Four startups from Serbia: Atfield Technology, Agrines, IdeaBuddy, and Tapni, were a part of Mission France, a startup study trip from 12- 15 June, during which they established their first contacts with this market, improved their export potential, and got access to new investments,  potential partners and customers.

The market discovery mission for Serbian startups is the result of joint cooperation between the Science Technology Park Belgrade (STP Belgrade) and the French Embassy in Serbia, in partnership with BPI France and La French Tech Belgrade. The study tour was supported by the Swiss Government through the project “Technopark Serbia 2 – Boosting export through Technopark”, which is implemented by STP Belgrade.

Direct B2B meetings between Serbian startups and representatives from more than 30 startups, support organizations, and funds from France and Germany were held at a networking event organized by BPI France. Additional meetings with investors and opportunities to connect with potential customers and partners continued at VivaTech, one of the most important conferences in Europe for presenting innovations and startups.

• We made very significant connections with potential partners during networking and meeting sessions. At the VivaTech conference, besides the opportunity to see numerous tech innovations, we got the chance to meet and connect with multiple incubators and accelerators which are our target group, and also to arrange conversations with a few VC funds – says Nemanja Žunić, founder of IdeaBuddy startup.

The Serbian startups had the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the thriving French innovation ecosystem through a visit to Station F, a renowned startup campus known for its global significance. Additionally, they acquired valuable knowledge about French tech visas, the process of obtaining a Talent Passport specifically designed for founders aiming to expand innovative businesses in France, as well as what are other opportunities for startups that have France on the map of their global expansion.

• With the Mission France program, launched during our Serbian-French innovation forum, we aim at fostering partnerships between French and Serbian innovative ecosystems while giving the opportunity for Serbian startups to discover the French market and benefit from our Innovation strategy in the frame of France 2030 – says H.E. Pierre Cauchard, Ambassador of France in Serbia.

Having a vibrant startup ecosystem, France has established itself as one of the leading global players, ranking in the top 10 worldwide. Moreover, France is in the top three European countries in terms of startup funding in 2022. An impressive count of 26 unicorns (companies worth over a billion dollars) and exponential growth of investment values in startups, make France an essential market for innovative companies on a global scale.