French Tech: behind the upturn in funding, far fewer companies are receiving funding
Investment in French Tech soared by 65 per cent in the first half of 2026. However, they remain below 2021 levels, whilst the number of companies receiving funding has fallen by a third. Crucially, a handful of very large funding rounds now account for a considerable share of the capital, and France remains a minnow compared to the United Kingdom. At first glance, French Tech is enjoying a spectacular comeback.… According to the latest EY barometer , French start-ups raised €4.6 billion in the first half of 2026, representing a 65 per cent increase year-on-year. This might give the impression that the venture capital market is back in full swing. However, looking back five years paints a very different picture. In the first half of 2021, EY recorded €5.14 billion…