Translation from the article investir.us

The Silicon Beach of Los Angeles has become the epicenter of tech start ups. French investors are excited about this new tech hub of activity and many have come to contribute to its growth. Many gave up the Silicon Valley, as it has become too expensive.

A large range of French professionals – engineers, high-specialized technicians, researchers, but also consultants in establishments- are now set up in the Silicon Beach. The French population living in LA and working in the Tech industry believes in the surging growth of the area. For ten years, French engineers have built an excellent reputation among American companies from LA to San Diego thanks to their education; computer science or companies in biotechnology in particular look for French talent. Many entrepreneurs and investors set off for the tech boom in California. They have different experiences in entrepreneurship; they ask for investment funds or venture capitalists for money, they finance their own startup project, or they become consultants in establishments for French investors.

The demography of LA supports great innovation, this professional passion is characteristic of the West Coast; according to the French Consulate, there are 6 times more French people on the West side of the city, where most of the tech hubs are located.

Many Tech success stories in LA are made in France

French entrepreneurs and investors are of course attracted by the City of Angels. Thierry Congard, for example, built his successful Proservia empire, before selling it back to Manpower when it reached more than $48 million in revenue. When a French entrepreneur founded the new company Whatsapp, he naturally opted for the Silicon Beach to set up and develop its new activity.

Antoine Poissonier, a star of e-commerce with eBay and Collection privée who has recently set up in LA, recognizes the energy of the Silicon Beach as something amazing, saying  « the energy comes from the people we can meet here, from their advice and recent success stories. ».

A French American Chamber of Commerce and dynamic networks are the strengths of the Silicon Beach

On January 14, the large French Tech community of LA celebrated the anniversary of the French American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles.

Its young President, Ralph Levy, is aware of the opportunities and the expansion of entrepreneurship that are possible in the City. However, he regrets a geographical and organizational dispersal between the members of the local French Tech. The goal of the FACC is to « quickly become the unique meeting place where any entrepreneur willing to do business in LA finds what he is looking for ».

Even professional networks have already started up to accomplish this goal on Linkedin – to federate French professionals like French SoCal Alumni, local representatives like the French Foreign Trade Advisors (Conseillers du Commerce Extérieur Français – CCEF) of LA, and play a big part to welcome and advise the new arrivals. The network of the French Founders, present worldwide, also offers its  branch in LA, boosting the professional networking enabled by efficient events.

As the French Minister of Finances, Emmanuel Macron said during the French Tech Conference: « Entrepreneur is a French word. We did not steal it, we only gave it up ». Speaking to an audience of French entrepreneurs set up in the US, he stated « I need your ambition, your energy and willingness, tremendously, because it is what will be inspiring for our everyday fight ».