Being an Entrepreneur Became Cool in Macron’s France. But Will It Last?
AI’s rising stars like Mistral and H have inspired a new generation of founders as the stigma around CEOs, wealth and failure fade.
Emmanuel Macron’s ambition of turning France into a “startup nation” got a much-needed shot in the arm this week as investors pledged to plow about €109 billion ($114 billion) into artificial intelligence projects in the country. For the French president, the investments are critical to safeguarding his legacy — one that’s made entrepreneurship cool in France.
For years, among the highest aspirations of the country’s young graduates was to be a civil servant — a “fonctionnaire,” as the French call them — or climb the corporate ladder at big conglomerates. Not any more. Changes in the attitude to work among young people, Macron’s push and the emergence of the gig economy have made being an entrepreneur the preferred option for many, and that needs funding.