VivaTech, Europe's biggest startup and tech event held each year in Paris, consistently delivers moments of inspiration and innovation that resonate across the globe. From groundbreaking speeches by industry titans to the unveiling of transformative technologies, VivaTech takes attendees inside the future of tech.
Here we highlight some of the most inspirational moments from past VivaTech events.
Elon Musk's Visionary Insights
Conversations with Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, were among the most anticipated sessions at VivaTech in both 2024 and 2023.
Addressing a captivated audience of over 6,000 at the Dôme de Paris in 2023, Musk shared his perspectives on the future of humanity, the missions of his various companies, and AI’s ethical dilemmas. He emphasized the need for technology that motivates people, saying, "Life can’t be only solving problems one after the other. We need things that inspire us."
Watch the speech in its entirety.
At VivaTech 2024, Elon Musk engaged in a candid Q&A session with the audience, tackling topics from AI ethics to interplanetary colonization. While speaking about training AI models he said, "Political correctness is often simply not true, and that means you're programming AI to lie." Musk also predicted that humans could reach Mars within the next decade, and expressed concerns about AI's impact on employment, suggesting the technology could lead to a job-free future.
Watch the entire 2024 Q+A with Elon Musk.
Volodymyr Zelensky's Holographic Address
It was a truly extraordinary moment at VivaTech 2022 when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered an impassioned address via hologram. He called on Big Tech and startups alike to support Ukraine and help his country rebuild.
Zelensky also referenced the space epic Star Wars, saying that speaking as a hologram "is not the only element of Star Wars that we will put into practice, we will beat the Empire too," referring to Russia. His moving speech was broadcast simultaneously in seven European countries and emphasized the role technology can play in global solidarity.
Yann LeCun on AI's Future
Yann LeCun is considered one of the “godfathers” of modern artificial intelligence and is Meta’s Chief AI Scientist. At VivaTech 2023, he made headlines with his compelling argument about AI’s limitations and potential, giving a nuanced perspective on its potential societal impacts.
"AI is an amplifier of human intelligence and when people are smarter, better things happen: people are more productive, happier and the economy strives," LeCun told the VivaTech audience. He also highlighted the challenges of capturing human knowledge beyond language, saying AI systems should be trained using video data to improve their understanding and capabilities.
Recognition of Female Founders
VivaTech has consistently championed diversity and inclusion within the tech industry. The Female Founder Challenge, organized each year by VivaTech, recognizes and supports women entrepreneurs.
At VivaTech 2024, Albane Dersy, Co-founder and COO of Inbolt, won the Female Founder Challenge for GuideNOW, an AI and 3D vision-based system to enhance industrial robot intelligence. Following her victory, Inbolt secured €15 million in Series A funding and partnered with industry leaders including Stellantis, Ford, and Airbus. Dersy praised the competition, saying, “The Female Founder Challenge is one of the best platforms we have in France in terms of marketing, communication, and visibility for female founders.”
The challenge’s prizes include opportunities to pitch major investors, fundraising coaching, and one-on-one meetings with VCs. Find out how to participate in the next Female Founder Challenge at VivaTech here.
Emmanuel Macron's FrenchTech Investment Announcements x
French President Emmanuel Macron is a regular visitor to VivaTech, having spoken at several of the yearly events. In 2023, Macron unveiled a series of significant investments aimed at boosting France's position in the global tech arena. He announced a €500 million fund to “create champions” in AI and establish France as a leader in artificial intelligence.
"The worst scenario would be a Europe that invests much less than the Americans and the Chinese but starts by creating regulation," Macron said, emphasizing the importance of championing French tech talent. "This scenario is possible but it would not be the one I would support."
AfricaTech Awards: Celebrating Innovation Across Continents
The AfricaTech Awards at VivaTech showcase the event's focus on the development of technological advancements around the world. This initiative recognizes and supports the most innovative startups in the GreenTech, HealthTech, and FinTech sectors that are based in and serve Africa.
AfricaTech Award winners highlight the diverse talent and innovation emerging from the continent. Ethiopian startup Kubik, winner of the Climate Tech challenge in 2022, transforms plastic waste into affordable, low-carbon building materials. By repurposing this waste, Kubik helps reduce environmental pollution while providing cost-effective materials for the construction industry.
Since its win, Kubik has secured a .2 million seed funding round, and became the first Ethiopian company focused on climate and sustainability solutions to raise a multi-million-dollar investment.
Tesla Cybertruck European Debut
Tesla's Cybertruck made its first appearance in Europe at VivaTech 2024. With its futuristic design and advanced features, the Cybertruck had a constant stream of attendees coming to check it out.
While Europeans may have enjoyed seeing the Cybertruck at VivaTech, the model is not currently available for sale in Europe. That’s because its size, weight and sharp angles aren’t compatible with the continent's narrower roads and don’t comply with some local vehicle regulations. This means VivaTech was one of the few chances to see the vehicle in person on the continent.
These are the types of moments that happen at VivaTech – a place where visionary tech leaders, groundbreaking ideas, and the future of technology all merge. As the upcoming edition approaches, we look forward to more inspiring sessions, transformative technologies, and opportunities to connect with the global tech community. Don't miss this year's event!
