Practical Guides

A guide to thriving at Europe’s biggest startup and tech event this 22-25 May in Paris.

![survival guide graphic](https://storage.googleapis.com/cdn.vivatechnology.com/_vt-prd/medias/survival_guide_929b66a09f/survival_guide_929b66a09f.jpg)

VivaTech is four days of nonstop discovery, inspiration, and business. There is so much to see and do, we don’t want you to miss a moment of it. Our annual survival guide gathers everything you need to know to survive these four amazing days in the heart of tech.

![man using VivaTech app](https://storage.googleapis.com/cdn.vivatechnology.com/_vt-prd/medias/019_MKG_Jeu_Utilisation_application_mobile_021_2de7c195ec/019_MKG_Jeu_Utilisation_application_mobile_021_2de7c195ec.jpg)
_Attendee using the VivaTech App. Photo credit: VivaTech_
## #1 Download the VivaTech App
The VivaTech App is an attendee’s lifeline at the event. Keep your badge, contacts, and program in one place. Download it from the Apple or Google Play stores. 
### Badge Access
Before arriving at the entrance to VivaTech, make sure to create an account in order to access your badge through the app, or online. You’ll be asked to scan it at the entrance. 
### Make Your Own Agenda
Discover the speakers who will take the spotlight on the VivaTech stages. Add sessions to your favorites to get notified when they begin. Check out the sessions happening right now.
### Find your way
All the exhibitors, stages, and innovations in one click. Find your way around the VivaTech Halls with the VivaTech Map. Get from point A to point B with this year’s new functionality that guides you through the VivaTech Halls.
### Grow Your Network
Get in touch with other attendees and jumpstart new business opportunities. Complete your profile and send contact requests to attendees with similar interests. Chat directly with them on the app to eventually meet up, do business, or even attend side events together!
### Follow a Tech Trail
Looking for a curated list on one topic? Check out our Tech Trails – your entry point to discovering the wealth of VivaTech 2024. Follow a tech trail to discover the hottest startups, leading companies, and top sessions surrounding one topic. Make your way through the worlds of AI, Climate Tech, Smart City & Mobility, and more. 

Want to find the trends related to your field? Dive into curated content for CMOs, CFOs, CTOs, and others.
 
![vt stage one](https://storage.googleapis.com/cdn.vivatechnology.com/_vt-prd/medias/vt23_s1_d3_11_40_0a5f8b73d1/vt23_s1_d3_11_40_0a5f8b73d1.jpg)
_Stage One at VivaTech. Photo credit: VivaTech_
## #2 Plan Your Experience
VivaTech can be overwhelming if you’re not aware of everything that’s happening. Don’t miss out on your favorite speaker or startup!

Check out the full [Official Program](https://www.vivatechnology.com/sessions) to meet our top speakers. See when they’ll be talking and at what stage.

Visit the [Exhibitor’s List](https://www.vivatechnology.com/partners) to see which companies and startups will be on the VivaTech floor. Filter by interests, sector of activity, or funding round to find the startups corresponding to your search. 

![Tram in front of Porte de Versailles](https://storage.googleapis.com/cdn.vivatechnology.com/_vt-prd/medias/VEN_14_30_mise_en_situation_mkg_1_52380a0241/VEN_14_30_mise_en_situation_mkg_1_52380a0241.jpg)
_Tramway in front of Porte de Versailles. Photo credit: VivaTech_
## #3 How to Arrive
Don’t be late because you got off at the wrong metro stop… 
### VivaTech Hours: 
Wednesday, 22 May to Saturday, 25 May. **9 AM – 6 PM every day**.
### Address: 
The Paris Porte de Versailles Expo Center in the 15th arrondissement of Paris.

**1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris, France** 

The main entrance is at Door A1 or A2, where you’ll be asked for your VivaTech pass and ID. Lines can be long at opening hours, so plan accordingly.
### How to get there: 
**Public transport**: Paris is one of the most connected cities in Europe. Take advantage of its expanse transportation system. Get off at the stop “Porte de Versailles”. 
- Metro: Line 12
- Tramway: Lines T2 or T3A
- Bus: Lines 39 or 80

**Car**: If you are driving in and need parking, there are three parking lots nearby:
- Onepark - Parking Vanves: 36-38 Rue du Moulin, 92170 Vanves
- Parking VIP - Paris Expo Porte de Versailles: Ave. de la Porte de la Plaine, 75015 Paris
- Parking 1 Paris Expo Porte de Versailles: 2 Rue d’Oradour-sur-Glane, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux

![Microphone and water bottle](https://storage.googleapis.com/cdn.vivatechnology.com/_vt-prd/medias/Partenariat_avec_Gobi_1_20bc7e547d/Partenariat_avec_Gobi_1_20bc7e547d.jpg)
_Gobi water bottle. Photo credit: VivaTech_
## #4 What to Bring?
Don’t forget **your ID**, as it will be asked for at the entry to verify your identity. 

VivaTech is happening in 2 Halls of the expo center, meaning there is a lot of ground to cover. One of the biggest tips we hear from attendees is to wear comfortable shoes! Leave those heels at home. 

Essentials you should have in your bag? A **water bottle**. There are refilling stations around the VivaTech Halls. An extra charger or **battery pack**. Long days of using the VivaTech app or networking can drain your phone battery. **Business cards**, to connect with your new contacts after VivaTech is over. 
 
![2 women looking at the VivaTech map](https://storage.googleapis.com/cdn.vivatechnology.com/_vt-prd/medias/BR_4_A3909_a59dde7812/BR_4_A3909_a59dde7812.jpg)
_Two attendees looking at the VivaTech Map. Photo credit: VivaTech_
## #5 On-Site Experience
### Leave your luggage
Luggage can’t come into VivaTech with you, but smaller bags like backpacks and briefcases are welcome and will be checked at the entrance. There is a luggage check outside Door A2 for the jet setters who have just arrived.
### Get Oriented
Once inside, use the VivaTech app to get orientated with your surroundings. If you need help, head to the Grand Central at the heart of VivaTech where hosts can give you information on locations, conference schedule, app help, and more.
### Get Connected
Connect to our attendee Wi-Fi network for free. Use the network “VT24-VISITORS” once inside the expo center, no password needed.
### What’s for lunch?
There is an array of restaurants and catering around the VivaTech Halls to make sure our attendees are fueled up and ready for the day. 
Outside the VivaTech doors is a Food Court made up of restaurants and an alley of food trucks to purchase your lunch and drinks. From French sandwiches to Lebanese, Thai, or Italian cuisine, there is a little something for everyone.
### Side Events
VivaTech is more than two Halls at Porte de Versailles. It’s also a constellation of side events happening throughout Paris. From dinners to cocktail hours, there is sure to be an event that fits your busy VivaTech schedule. Check out all the [Side Events](https://www.vivatechnology.com/side-events) for more info.
 
![street full of people](https://storage.googleapis.com/cdn.vivatechnology.com/_vt-prd/medias/vivanight_633476b414/vivanight_633476b414.jpg)
_Rue Montorgueil dressed up in VivaTech colors for the opening Viva Night. Photo credit: VivaTech_
## More questions?
If any of your questions weren’t answered, head to our [FAQ page](https://intercom.help/viva-technology/en).

Now you’re ready to thrive at VivaTech 2024. We can’t wait to see you!

Follow us on social media to stay up to date on program announcements on [X](https://twitter.com/VivaTech), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/vivatech/), & [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/viva-technology/).



VivaTech 2024 Survival Guide

News Feed

Session Digests

From cultural fails to unexpected successes, we digest the key moments from our recent New York and London VivaTech Startup Meetups. What would our panelists do differently if they had a rewind button when embarking on their global expansion?

![Scaling globally visual](https://storage.googleapis.com/cdn.vivatechnology.com/_vt-prd/medias/scaling_globally_b0ba93eb28/scaling_globally_b0ba93eb28.jpg)
## Make a Cultural Impact
Matt Cooper is the co-CEO of [Crowdcube](https://www.crowdcube.com/), a crowdfunding investment platform that’s raised over 1.4 billion pounds in the last 10 years for its clients and has successfully gone from a local solution to a global operation all over Europe. 

Matt implores startups to take culture into account when expanding beyond their own borders. 

“When you start a business, your company’s core values are very culturally aligned to the values of where you operate and where the founders are from. If you're a British business, you have predominantly British values.

“We began to understand that different societies are perhaps high context versus low context, and what that means is when you're communicating as a team, you can actually be having very different conversations.

“When you think you're being explicit as a CEO in your message to a team in Paris or a team in Stockholm, the context in which they take that conversation is entirely different from the way you try to deliver it.

“You can't change your values. They are based on how you are raised, your parents, and your social group. But what we can do is work on behaviors. It’s one of the important things that we got wrong in the first instance but I now think we get quite right.

“So really be aligned with what behaviors you expect from your team but be aware of the fact that the cultural differences can create misalignment.”

![London panel of speakers](https://storage.googleapis.com/cdn.vivatechnology.com/_vt-prd/medias/vttour_3915445bcd/vttour_3915445bcd.jpg)
_London VivaTech Tour panelists. Photo credit: VivaTech_ 
## Find Local Solutions
Hasna Kourda, co-founder and CEO of [Save Your Wardrobe](https://www.saveyourwardrobe.com/for-consumers/), was the winner of last year’s LVMH Innovation Award at VivaTech 2023. Since then, the startup has expanded its sustainability fashion tech beyond its home market.

Hasna encourages other expanding startups to search for local solutions to make the transition easier. 

“Brexit was quite a big pain point for our growth. The UK was settling and trying to differentiate from regulations but also ways of working with the EU so we had to adapt to that. And so Germany became really fast our first market even before the UK. We started to headquarter there, but we had to travel back and forth, understand taxation laws and accounting and we found more reasons not to set up an office there.

“What we did instead was find other local startups to work with that would take those hassles from us, that knew the culture way better than we could. So instead of investing in having an office in Germany and having a local team, we outsourced it. 

“While managing a very tight budget with a pre-seed round you can't do much. So we had to make sure that we were not overspending but also being in the same space as the client we wanted as targets.”


## Know Your Budget
Richard Kotite is the Vice President at [Accel](https://www.accel.com/), an early-stage venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California that’s backed over 25 unicorns since its beginnings, including Spotify and Meta when they were young. 

Richard's advice for European businesses that are thinking about expanding to the US is to understand the cost. “Do a lot of homework in advance and avoid making costly mistakes. Launching into the US is very expensive.”

“For hiring talent, it is probably twice as expensive in high-cost cities like San Francisco or New York. You have to think okay am I ready to actually make that investment to move into the US? It doesn't make sense in the seed stage when you're at pre-product market fit or if you don't have the resources.”

“Also, know that the competitive dynamics are oftentimes very different in the US versus your local market. Your product may be working for you in the UK or France, but may not necessarily pass well into the US. You have to be very intentional about crafting the product strategy to adapt to the US market.”

![NYC panelists on stage](https://storage.googleapis.com/cdn.vivatechnology.com/_vt-prd/medias/DSC_00023_min_6713b803a8/DSC_00023_min_6713b803a8.jpg)
_New York VivaTech Tour panelists. Photo credit: VivaTech_ 
## Find Success in Failure
Max Rivera, Global Expansion Lead & Partnerships at [Snap Inc.](https://snap.com/en-US), was hired at Snap eight years ago to help the American company expand to Latin America. After a rocky ride, but eventual success, Max created the playbook for the company for its expansions beyond the LATAM markets and into Europe and the Middle East.

“International expansion is risky business. You should look at it as a high-risk endeavor and go in with a mindset of getting something out of it even if you fail.

“So go in with a plan. Test the market. Reduce the risk as much as possible. But most importantly, figure out how you can develop lessons. Can you develop a playbook? Can you learn something from that experience and apply it as you go further? So that even if this expansion fails, don’t have an aversion to international expansion or completely rule out a country or region just because you didn't make it the first time.

“Try to extract those learnings. It took us some time to realize that and to really learn things even in failed endeavors.”

![François Bitouzet talking at NYC panel](https://storage.googleapis.com/cdn.vivatechnology.com/_vt-prd/medias/DSC_09884_min_57f3622e7e/DSC_09884_min_57f3622e7e.jpg)
_Francois Bitouzet, VivaTech’s Managing Director, at the New York VivaTech Tour. Photo credit: VivaTech_
## Go Time
Whether you’re a startup that’s already started scaling, or just starting your homework, Richard leaves us with this reminder: “There's nothing that really prepares you for [expanding internationally] no matter how many panels you listen to or advisers that you talk to. You just need to be on the ground and learn for yourself.” 

Looking to expand outside your market? [Join us at VivaTech 2024](https://vivatechnology.com/get-your-pass?ca=FPB7UCH5) this 22-25 May and meet with investors, major corporations, and the leaders of tech from over 174 countries to start making your global connections. 




Session Digest: Scaling Globally, the Keys to Success

Scaling Globally, the Keys to Success

Multiple breakthrough decarbonization technologies are now on the market. How viable are they? 2 We digest the VivaTech 2023 panel session on the tech leading to a cleaner Earth.

<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/Pw1LgikNBQH6d3SM-7UQ9IlKeLgDXxoTGQ77r8fiRcYqsMK-UJSBwNbQaSu-Qv4qKZpikTr6JZNekAsUjPRSc8YdSCbiUYmA5GmrnVAMvTY59UULJZEPEwtRiEBUmba_L_0ULFyS3o3dM7iiHla-RUQ" alt="Industrial facility emitting smoke into the atmosphere.">Photo credit: Chris LeBoutillierThe effects of climate change around the world are getting more extreme every year. Just in 2023, we’ve seen wildfires in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/10/18/canada-historic-2023-wildfire-season-end/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canada</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/150994/fires-scar-the-chilean-landscape" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chile</a>; typhoons in&nbsp;<a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151910/taiwan-braces-for-typhoon-koinu#:~:text=Several%20typhoons%20have%20affected%20this,develop%20between%20May%20and%20October." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">southeast Asia</a>; floods in&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Emilia-Romagna_floods]" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Italy</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://phys.org/news/2023-03-uncharted-territory-south-sudan-years.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">South Sudan</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://reliefweb.int/disaster/fl-2023-000169-bra" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brazil</a>; cyclones in&nbsp;<a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/malawi/southern-africa-snapshot-tropical-cyclone-freddys-impact-february-march-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">southeast Africa</a>, and more.Humans have generated so many greenhouse gasses that lowering emissions won’t be enough to reverse the trend of climate change. We need to heavily decarbonize the atmosphere. Decarbonization technology seems like a promising solution, but what is it and is it&nbsp; practical?&nbsp;At VivaTech 2023, we sat down with three decarbonization experts to find out. CEO of Dioxycle&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/speaker/28c46a17-0ac8-ed11-9f73-6045bd8890e4/sarah-lamaison" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sarah Lamaison</a> and her team have built a technology to capture CO₂ and transform it into a variety of usable products.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/speaker/c77fa054-c2d2-ed11-9f74-000d3a2dcd55/julie-gosalvez" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Julie Gosalvez</a> is the CMO of Climeworks, a company specializing in direct air capture technology.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/speaker/11b9cbe3-bae5-ed11-8e89-000d3a4a8203/cyril-garcia" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cyril Garcia</a>, Global CSR Head at Capgemini, is responsible for the integration of sustainability across Capgemini’s portfolio of client services.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/UA8rBZd6RNlJ1LAYXPXs5iqWxDm3n35bsBmrk5sDCdhGjRFSrgspopKXyyPMu9NXA3PLe6gyTUKu5JcG7diAFlVDUKSowYiuqD1JT-jxdJV3gCc_iUSHBGgafHxAwWk3bzU2KgyzKW2LWvym4kyH1BU" alt="VivaTech panel arah Lamaison, Dimitri Carbonnelle (moderator), Julie Gosalvez, &amp; Cyril Garcia. ">Sarah Lamaison, Dimitri Carbonnelle (moderator), Julie Gosalvez, &amp; Cyril Garcia. Photo credit: VivaTech<h2>So, what is decarbonization?</h2>Decarbonization is the strategic reduction of human-induced carbon dioxide emissions to combat the severe impacts of global warming, according to our friends at&nbsp;<a href="https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/company-guide/decarbonization-meanings-technology-and-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Greenly</a>. This effort demands a worldwide pivot away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy.&nbsp;Unfortunately, some industries aren’t able to completely get rid of their carbon emissions, such as chemical, steel, and cement production.&nbsp;To combat these “undecarbonizable” industries, several processes exist to remove carbon from the atmosphere.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Carbon Capture &amp; Storage</h2>This is a linear&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_AnnexVII.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">process</a> in which carbon dioxide from industrial and energy-related sources is captured, conditioned, compressed, and transported to a storage location for long-term isolation from the atmosphere.The most effective method of storing CO₂ for carbon capture and storage (CCS) is by injecting CO₂ deep into naturally existing, porous rock formations, such as abandoned oil or gas reservoirs, unmineable coal beds, or saline aquifers.Startup&nbsp;<a href="https://www.carboncure.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CarbonCure</a> has built a solution to decrease emissions of one of the hardest to decarbonize industries: concrete production. They introduce recycled CO₂ into fresh concrete. Once injected, the CO₂ undergoes a mineralization process and becomes permanently embedded—an innovative way to sequester CO₂ emissions without compromising quality. &nbsp;<img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/L5YR4H_uSmGAttUfH_GqgcI3e1B3D2pbbASpTf3R0tKAZ55J-XFa0F10nuKClNTEy7cgqpLPx7WkxQk--dawmmchpYaJBVvL8D0448YpZvVAbd4CmB3GApr9uKhB0JM6PXx7sjDW29jWdH2HeYuyBSc" alt="Sarah Lamaison and David Wakerley, co-founders of Dioxycle.">Sarah Lamaison and David Wakerley, co-founders of Dioxycle. Photo credit: La Tribune Bordeaux<h2>Carbon Capture &amp; Usage</h2>This process refers to a range of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iea.org/energy-system/carbon-capture-utilisation-and-storage/co2-capture-and-utilisation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">applications</a> through which CO₂ is captured and used either directly in its original state or indirectly after its transformation in various products.&nbsp;Carbon Capture and Usage (CCU) is&nbsp;<a href="https://dioxycle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dioxycle</a>’s main focus. “We are developing ways to take CO₂ and make it into a feedstock and then recycle that into many different products,” explained Sarah Lamaison. “What’s interesting is that with CCU we are implementing a circularity of carbon and use what is already available on the surface of the earth.”Dioxycle’s solution has already turned CO₂ into jet fuel, sustainable packaging, recyclable plastics, synthetic fabrics, plant hormones, shipping fuel, and more. Proof that carbon can be used in more ways than we might think! &nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/-8MSBLs4W7cpa798yddioN3kR6Ef4NYF6aZ6o92eLeQAl8CPrHcMDXRQE4abSmeSp07Wk2Q42UofTK_GaGOHpMH9X8Ygv3omUQ875KVr1eZGp9_SxxabiqtCIRhLQnZrsI4UF38ID9ucxbggcYOt85o" alt="Climeworks carbon-removal plant in Iceland.">Climeworks carbon-removal plant in Iceland. Photo credit: Climeworks<h2>Direct Air Capture &amp; Sequestration</h2>While both CCS and CCU capture carbon at the point of emission such as at steel plants, direct air capture is quite a different process. Direct air capture (DAC) technologies extract CO₂ directly from the atmosphere at any location which can then be permanently stored in deep geological formations or used for a variety of applications.<a href="https://climeworks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Climeworks</a> has built the world’s first large-scale, commercial DAC+Sequestration facility,&nbsp;Orca, located in Iceland. “Iceland is made up of 90% basalt rock underground,” explained Julie Gosalvez. “Basalt is very porous. So when CO₂ is mixed with water and injected deep underground, in under two years it is mineralized. This is a permanent solution to remove carbon from the atmosphere.” &nbsp;<h2>Time to Level Up</h2>The work that decarbonization companies are doing is a huge step towards a cleaner earth. However, in a world where we continue to use fossil fuels, the progress made can only go so far. All three of the panel experts evoked the need for decarbonization plans to also involve a transition to renewable energies.&nbsp;“Our technology goes hand in hand with large-scale renewable energy deployment. It takes energy to power what we do,” remarked Lamaison.&nbsp;Yet the implementation of renewable energy and these decarbonization technologies depends largely on how fast governments can create policies and allow for permitting. “Governments can act in many different layers,” added Gosalvez. “One is demand. Creating the demand on their end and regulating the markets. Another is incentivization taxes for different industries. And lastly is the role they can play in the scalability. The faster [these technologies] will be deployed, the faster the prices will go down, and the faster the capacities will be built.”A wide range of diversified and complementary technological solutions exist for decarbonization. Now it’s time to implement them and scale up. “The [decarbonization] battle has started,” Garcia stated.&nbsp;There was a lot to dissect about carbon removal solutions on our VivaTech stage. Keep learning and&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/onlinesession/4002e892-cdef-ed11-907a-000d3a474dec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">watch the session recording</a> on our Digital Platform! &nbsp;

Can We Decarbonize Earth?

Decarbonize Earth

There are fewer and fewer tech unicorns emerging each quarter. Should we be worried? We digest the VivaTech 2023 panel session on unicorns and startup growth.

<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/hrEQ0cEXOCxSboPJ_jGBgLi9iHs-cvclb1xqa1A_aMIzWdJSixYXuawE1nJqu9N2FZdqNdPTQjui2AFoNJNe19NGB-wV3N725QMtnuHftxczP0pL9VcP9OGrvIgU9QpZzhqTtNLGOSCRWqMRi4cL97Y" alt="Are Unicorns An Endangered Species$5">Session Panel: Are Unicorns An Endangered Species? Photo credit: VivaTechThe tech world is fascinated by unicorns, those rare startups that achieve billion-dollar valuations. But are they becoming even scarcer$7 As the economic climate changes and investors demand more profitability, will unicorns still be able to grow and innovate at the same pace$8 Should valuation remain a key metric$9 And if not, what are the key factors that will drive their success and growth$10We sat down with a panel of four experts to chat about it during VivaTech 2023.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/speaker/a5eabe23-438c-ed11-9d7a-6045bd8894c2/jenny-fielding" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jenny Fielding</a>, Managing Partner at Everywhere Ventures;&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/speaker/b56e26a6-bcd7-ed11-9f74-000d3a2dcd55/ilya-strebulaev" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ilya Strebulaev</a>, Professor of Finance and Private Equity at Stanford;&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/speaker/630bc477-83d3-ed11-9f74-000d3a2dcd55/jp-lee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">JP Lee</a>, CEO and Managing Partner of Softbank Ventures Asia; and&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/speaker/266fae77-bcde-ed11-8e89-000d3a4a8203/maya-noel" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Maya Noël</a>, Director of France Digitale.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>We’ve seen fewer unicorns emerge over the last few months. Is this good news or bad news$11</h2>“What we saw in 2020 and 2021, is really not sustainable. There were dozens of companies being minted unicorns every week. That’s just not realistic. The reset, although painful for everyone, including companies in our portfolio, is actually a positive,” explained Jenny Fielding.&nbsp;Ilya Strebulaev and his team from Stanford have been following and analyzing every single US unicorn for a number of years. “We have found that valuations are indeed lower now compared to a couple of years ago,” he shared.&nbsp;“Looking back in time, the most successful venture-backed companies of all time were created when valuations were lower. Either from 2001 to 2003 or from 2009 to 2011. This means that my students, the ones creating businesses right now, will be more likely to succeed than the ones that started in 2020,” Stebulaev announced.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/8onzp-Lyl_7gMbXuMpyqqOfYIZFkq06PcdHkBMEHVZouPKthfxJbPTv6DOdE323e80Xu4GixDuMJvSOP82HJsUXwBc8_oY2KR1zmGI3MFNvwysgbfcdFEvzewMnsKPZuUepFgtcQvPZTTW0abWjq42A" alt="Ilya Strebulaev and Maya Noël. Source: VivaTech">Ilya Strebulaev and Maya Noël. Source: VivaTech<h2>Are unicorns born in 2019, 2022, and 2023 all worth the same$12</h2>The term unicorn means a business with a billion-dollar valuation, so one might think that all unicorns are worth the same. However, there are mixed emotions among the VC crowd.&nbsp;JP Lee explained how Softbank Ventures Asia felt like they couldn’t do proper due diligence with&nbsp;valuations in the past few years for fear of losing out on a startup. “We had a lot of founders that came to us with a ‘take it or leave it’ mindset because they had other investors wanting to give them a billion-dollar valuation,” said Lee. “But now, we have the time to look at the numbers and come up with a proper valuation. The unicorns that are identified today have a higher chance of being successful.”For Maya Noël, becoming a unicorn isn’t based solely on the valuation. “In France, the president made a huge push for unicorns with a goal of 25 French unicorns by 2025,” she explained. “It became a common dream to achieve this goal. But this made the focus too much on the valuation of a company, which isn’t the most important thing for entrepreneurs. There are a lot more components to success than this.”&nbsp; &nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/oIKQrbDTvoRO6TNxLGPg1TZXjitSyhroMHeklmcL30ZjE-DiVMhNNVQY6KriJxg5g5ZYJ18RbM5XbhV-bxE6lPG6PUsUeEvpOh_C1VrOQa-f9z678-0onhCMHu5z63ek-cgj3lHNBQ10WcJeLpbswtc" alt="Jenny Fielding, JP Lee, and panel moderator Charlie Perreau. Source: VivaTech">Jenny Fielding, JP Lee, and panel moderator Charlie Perreau. Source: VivaTech<h2>So what are the indicators of a successful startup then$13</h2>Unanimously the panel agreed that valuation wasn’t the only component of becoming a successful unicorn.&nbsp;“When you look at the prediction of success, valuation doesn’t play the most important role,” Stebulaev stated. “It is the founding team, their experience, education, and work experience that plays a much more important role. For example, serial entrepreneurs, specifically ones that have experienced failures in the past, are much more likely to be successful. So we should go beyond valuation and look at all the factors that contribute to success.”&nbsp;“Within those factors, it’s important to include metrics about the environment,” Noël added. “You can’t be successful if you don’t consider this in your strategy. Why build a company if it’s not for the planet these days.”&nbsp;“It’s not just one factor. It’s about a lot of factors,” Fielding chimed in. “One unicorn I have invested in is amazing at hiring because they have created a culture. And people love working there. It’s a fintech that wins every award for company culture and that attracts incredible talent. And when you attract incredible talent, those people work really hard. It’s kind of self-perpetuating. So, I believe the metrics like impact, job creation, culture, happiness, etc. are all part of creating this unicorn.”&nbsp; &nbsp;<h2>Will unicorns remain a key indicator of growth going forward$14</h2>“Good companies will keep on coming out. There are companies making profit and continuing sustainable growth. But I think that the definition of unicorn is going to evolve and it’s already evolving now,” Lee responded.Stebulaev agreed with this prediction of startup growth and added, “As I look at the young companies coming out of Silicon Valley, I think that the most interesting companies have yet to be born. If you look at the 100 largest companies in America 10 years down the road, my prediction is that at least 15 of them do not yet exist today.”“I invest in companies that are making an impact on the world. I think that’s what we should be focused on,” Fielding pointed out. “We invest in healthcare, in the future of work, areas in which we are really excited to make an impact. If that’s your goal as a founder, rather than a milestone to become a unicorn and whatever that means, that’s a better place to be.” &nbsp;There was a lot to dissect about <a href="https://www.vivatechnology.com/news/2023-top-100-next-unicorns-shaping-the-next-gen-of-tech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">unicorns </a>and startup valuations on our VivaTech stage. Keep learning and watch the entire session on our Digital Platform&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/onlinesession/c8c3fe3a-c9ef-ed11-907a-000d3a474dec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>! &nbsp;

Session Digest: Are Unicorns An Endangered Species?

Are Unicorns An Endangered Species?

With over 95 hours worth of talks with the leading voices in tech, it’s hard to decide what to watch from VivaTech 2023. Our VivaTech team picked their favorites to help you choose.

We welcomed over 450 speakers on our VivaTech stages a few weeks ago. From insights into climate technologies and artificial intelligence to Elon Musk’s advice for young entrepreneurs, we learned so much from the brightest minds in tech. Check out our selection of top sessions from VivaTech 2023.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3WLDlfhfRfUKq_I7dIHZpcfPKTC1WvPkAs--KiENMI_RAl3rmxLpplTK1cIDbL0Mq01dR5v1t7dVNNo5CgD3ZWwzK2Um-79Fk1V6m_qYnVX7fNGy71wA-Hx9zwaM-6jDIOVLgFvo-8N7TMFgEa6zB5k">Jacques Attali, Yann LeCun, &amp; Nicholas Thompson. Photo credit: VivaTech<h2>AI By the People, For the People$1</h2>Futurologist Jacques Attali spoke about the impact of artificial intelligence and how its use can both be detrimental and beneficial to society. While Yann LeCun, Chief AI Scientist at Meta, implored the fact that AI is intrinsically good because the goal is to make people smarter, even if “we’re missing something really big in AI still in order to reach human intelligence.” Watch the debate on AI&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/onlinesession/f78a83dc-4cf6-ed11-907a-000d3a474dec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HERE</a>.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gIf_iXOnhRTVfeltn86Y65iESxStayCqC-2BU4LbTWEtfuTHLAv2fmULpZWV3v8PZFIRQoNFc7s7AfibHWLp8YcvKFlErqXRG-ONRm4REQpSOrJJe8cl5_ZM-bwKbkQa8RoejAzEjOZCmnoVdBIEU2M">Fotis Fotiadis, Samantha Gadenne, Joanna Gordon, Berta de Pablos-Barbier, &amp; Aude Guo. Photo credit: VivaTech<h2>Adapt to Survive: Climate Change and Food Production</h2>Climate change and demographic growth are driving the food industry to innovate. As we face a future with more frequent natural disasters, reduced crop yields, and increasingly scarce resources, it is essential that we explore innovative ways to sustainably produce food. Our speakers discussed how technology could help us balance the need for efficient food production with environmental sustainability.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/onlinesession/18454e55-3ac7-ed11-9f73-6045bd8890e4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WATCH IT HERE</a>.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/V5lKCSzLmOHfWc-_pAcp0n-NsB5OVXyuZy_CC5TbeaW9mJamhJcfMUX7r9TD7qAQtDRuWkhxTPaiealqjRNs0IYbpTijYueVvEo73BWDqFJB6em9xySrgERGxDlCblNqUshG1DaIFC1klPD4NFelw1k">Lara O’Reilly, Sid Odedra, &amp; Peggy Johnson. Photo credit: VivaTech<h2>Is the Future of Automotive in Augmented Reality$2</h2>Extended Reality technologies seem to be permeating every industry these days. But when you think about XR in a vehicle, the idea of donning a headset that replaces a traditional dashboard and controls has never been considered, until now. Explore the future of automotive design without limits with Audi and Magic Leap.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/onlinesession/5c9784c2-4df6-ed11-907a-000d3a474dec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WATCH IT HERE</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RFqnckWOyCTLUshqd5iVM4A--7EjMLr_yfwRUPPcLw3VGo1WquYvrnSxXw8DmfZcjvTGqkWIvlFIvOVGLNtTbyhFcEJUrCcJC5qa31iVyVDuoY6BJfTRUjkmJNAGrOc7NCgkbwJEovWiPr8rlYqmgtY">Elon Musk. Photo credit: VivaTech<h2>A Conversation with Elon Musk</h2>Our most-viewed session of VivaTech 2023. Listen to Elon Musk’s animated session about his beginnings at Paypal, the founding of Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, and if he thinks his purchase of Twitter was worth it.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/onlinesession/7bb98fc0-98fd-ed11-907a-000d3a474dec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WATCH IT HERE</a>.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/REkuQNrizD20iw2bNZ0A-ycmr27bu0qXDY1-b8s_TCi0nYzmESKJ5NecxPjmLhROEclAdyrJN0W2LTXMVOVLcUyF9Z1DVTBpWdUobuUiUw4VTQvHL-oCzBKY4nP4D1emEAYJ-6Z9hnqWRA3pMLzgyM8">Pierre Côte, Françoise Baylis, Catherine Feuillet, &amp; Baldomero Alonso-Latorre. Photo credit: VivaTech&nbsp;<h2>Copy, Paste: What Can Gene Editing Do$3</h2>CRISPR allows scientists to edit genes with unprecedented precision and efficiency. Our speakers dove into the ethics of this technology, how safe and reliable it actually is, and what the possible risks and benefits are for individuals and society.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/onlinesession/0ab2cade-4fc7-ed11-9f73-6045bd8890e4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WATCH IT HERE</a>.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/FeupsxMd-ru3Rou2gbc6T2kni86vthFupdrUatV_D4e0cfWBUHOArupFAp-AC3vn4tTdq-lh7TdQrBDwjxlhvrlIX-4X6vmv_Ll0DOjSl22zpFg3Mx7qoTgKk0arKw8Ch3BsxtcnAHDxusF-uiswBrw">Clara Hainsdorf, Andy Yen, Nia Castelly, &amp; Julia Sieger. Photo credit: VivaTech<h2>Does Privacy Still Exist$4</h2>Never have our lives been more reliant on digital technologies. From the rise and evolution of social media, where millions of users share details of their lives, to the blurring of public and professional spaces during the pandemic, we are constantly generating and sharing data online. Our speakers discuss best practices for maintaining privacy.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/onlinesession/3842e9ab-efef-ed11-907a-000d3a474dec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WATCH IT HERE</a>.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/SlnxTzXM_LFwz8m2eHhwuhuQSoBQmZduytzLICfwdmXBxZR7kxxRaBTSb8d1szp-NTiEyffDaG30Q3Foi4hm74cDSsIqwhRnoOZF8VLg2di5Z_9IdZmECubA_2ZVDCmI-c74nyDsY0c_AQDO4DTwl7I">Bob Metcalfe. Photo credit: VivaTech<h2>Connectivity</h2>Ethernet computer networking technologies were first documented in a memo that Bob Metcalfe wrote in 1973, exactly 50 years ago. In 2023, Robert Metcalfe was awarded the Turing Award for its creation. Nicholas Thompson sat down with the inventor to discuss the effect of modern telecommunication networks.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/onlinesession/1e919d1a-52f6-ed11-907a-000d3a474dec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WATCH IT HERE</a>.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/L1wqyOxb_iS66FAyCBKQ4JGP0umtmexZOTiRYIAgmaZb2LZdDfwmALukw5tpsSOyI18PRxBotX7Sd1HAq_WVEgHZMNtjWxgivMEezLl9VeNWzTIEhz-EDMLBN1JBoGrpacZgToMuCVayoQ4LjkSQ590">Marc Benioff &amp; Maurice Levy. Photo credit: VivaTech<h2>A Conversation with Marc Benioff</h2>Salesforce Chair, CEO, and Co-founder Marc Benioff sat down with Maurice Levy to chat about his love for France, how Salesforce has become the&nbsp;world’s 3rd largest software company in the world with $35B in yearly revenue, and why he thinks that businesses can be a force for positive change in the world.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/onlinesession/0d3c91b4-95fd-ed11-907a-000d3a474dec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WATCH IT HERE</a>. &nbsp;Watched them all$5 Dive into more of our 180 sessions on topics like Deep Tech, Web3, Diversity &amp; Inclusion in Tech, Food Tech, Health Tech, Marketing, and more. Find all our sessions on video on demand&nbsp;<a href="https://app.vivatechnology.com/content/replays-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HERE</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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