5 things about working at the French Tech Mission

Working at the French Tech Mission is more than a job, it’s a—you got it—mission. We've been getting a lot of questions about who we are, how we work and where we're going. Whether you're considering applying or are just plain curious about the the team, here are the top 5 things I think you should know.

(French translation in progress)

1) We have two goals.

Hypergrowth = Mobilise our specific arsenal (policy, networks, funding, programs, etc.) to allow startups to scale into global champions. We believe this growth can lead to value creation, to job creation and to France getting a say in what the world will become and our place in it. 

Impact = Ensure this growth does not come at the price of progress. We need a startup ecosystem that sets higher standards for itself—whether we’re talking about diversity, ecological footprints, social responsibility—and becomes a conscious force for building a better world.

If you want a peek at a not-so-secret document on this with bullet points and all, take a look here.

2) Our strength is in our duality.

"La French Tech" is the nickname of the French tech ecosystem and everyone in it. The French Mission is the government-led team built for it. We're unlike any other team before us in government and live at that special junction of the startup ecosystem and government. That means each team member

• Speaks one of the two languages (startup and government) fluently, and has a working proficiency in the other. Here, test yourself by looking at this alphabet soup and checking if you know what each acronym stands for: SLA. IPO. ARR. PPC. CLTV. BSPCE. AAP. CIR. AMI. DGCCRF. (If you’re from the startup world or the Ministry, chances are you’ll get at least 50-60% right. The current average at the French Tech Mission is closer to 80%.)
• Works out of two offices: (1) French Tech Central, our 1,500 m2 HQ inside Station F and (2) the Ministry of Economy and Finances. Guess which one you’re more likely to bump into me in :) 
• Brings to the table operational expertise from tech or administration: Some can do product launches, others can write draft executive orders on immigration policy.

3) More than half of the French Tech Mission doesn’t actually—administratively speaking—work at the French Tech Mission.

The French Tech Mission is becoming more and more of a tribe of coordinated people across government who share our values and our mission. 

• Digital Agency employees. There are 9, of which 4 positions are vacant. All 9 are part of the French Digital Agency, better known as the “Agence Numérique.” If you’re not familiar with the agency, it is best described as a special entity, created specifically for government missions that need to move exceptionally fast to adapt to shifting needs brought about by tech. The agency’s administrative home is the Directorate General for Enterprise (DGE) of the Ministry for the Economy and Finance.
• Slashers. The name “Slashers" come from the fact that they carry two titles: the original title on their official job description, and their title from the French Tech Mission. Take Philippe as an example: Philippe is our Investment Lead at the French Tech Mission: He is the main contact point for VCs, sits on the board of all French Tech funds and leads all our investment-related projects. He is also--slash--the Deputy Head of Corporate Innovation and Financing at the French Treasury.

This system can feel a little discombobulating for anyone attached to traditional hierarchy for three reasons:

• Slashers do not work with (as partners) but work at the French Tech Mission (as fully-fledged team members.) Philippe, for example, represents the French Tech Mission at everything from meetings with VCs to briefings at the Elysée. 
• Once invited, Slashers freely choose—and are not contractually compelled to—be part of the French Tech Mission. Their French Tech work has zero influence on their official performance reviews. They could theoretically decide to deliver subpar work or drop out at any time. But you know what, they don’t. 
• It works.

There are currently 7 Slashers on the team with expertise ranging from PR to deeptech funding. We're looking forward to onboarding more in the coming months.

4) Joining the French Tech Mission means joining public service.

Set aside the hype and the omnipresent red roosters for a second. At the end of the day, joining the French Tech Mission means joining public service. And joining public service means having a genuine love of France.

If you want to help a startup, join one. If you want to help startups, join an accelerator, VC or specialised organisation. If you want to shape the future French economy and society for the better with startups, join the French Tech Mission.

5) We’re hiring. 

If this post speaks to you, check out or share our openings here :)