Nearly every 2nd French impact startup is based in Paris
France Digitale, Bpifrance Le Hub and the Mouvement Impact France have released the new and 4th edition of the mapping of French impact startups. The three organizations have identified 1,142 startups whose core business has a significantly positive impact on the environment and society.
This mapping also highlights the resilience and maturity of an ecosystem that continues to grow and employs 32,000 people in France, despite a difficult economic context. A strong signal and further proof that France is one of the spearheads of an innovative and sustainable Europe.
Impact, the new grail for French startups?
Global warming, the energy and food transition, decarbonized mobility, waste recycling, inclusion and social cohesion for all… all these challenges require increasingly urgent responses. Thanks to their capacity for innovation and their solutions, startups can make their contribution, as shown by this 4th edition of the mapping of French startups with impact.
With 1,142 startups identified (i.e. +6% in one year), this mapping confirms that, despite a more difficult economic context over the last 12 months, impact startups continue to grow and attract both capital and talent.
A few figures bear this out: these startups have raised a total of almost €10 billion since their creation, with an average ticket of €10 million per startup raised (i.e. 70% of the mapping). These investments have a significant impact on employment, as impact startups account for 32,000 jobs (+2,000 jobs in 1 year), with an average of 30 jobs per startup (vs. 27 last year).
Which sectors are doing well?
Four sectors are particularly well represented in this mapping:
- Energy, with 12% of startups, 4,500 employees and over €3 billion in funds raised.
- Circular Economy, with 12% of startups, 3,600 employees and €900 million in funding.
- Agriculture, with 11% of startups, 4,400 employees and €1.4 billion in funding
- Mobility, with 11% of startups, 4,000 employees and €1.6 billion in funding.
Within these sectors, several startups have developed technological innovations that have been particularly visible and used in recent years. In the Energy sector, startups such as Verkor and Iten are developing new-generation batteries that will have a major impact on the industry in years to come. This is also the case with the production and valorization of renewable energies, such as Beem Energy, Girasole, HySiLabs Technologies, Qair Group, Qarnot and Verso Energy. Startups such as Accenta, Kayrros and Metron are also particularly keen to manage the energy transition.
Mobility-related startups specializing in electric charging stations have raised substantial funds in recent years: Bump, Driveco, Electra, Watt and Zeplug. Other startups are addressing this market to reduce the sector’s impact: Flying Whales with its low-impact airships, Shopopop for co-delivery or K-ryole and its French electric carts and trailers.
Last but not least, many startups have entered the daily lives of French people, revolutionizing our consumption patterns(Backmarket, Phénix or Too Good To Go), human or animal nutrition(Innovafeed, La Vie or Ynsect) or inclusion approaches(BlueFrogRobotics, Colette, Ouihelp or Team’Parents).
To continue to grow and bring their innovations to as many people as possible, the mapping reveals that these startups are primarily looking for partnerships and commercial cooperation (25%), and to expand nationally (18%) and internationally (18%).
Source: https://en.impactfrance.eco/
