Dear reader,
Welcome back to our Newsletter, turning the spotlight on great initiatives from our communities, the government and startups all doing their part in the fight against Covid19.
Read on if you’re interested in:
- the French Tech Mission’s answers to practical questions entrepreneurs might have on the 4B Plan Startup plan
- our curated list of webinars and other community-content
- stories of startups from across the country leading initiatives against the virus and its effects
Yes, French Tech is fighting back.
Top 3 FAQ of the Week
Everyday, we get incoming questions from our startups through our communities, partners and colleagues on the frontline at several government administrations. The French Tech Mission picks the top 3, and answer them here with the help of our Correspondents. This week:
- What is the selection criteria for French Tech Bridge?
- I know the government-backed loan scheme can grant “innovative companies” up to twice their company’s 2019 payroll in France, or 25% of annual revenue (if this figure is higher). Practically speaking, how do I qualify as an “innovative company”?
- I need help negotiating with banks. Who can help?
A new wave of government support for companies expanding abroad
If you need to park your expansion plans now, but want to prep for the rebound: The French government rolled out a support package for companies looking to grow their business overseas. From pre-financing for export projects to the extension of prospecting insurance policies, all the information you need is here.
If this crisis caught you in the middle of expansion and you’re struggling with managing your business in different parts of the world, we recommend you check out the government’s new webinar series. Business France, Bpifrance and the International Chambers of Commerce and Industry have teamed up to bring their expertise region by region: Get key information, dialogue with their in-house experts and get insights on how to shift your strategy.
Next week zooms in on: Europe.
Stories from the trenches: French Tech fighting back
● Phénix (a French Tech 120 company) is offering shopkeepers access to its anti-waste application free of charge. Retailers can sell. This allows food retailers to sell their unsold items to their network of thousands of non-profits and users to avoid throwing out food.
● Frichti (a Next40 company) has posted an online appeal for donations to support medical staff. For each meal donated, Frichti will match it with a second one. The startup provided more than 6,000 meals last week!
● Open Solidarity aims to provide technical solutions free of charge using OVHcloud infrastructures. The infrastructures are offered to service providers free of charge and on a zero-commitment basis for the entire duration of the crisis.
● A Our French Tech community in Hong Kong Shenzen started aggregating government RFPs targeted at startups with possible solutions for a range of problems caused by Covid-19.
● The digital divide is even more challenging now that the world has had to migrate online due to confinement. Aircall rallied to a project by the Mednum cooperative, and the French Ministry of State for Digital Affairs called Solidaire Numérique (Digital Solidarity) to support the most vulnerable in their day-to-day needs online.
– Sifted (Financial Times) a publié un récap des aides gouvernementales destinées aux entreprises à travers l’Europe. Utile si vous opérez dans plusieurs pays.
– France Digitale a réalisé une liste de startups qui peuvent vous aider en cette période de crise, en incluant des membres du Next40, comme OpenClassrooms, Frichti ou Klaxoon.
– Cédric O, le Secrétaire d’État chargé du numérique, a répondu aux questions de BFM Business sur la mobilisation de la French Tech pendant cette crise. À voir ici
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