Adrien Fourrier

Big update - We're joining STATION F! 🚀 I couldn't be prouder to announce that me and Alexis Hespelle are joining the Founders Program - their most selective track for early-stage startups that want to change the game. Here's the wild part: A year ago, we were just two guys obsessed with making online shopping feel human again. Today? We're building Humind alongside startups that are literally reshaping tech. Our mission hasn't changed - we're making e-commerce deeply personal using AI that actually understands what people want. But now we've got 50,000m² of pure innovation energy to make it happen faster! 💪 Massive thanks to Roxanne VARZA and the STATION F crew for believing in us. Thank you Marwan Elfitesse, Héloïse Nogues, Hafssa Maldji, Chloé LE COSSEC 🎈, and Louis Comte for your trust and support. 🙌 Watch this space - the future of shopping is about to get a lot more exciting! ✨ #StationF #EcommerceInnovation #StartupJourney #TechForGood #AIStartup #ParisTech

193

71 commentaires

💡 7,5€ Billion (with a B). That’s the annual amount the French state provides to innovative companies through just one program: the CIR (Crédit d'Impôt Recherche). As an entrepreneur, my companies have been fortunate beneficiaries! But did you know that beyond the CIR, there are also: CII, JEI, JEA, BPI, CIMA, CICE, ACCRE, ACRE, FSE, ANR, FUI, PGE, FSN, PIA, FISAC, PTZ, FCTVA, AIF, and 1,753 other official grants and subsidies available? Combined, they represent well over €20 billion annually in funding for businesses. 😢 The catch (number 1)? Accessing these funds is often a bureaucratic nightmare. This is where agencies step in—offering to handle the process but taking a significant cut in return. 🚀 Enter REKI. We’ve developed the first software platform designed to simplify access to these subsidies. With Reki, companies can: 🔍 Discover all eligible opportunities   📑 Automatically generate applications and required documents   💾 Manage and update key data for compliance REKI is led by a seasoned duo of non-dilutive funding experts: Cyril Fougères (ex-BPI and iii-financements) and Aurélien Sibiril (repeat CTO). If you are looking for non-dilutive fundings, simply complete for form on our website (link in comment) Go Meghan Regior Victor Gross Nic Touron Calliste Duru Quentin Le Gall Thibaud Elziere Amaury Sepulchre Quentin Nickmans 🥰 catch (number 2) France is not alone, most countries are doing the same and we are going after it too :)

64

8 commentaires

WHO WANTS A McDonald's Big Mac Menu for 1 USD ? When you launch a #retail app such as KooulMaroc, and especially in the #food #delivery space, with the objective of promoting it, and getting #downloads and #orders, and you don’t have a deep pocket to lose #money for years .. you are facing this critical question : Where should I put my #marketing budget ? 4 options come to me : 1 - full budget on offline ads 2 - full budget on online ads 3 - mixed budget on both with nice promotions 4 - 0 budget on both and full budget on #promotions to propose the lowest products #prices possible and EVER to users Then I started to ask myself whether my marketing budget should go to Meta / TikTok / YouTube or benefit to my #customers 🤔🧐 USE CASE : Let’s say the first target for our startup would be to have 1% market share on food delivery in the 5 big Moroccan cities, that might actually do around 1,000,000 orders a month i.e very first target would be 10,000 orders a month for KooulMaroc. With only 50,000 usd monthly marketing budget, I can offer 10,000 McDonald's #bigmac menus or TACOS DE LYON #steakhouse menus at 1 usd each.. do you think I would need any #ads with this offer to get the needed virality ? It doesn’t change my 10% comission on the public price .. doesn’t change the restaurant agreed profitability on KooulMaroc orders, doesn’t change delivery cost for Kooul deliverers .. the only thing that changes is that my customer benefits from 100% of my #marketing budget .. I am not saying this is a sustainable solution but when you’re small, facing the big, how should you tackle your launch, from downloads to conversion, activation and retention without following the general & costly path of digital marketing …? PS : With only 35,000 usd monthly marketing budget, I can offer #for #free 10,000 menus of any Moroccan restaurant that has a Menu public price of 3.5 usd or less ….#Aladdin KFC #snackorange #burgerlesdaltons #latelierduboucher Burger King® Maroc - General First Food Services and many others … BELOW THE POTENTIAL MENU PRICES IF 100% OF MY MARKETING BUDGET GOES TO CUSTOMERS …FOOD FOR THOUGHT E-Morocco for everyone 🇲🇦🇲🇦 Support Moroccan Tech, Be & Download Kooul https://lnkd.in/eb9vu24g ORA TECHNOLOGIES

103

24 commentaires

The most important fundraising KPI: 1st pitch → 2nd meeting conversion rate Is yours low? (< 30-50%) Something is wrong. Here's how to diagnose your issue and fix it: There are two types of potential problems... 1️⃣ Investor targeting 2️⃣ Pitching 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: The most common issue is targeting the wrong investors. Usually you're reaching out to investors that focus on a different stage or industry. Do some research on the investors that didn't convert to a second meeting. The most important resource: their portfolio page. Ignore the "about" section, or their blog. That's mostly about marketing to potential investors in their fund. Instead, look at what they've actually invested in and the stage at which they invested (Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, etc.) Remember: trust the portfolio, not the thesis. __ The other main issue is unclear outbound messaging. Investors think you do one thing (industry, business model, tech, etc.) but you actually do something else. I recommend sending your outbound email template to 5+ friends that don't know anything about your startup. Ask them: • What kinds of customers do you think we serve? • What benefits do you think we provide for them? • What product features do you think we have? • What technologies do you think we use? If more 20% of your friends answer these questions incorrectly, you need to write new outreach emails. 𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆: The most common issue is just that your pitch is weak. Usually because you aren't telling a story. You're just sharing disconnected data. The best pitches are stories that foreshadow the only possible outcome: your startup's tremendous success. It feels inevitable. The easiest test to figure out if you're telling a story: try connecting the main idea of each of your slides with "but," "so" or one of their synonyms. If the natural link between slides is "and" or if you can move the order around, you don't have a story. Chronology matters in storytelling. Go back to the drawing board and try to write your inevitable success story. __ Maybe your overall pitch isn't weak. But VCs may still be spotting a red flag when you pitch. It turns them off right away. If you think this might be your issue, it's important to start asking questions. Most pitches have time for you to ask questions at the end. Here's my go-to to diagnose this issue: "What would you need to see in order to get excited about investing in <<STARTUP>>?" If they tell you a primary KPI that you need to improve, then you've probably identified the issue. The other possibility: They try to avoid giving you a specific answer. If they're evading your question, you NEED to dig in to get to the bottom of it. Your fundraising success may depend on it. —— Was this helpful? 👍 like and ♻️ repost it to help other founders!

55

27 commentaires

Big day for Fleet ! 🚀 In 2019, Alexandre and I launched the company with a simple and transparent MacBook leasing solution for startups. We solved a real problem: how to easily equip teams with MacBooks without tying up too much cash. Five years later, Fleet is much more than that. Today, we help companies deploy and secure their IT in complex environments (hybrid work, international expansion). We are excited to unveil our new website and brand identity! 🎉 These new colors represent who we are today: a complete, premium, and global IT solution for national and international companies. Our service is built on 5 pillars: 1️⃣ Global IT Procurement Simplified: Rent and manage IT equipment from a single platform to streamline operations and increase visibility across your global IT fleet. 2️⃣ Integrated Security: Standardize security practices with our MDM solution, implementing uniform policies and automating updates and compliance. 3️⃣ Seamless Onboarding: Our HRIS integration ensures a smooth onboarding experience for HR and new hires, from hire to fully equipped. 4️⃣ Comprehensive IT Support: As your external IT department, we handle global logistics, provide premium support, and offer damage insurance. 5️⃣ Sustainability at Renewal: Promote digital equity and reduce e-waste with our recycling and donation options at renewal. Thank you to all the team for making this happen. Ready for the next stage 🚀

188

48 commentaires

The new edition of 🇫🇷 French Tech Updates is here with everything you need to know this week including: 🚀 A new accelerator program at STATION F 💶 Startups who raised €296 million 👩‍💻 Interesting job opportunities with French startups 📆 Upcoming startup and VC events Read the full update here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eTMUZiDy #frenchtech #startups #venturecapital

7

🚀 Attending @VivaTech, it's always a feast for the eyes (and ears 😅). With Olivier Mathiot we discussed the development of Back Market 10 years later. Challenging panel title... : "BUILDING A RESPONSIBLE STARTUP!" *🔍 How did it start ?* Working for Neteven I discovered the passion and expertise of refurbishers and got mind-blown by the potential for giving tech a second life. The car market was already doing it... why not extending this philosophy to #Tech products ? That's where Quentin Le Brouster and Vianney Vaute were crazy enough to take part in this incredible adventure as co-founders. Ten years later, millions of people joined the refurbishing revolution. We are in 18 countries. 🌎 Our #impact is getting global. And we operate with an amazing team of 700 Back Makers. Our scale, market depth, and quality-price algorithm promote responsible tech use for over 10 million consumers, supporting refurbishers worldwide. "Small is beautiful," but "big is useful" when aiming for change. *🎢 Highs and lows... are part of the journey* Starting from scratch meant : - Building Trust: Ten years ago, refurbishing was unknown. We aimed to create more than a trusted brand: a movement. - Changing Perceptions: Proving that second-hand isn't second-best but the best option was a challenge. We wanted to turn skeptics into advocates. - Diversity: A diverse and inclusive team drives innovation and creativity. That is the focus of our recruitment strategy. I think about those who were part of this journey. They built what Back Market is today. A force for good. And we want to keep it that way moving forward. *🧐 Asked by Olivier what were my tips for Entrepreneurs...* - Make sure your business is impactful by design. Really. Don’t fake it. - Make sure to surround yourself with great people with skills that you don’t have. trust them then. Starting with your business associates. Complementary backgrounds are key to make the magic happen. And make sure they are fun or you will get bored😅 #VivaTech #BackMarket #Sustainability #Entrepreneurship #GlobalImpact #TechInnovation

290

15 commentaires

Transforming education into an interactive experience 🚀 Christophe Dané, Head of Digital Communication and Ebusiness at IIM Digital School, uses Wooclap to transform his courses into captivating interactive experiences. Find out through his testimonial: 🔵 How to create memorable learning experiences for students 🔵 How to generate a conversation from a Word Cloud 🔵 The crucial role of teachers in modern learning To discover the full story, click here 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e8pYJdDT #Education #IIM #Wooclap

11

[ Hiring an EIR, NO AIR ] All of us have seen Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) roles. Just like how EIRs play a Subject matter expert role within the fund, we are looking to hire an AIR - AI Entrepreneur in Residence at Pickyourtrail. Who is it best suited for - Someone who has been in biz role/high growth companies before and has been dabbling their hands in AI in the recent years. Why PYT - Travel is at the cusp of AI innovation. Google continues to comment on how they are looking at solving for travel planning problems in their gemini roll outs. apart from ChatGPT the most viral product from AI has been a trip planning tool :) Imagine working with a team that has some ML models in place, with access to booking APIs and tonnes of customer data (manyGPT solutions today do not offer booking within their flow). the kind of impact that you can create through new products and infusing AI into existing workflows is tremendous. and if you are looking for more reasons, we also won the best leisure brand of the year award this year. if you are keen, drop in a note to [email protected] with a note on what kind of AI solutions you would want to build for the Indian outbound traveller along with your CV. PS: This is a on-premise role from chennai. Ashwin Ramasamy Natarajan Ramachandran Ranjitha Rajalakshmi Krithivasan S R U Srinivas Meekha Elizabeth

103

12 commentaires

According to Harvard Business School, around 65% of promising startups fail due to co-founder disagreements. And yet the general thinking - according to YC - is that it’s still more advisable to look for a co-founder than to go solo. So if the pressure of finding your ideal co-founding team wasn’t enough, it becomes even more daunting when you’re aware of the risks. And yet, I find it interesting that some of the most successful partnerships arise more or less serendipitously. Take Dropbox as an example: initially a solo venture, Drew Houston was advised by Paul Graham to find a co-founder if he was serious about YC. Through friends of friends, he met his co-founder, Arash Ferdowsi, spent a grand total of 2 hours talking in a coffee house, and in his words, “got married on the first date”. Against all odds, the two had an incredibly successful collaboration that lasted 13 years. Embracing serendipity whilst actively seeking out compatible partners seems like a contradiction - but it’s often the case that when it does work, it’s really something to see. 🍀 Check out Drew's story below! #cofounders #founderstories #ycombinator #startups #founders

73

7 commentaires

Sam Altman was the President of YC. Startup advice given at YC: - Launch right away - Launch 1st version you’re embarrassed about - Raise very little capital up front - Don’t take big R&D risk - Find PMF quickly, with ‘something’ Versus how he launched OpenAI: - Raised 1B dollars of capital before any PMF - Took 4 to 5 years after launch to release - Didn’t talk to users upon release Moral of the story? Be careful of textbook advice, no matter who it came from. Prioritise finding smart people with solid analytical skills, instead. Then, make educated bets together.

6

In France, 70% of start-ups that go bankrupt had raised money in the last 3 years (Les Echos). Suddenly having a lot of cash is not necessarily a gift. In the first half of 2024, companies that had raised several hundred million euros went bankrupt. Cash efficiency is more important than ever. Especially as the SaaS market has largely shifted from an equipment market to a replacement market: one company's growth is another's churn. Unsurprisingly, the CAC (customer acquisition cost) is soaring, while the live time value is falling. How, in this context, can we manage our cash most effectively? When Eric Seclet 🐪 asked me to take part in this round table on cash efficiency, I didn't hesitate. It's a difficult subject, but a fundamental one. I'll be sharing the bootstrap approach we've implemented at Sociabble, its benefits, but also what it involves in terms of effort and challenges. You can now register (link in comments).

40

4 commentaires

How we turned a 20% decline in ARR into nearly 100% growth in less than 6 months (and what it taught me about the real startup journey): At the start of 2023, we set an ambitious goal at Chezie: grow to $1M in revenue - a nearly 150% increase. The path looked simple: 1. maintain momentum 2. close deals in our pipeline 3. hit our targets The reality? Four months into the year, we had actually *lost* a customer, and revenue had declined. Eight months into the year we had only grown 20%. I started having thoughts I never expected: - Should we shut down? - How do we return investor money? - Is this the end? Then, something clicked in Q3 and Q4. We closed more deals in 4 months than we had all year. We ended 2024 short of our goal but still up nearly 100% YoY. Now, I'm more optimistic than ever about 2025. But this journey taught me three things: 1. The path is never straight 2. Progress isn't linear 3. Most of the game is just showing up every day, even when it feels hopeless So, if you're in the "struggling" or "feeling lost" phase of your journey right now, keep going. The breakthrough might be right around the corner. What unexpected turns has your startup journey taken? 👇🏾

57

14 commentaires

In France, there is no question that Doctolib is one of those companies that has profoundly changed the way people behave. Launched in 2013 by Stanislas Niox-Chateau as an online booking platform that lets patients schedule doctor appointments, Doctolib saw huge adoption in the country and now covers “almost all of the French population”, its CFO Pierre Vergnes tells me. But what's next for the company, which at €5.8bn is France's highest-valued unicorn? After having (slowly) expanded to Germany and Italy — learning throughout that taking on new geographies with a health product can be painful — will the scaleup be able to conquer other countries? And as more and more startups set out to leverage new technologies for healthcare, will Doctolib manage to stay ahead of the curve? Read more: https://lnkd.in/e6Rmdhyc

76

1 commentaire

Does being a great VC = being a great manager ? Basically no.  Because the two are very different things.  (It’s not me, Kyle Harrison is saying so!) What's important for a VC can be summed up like that : "The two most important things are (1) performance, and (2) teamwork. But if you don't have number 1 then nothing else matters." Being a good VC is making the right investments to have a solid track record. The currency in VC is getting credit for getting deals done. This leaves little room for investors to train newcomers (ie. Associates/Analysts) because you don’t get recognition from that. So being a good manager isn’t valued as much as being a good investor. But problem is, building a solid track record is very different from building a long lasting investment firm, which can only be done by training associates and so being a good manager. David Haber compare the way VC are working with the way Chicago Bulls won championships in 1991-92 meaning winning on the back of 1 or 2 players (1 or 2 good investors) So the structural incentive rewards only deals getting done leaving on the side building a team that knows how to work together. Everything outside track record could be considered pointless. And that’s why VC can’t be considered as an apprenticeship business. But the the positive thing is, a lot of smart VC (ex: Sequoia Capital (US) or Serena (FR)) already know that training new generations is equally important as having a great track record if you want to survive on the long run. So remember as a VC, find great deals but don’t forget to find a great Associate that can succeed you ;) PS: I’m not going to say it but I could: Automate as much as possible to have time for your Associate. Many thanks to Kyle for this interesting piece! Link in comments 👇

19

1 commentaire

The new edition of 🇫🇷 French Tech Updates is here with everything you need to know this week including: 💶 Microsoft's plan to invest €4 billion in France 🇬🇧 Balderton Capital expanding their team in Paris 🚀 blisce launching a new €150m climate fund Read the full update here 👉 https://lnkd.in/emHq97VS #frenchtech #startups #venturecapital #vivatech

15

The Startup Tech Stack 2024 by Ollie Forsyth Huge startup tech map packed with ressources to build ventures from the ground up👇 Row 1 👀 Product: Support in making products better Security / KYC: Customer onboarding and compliance Marketing: Website builders, data collecting and more Fintech / Insurance: Payment providers, expense management and insurance Row 2 🎯 Collaboration and project management tools HR: Employee onboarding and payroll Fundraising: Cap table management and investor reporting Analytics: Product analytics Row 3 🚀 Customer Service: Customer support Cloud: Cloud providers Sales: Closing deals faster Employee Benefits: Giving your team great benefits Brand: Design platforms Row 4 🏁 Productivity: Tools to save you time Data: Data & analytics CRM: Customer relationship management tools Automations: Automations for your startup Legal: Sign docs quickly 🛎 What to do next 1. Tag a founder who might find this useful 2. Tag a company that you are missing #letsbuild #venturebuilding #startup #techstack #prototyping #mvp

57

14 commentaires