didn't want that to go to waste, and I really wanted to live in Berlin.

What's your favorite place in Berlin?

That's a good question. I have so many favorites, and I don't want to say something that everyone mentions.

Well then, what's your favorite French place in Berlin?

Oh, I don't go to French places in Berlin. Wait! I've got it now – La Käserie, a cheese shop.

Is there anything else our readers should know?

Let me emphasize again: My main goal as a board member for French Tech Berlin is to promote Berlin as a great place for French people and French startups. That's our objective.

For entrepreneurs, it's important to understand that Berlin has support mechanisms - it's a plus that makes Berlin attractive. What makes a location appealing is having a community where you can feel at home. When I arrived in 2021, I didn't know anyone. Finding French Tech Berlin helped me create my own community here. In my events, I try to make people feel at home and help them meet good people.

Thank you very much, Emilie, for helping people feel at home in Berlin.