French Tech: Get Your "Ticket" for France!

Are you a foreign national planning to create a technology business? If so, the French Tech Ticket program is just for you! You have until August 24 to make yourself known and take advantage of the second edition of this program, which now covers all of France. It offers you financial incentives, incubator space and support and a help desk for administrative procedures. Read on for details about the second cycle.

Calling all foreign start-up founders! The second edition of French Tech Ticket was launched on June 21, in New York, by Axelle Lemaire, France's Secretary of State for Digital Affairs. Having witnessed the impact and appeal of this initiative, the second cycle will be three times bigger than last year, when just 23 companies were beneficiaries of the program.

This year, the 70 foreign start-ups that make the cut can pack their bags for France and begin developing their businesses in 2017 at the incubator of their choosing. They will be asked to select three cities from the eleven "French Tech"-designated metropolitan areas and Paris (or a total of 41 incubators).

While the first edition of the program was limited to Paris, the second cycle has been expanded to the entire country. The young entrepreneurs will be able to grow their projects at an incubator. Beneficiaries will receive funding in the amount of €45,000 and free hosting for 12 months at one of the 41 French incubators chosen as program partners.

The companies that choose the Aix-Marseille metropolitan area will have space at the Belle de Mai incubator, which was selected to support projects involving information and communication technologies and their applications.

Applications may be submitted through August 24 at the site:
www.frenchtechticket.com

Some 722 start-ups applied in 2015.

A one-stop shop for administrative procedures

Are you afraid of French red tape? Do you have location constraints? The Ministry of Economy has thought everything out. There will be fast-track procedures for the winners and their families to obtain residence permits, as well as a help desk to guide them through other formalities. This one-stop shop will assist with all administrative matters, such as banking, insurance, taxes and social security. A red carpet will be rolled out for start-up founders, freeing them from material contingencies.

In addition, these young international entrepreneurs will get practical assistance with relocating to the city they choose. Those who opt for Provence will receive sound advice from Provence Promotion, which specializes in business and employee relocations. As the English-speaking contact, Provence Promotion will coordinate its efforts with the incubator to introduce the project sponsors to the local community. They will participate in a series of master classes and monthly networking events within the ecosystem.

To be eligible, applicants must own at least 50% of the company and there can be no more than one French co-founder on the team. Candidates must agree to stay in France for at least one year and to work full time in the designated incubator.