The France Digitale/EY barometer, which has just been published, highlights the very good resilience of start-ups, in a disrupted and unstable economic climate. Occitanie is doing particularly well, with the creation of 150,000 jobs in start-ups this year.
The annual barometer of the European start-up association France Digitale, produced with the EY firm, recently unveiled, highlights an ecosystem of French start-ups which, despite the economic and political turbulence, continues to demonstrate impressive resilience. It is noted that, although fundraising has slowed, they have managed to stay the course, with a 27% growth in their turnover, 40% of which is generated internationally. As noted by Franck Sebag, EY partner who co-directed the report, these results illustrate the strength of the ecosystem, which has been able to take advantage of European and international markets.
This dynamism is also reflected in employment. In 2024, more than 1.3 million jobs were created by start-ups, including nearly 200,000 new positions in France this year. This growth benefits all regions, particularly Occitanie, which saw a 36% increase in jobs linked to start-ups. This brings the total number of jobs created this year in the region to 150,000.
New government: a need for “power and vision of innovation”
Regarding the new government, Maya Noël insists on the importance of stability: “What we expect is political stability, fiscal stability. Because what our entrepreneurs need is to have maximum visibility.” She also calls for “a vision, an ambition for the competitiveness of France and Europe, a strategic vision of innovation”.
As for the future minister in charge of digital technology, the general director of France Digitale hopes “someone with a strong position in government who is pushing this innovation issue.” She warns against too restrictive a vision: “For me, start-ups are not just about digital technology, they are about innovation in the broad sense, they are issues of competitiveness, and ultimately they concern all ministries.”
However, these successes hide a more nuanced reality. “Political instability does not help start-ups in their trajectory“, explains Maya Noël, CEO of France Digitale. She points out that to continue to grow, start-ups and SMEs in general need visibility, fiscal stability and support from public authorities. This need for stability is crucial for both French and international investors, who see French innovation as a promising sector. Over the past 15 years, the French ecosystem has built a solid reputation, and “We must not let this image deteriorate”.
150,000 jobs created this year in Occitanie
Beyond resilience, the barometer also highlights important issues such as the environmental transition, which remains a priority for 53% of venture capitalists. Other sectors, such as deeptech and industrial start-ups, continue to encounter difficulties in attracting funding. Maya Noël, however, emphasizes that the agility of start-ups, their ability to adapt and anticipate the unexpected, allows them to remain competitive in an uncertain context: “The characteristic of a start-up is knowing how to face the unexpected, be resilient and find solutions”.
This resilience is also visible in the profitability rate of start-ups, with 32% of them already profitable in 2024, and 80% who estimate they will become so in the next three years. This is a “paradigm shift”according to Maya Noël. Start-ups are now looking to achieve profitability more quickly so as to no longer depend solely on fundraising.
This report therefore paints a portrait of an ecosystem in full mutation. While challenges remain, particularly in terms of financing and regulation, French start-ups seem ready to seize the opportunities offered by new technological and environmental issues. In this sense, the coming year will be crucial for French Tech, which will have to continue its efforts to attract foreign talent and capital, while consolidating its place as a leader in innovation in Europe.
France Digitale Day: resilience and European cooperation on the agenda
France Digitale Day (FD Day for regulars), which will be held on September 18 at the Musée des Arts Forains in Paris, is shaping up to be a key event for the start-up and innovation ecosystem. 5,000 participants, mainly start-up managers and investors, will be there.
This year, for the first time, the event is taking place without a government in place, but Maya Noël, general director of France Digitale, is confident: “There will be no change of course if we remain resilient and confident. We have reached a very high plateau”. A selection of younger entrepreneurs has been scheduled for the conferences. We note the participation of Pascal Asselin, director of the Montpellier company Morfo.
To encourage this intergenerational transmission, experienced entrepreneurs mentor young startupers as part of partnerships with associations during this edition. In addition, the event promises an even greater international opening, with a reinforced European dimension.
