Interview with Ève Chaurand, President of the FACCSF

Successful French companies on the rise

Is downtown San Francisco gaining ground on Silicon Valley for high-tech activities?

Eve Chaurand - Yes, over the last five years the phenomenon has accelerated. Companies in the high-tech sector are in fierce competition to retain the best talent. These young employees want to live in the city and avoid long commutes. So there is a growing demand for high value-added jobs in San Francisco. This is illustrated by the construction of the Salesforce tower, which will change the business landscape of San Francisco. In some parts of SoMa, there are still premises to be renovated, and start-ups can rent them to modify them to suit their needs. A number of FACCSF members are based in SoMa, including Parrot, Upcall and Capgemini Applied Innovation Exchange.

How are French companies faring in San Francisco?

E. C. - Every year, the French-American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco organises the FABA (French-American Business Awards) to reward the most deserving companies. The number of innovative and successful companies continues to grow. The French have acquired a reputation for excellence. They are the showcase for French know-how, and thanks to them, American groups are deciding to invest in France. Examples include Algolia, which has just raised $53 million, and Talend, which has made a particularly successful debut on the Nasdaq.

What are the growth sectors for French companies?

E. C. - French companies have a strong presence in the high-tech and food and wine sectors. Gastronomy remains an area of expertise that exports well. We are also seeing the development of a new sector, that of social impact and benefit corporations. In fact, this year we created the 'Social Impact' category, with nominees including 42 Silicon Valley, Alter Eco, Calso Community and Give us the Floor.