Top Startup Events in France 2026: Network & Grow

In this article:

• Top Startup Events France 2026: Complete Guide
• VivaTech: Europe's Premier Startup and Technology Event
• Paris Blockchain Week: Where Digital Finance Meets Institutional Adoption
• Deep Tech Innovation at Hello Tomorrow Global Summit
• Techinnov: France's Business-Focused Innovation Day
• STATION F: Year-Round Startup Programming
• Maximizing Your Event Experience with Smart Networking Tools

Top Startup Events France 2026: Complete Guide

France has firmly established itself as one of Europe's leading innovation hubs, with Paris serving as the beating heart of the continent's startup ecosystem. Home to the world's largest startup campus, STATION F, and host to some of the most prestigious technology conferences globally, France attracts entrepreneurs, investors, and tech enthusiasts from around the world. The country's vibrant ecosystem is supported by strong government initiatives like La French Tech, excellent infrastructure, and a thriving community of innovators. From cutting-edge deep tech ventures to blockchain innovations and AI startups, France offers a dynamic environment where groundbreaking ideas transform into successful businesses.

VivaTech: Europe's Premier Startup and Technology Event

As Europe's largest startup and technology event, VivaTech brings together innovation leaders for an unparalleled gathering of minds and ideas. The 2026 edition marks a significant milestone as the event celebrates its 10th anniversary, expecting to welcome over 180,000 attendees, 14,000 startups, 4,000 partners, and 3,600 investors. This massive convergence of the technology ecosystem creates unique opportunities for startups to showcase their innovations, secure funding, and forge partnerships with major corporations and decision-makers from around the globe.

VivaTech has evolved beyond a traditional conference into a comprehensive platform where business meets innovation. The event features multiple stages showcasing breakthrough technologies across various sectors, from artificial intelligence and blockchain to sustainability and health tech. For startups seeking visibility in the European market, VivaTech offers dedicated exhibition spaces, pitch competitions, and curated networking sessions designed to connect founders with the right investors and corporate partners. The event's global reach and reputation make it an essential destination for anyone serious about scaling their startup in the European and international markets.

Paris Blockchain Week: Where Digital Finance Meets Institutional Adoption

Paris Blockchain Week has established itself as the premier European forum for blockchain technology and digital assets. The 2026 edition, taking place at the prestigious Carrousel du Louvre on April 15-16, focuses on building the bridge between traditional finance and digital assets. With an expected attendance of 10,000 decision-makers, the event optimizes for what organizers call "decision density" – over 70% of attendees in 2025 were C-level executives, an unmatched concentration of high-level decision-makers in the blockchain space.

The conference addresses critical infrastructure challenges facing tomorrow's markets, including regulatory frameworks, institutional custody, cross-border settlement, and market structure. For blockchain startups and cryptocurrency ventures, Paris Blockchain Week offers unprecedented access to institutional investors, corporate leaders from major financial institutions, and regulatory authorities shaping the future of digital finance. The event features keynote presentations from industry pioneers, panel discussions on cutting-edge topics, and exclusive networking opportunities, including VIP gatherings at iconic venues like Versailles.

Deep Tech Innovation at Hello Tomorrow Global Summit

While Hello Tomorrow Global Summit is moving to Amsterdam for 2026, this deep tech-focused event remains crucial for French startups and the broader European ecosystem. The summit, scheduled for June 11-12, 2026, brings together over 3,000 attendees, 100 speakers, and 125 exhibitors focused on groundbreaking scientific innovations. The event particularly emphasizes startups built on scientific research, often emerging directly from labs and universities rather than traditional accelerators.

Strategic Focus Areas for 2026

Hello Tomorrow addresses critical global challenges through three main strategic pillars: resilience and sovereignty, sustainability and climate, and breakthrough deep tech innovations across energy, healthcare, food and agriculture, and advanced computing. The summit provides a unique platform for startups working on long-term, high-risk, high-reward technologies to connect with patient capital and corporate partners who understand the extended development timelines inherent in deep tech ventures. For French startups in sectors like biotechnology, advanced materials, quantum computing, and clean energy, this event offers essential connections to specialized investors and strategic partners.

Techinnov: France's Business-Focused Innovation Day

Techinnov represents a uniquely French approach to startup networking, emphasizing qualified business meetings and concrete partnership opportunities. The event, taking place on March 24, 2026, at Parc Floral de Paris under the high patronage of the President of the French Republic, serves as the premier business meeting dedicated to innovation in France. With 8,000 pre-scheduled business meetings, 2,000 participants, and over 700 companies, Techinnov creates a structured environment where meaningful partnerships can develop.

The event organizes participants into six thematic villages aligned with France 2030 objectives, covering critical innovation areas including defense and security, with a special focus on greentech for 2026. Unlike larger conferences, Techinnov focuses on quality over quantity, using a sophisticated matching platform to arrange targeted business meetings between large corporations, SMEs, research structures, startups, investors, and innovative territories. This approach has proven highly effective, with 92% of participants initiating new partnerships through connections made at the event.

STATION F: Year-Round Startup Programming

France's world-renowned startup campus STATION F hosts regular events throughout the year, creating ongoing opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow. Located at 5 Parvis Alan Turing in Paris's 13th arrondissement, STATION F serves as a dynamic hub where the next generation of tech innovation takes shape. The campus hosts a diverse range of events in 2026, from technical workshops on AI and data computing to industry-specific gatherings on digital health and greentech.

Events at STATION F cater to various stages of the startup journey and cover diverse technology sectors. Examples include data and AI workshops, CTO breakfasts focused on coding challenges, portfolio reviews examining AI's impact on startup presentations, and the prestigious Maddy Invest Awards recognizing outstanding French startups. The campus environment facilitates spontaneous networking alongside scheduled programming, with its renowned coffee culture creating natural opportunities for founders, investors, and corporate partners to connect in a more relaxed setting.

Maximizing Your Event Experience with Smart Networking Tools

Attending startup events in France requires effective preparation to maximize return on investment. Modern networking at these conferences increasingly relies on digital solutions that streamline contact exchange and follow-up processes. Spreadly's digital business cards enable instant sharing of contact information through QR codes, NFC technology, or direct links, eliminating the hassle of carrying and managing stacks of paper cards. For events like VivaTech where you might meet dozens or even hundreds of contacts in a single day, digital solutions allow you to tag each connection with event-specific information and context, making follow-up much more effective.

Beyond simple contact exchange, sophisticated event networking solutions offer lead capture capabilities that help you qualify and organize the connections you make. This becomes particularly valuable at business-focused events like Techinnov, where the goal is to identify and nurture specific partnership opportunities. Digital tools allow you to add notes immediately after conversations, categorize contacts by potential collaboration type, and integrate new connections directly into your CRM system for seamless follow-up.

Expanding Your European Startup Journey

France's startup ecosystem connects seamlessly with other major European innovation hubs. If you're planning to attend startup events in France, consider extending your trip to include nearby technology conferences in cities like Berlin or Amsterdam. These complementary events allow you to maximize your European networking efforts, build relationships across multiple markets, and gain broader perspective on the continent's diverse startup landscapes and investment opportunities.