After the buzz of VivaTech and the action at the Paris Air Show at le Bourget this week, French startups didn’t slow down: this week brought some serious fundraising news, especially from those eyeing growth across the Atlantic.

Pelico grabbed $40M to push its AI-powered supply chain software deeper into US factories. Nabla raised a hefty $70M to expand its AI assistant for doctors, shifting focus back to Europe after gaining ground in the States. And Animaj, which secured €75M to grow its AI-powered children’s content empire on platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify, is now also aiming to conquer the US market.

It’s been a big week, and the message is clear: more French startups are building with the US in mind.

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Startup funding news 💸

Rounds of +€15M:

• Animaj has raised €75 million in a round led by Bpifrance and HarbourView Equity Partners, joined by J.P. Morgan, Bootstrap, Left Lane, XAnge, Daphni and Marquee Ventures, to expand its AI-powered children’s media empire. The startup, already the top European player on YouTube Kids with 22 billion annual views, plans to use the funds to acquire new brands and scale internationally, especially in the US, while distributing content across major platforms like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+ and Spotify.

• Nabla has raised $70 million in a Series C round led by HV Capital, with participation from Highland Europe, Cathay Innovation, DST and Tony Fadell, to scale its AI medical assistant across Europe after focusing on the US market. Already used by over 85,000 healthcare professionals and integrated with major medical software systems, Nabla aims to expand its suite of AI agents to streamline complex clinical workflows and tackle Europe's fragmented healthcare landscape.

• Pelico has raised $40 million in a round led by General Catalyst, with participation from 83North and Serena, to scale its AI-driven supply chain management platform and expand in North America. Already used by major industrial players like Airbus and Safran, Pelico’s solution helps factories anticipate disruptions, reduce shortages and improve delivery performance by creating a real-time, data-powered view of operations.

• Sifflet, the startup specializing in data observability, has raised €16 million to expand internationally, with a focus on the North American market where it recently opened a New York office. Co-founded by Salma Bakouk, the company helps enterprises like Carrefour and Saint-Gobain detect and resolve data anomalies, and is now developing AI agents to automate monitoring and improve data reliability as it scales toward the $10 billion global data quality market.

Rounds €5M to €15M:

• Skarlett, a fintech platform focused on retirees, has raised €8 million to expand its offerings in health insurance, savings and real estate solutions aimed at boosting seniors' purchasing power. With backing from Banque Postale's venture arm and other investors, the startup plans to launch new financial products, enhance its AI tools and eventually expand across the EU once it secures a strong foothold in France.

• DESKi has raised €6 million in a round led by Racine² to accelerate the global rollout of its AI-powered cardiac ultrasound app, HeartFocus. Following recent FDA approval, the French startup aims to expand into the US healthcare market by enabling nurses and general practitioners to perform cardiology-grade echocardiograms using only a smartphone or tablet, with plans to later target European and underserved markets.

Rounds €1M to €5M:

• Orus has raised €5 million from Speedinvest, Région Sud Investissement and business angels to develop a constellation of hyperspectral imaging microsatellites. Founded in 2024, Orus aims to provide high-precision space-based data for sectors like agriculture, pollution monitoring, energy planning and environmental security using proprietary AI-powered technology.

• Fungu’it, a Dijon-based foodtech startup, has raised €4 million to scale its patented fungal fermentation technology that produces natural flavorings from agricultural byproducts. With signature umami and chocolate aromas aimed at plant-based foods and cacao reduction, the company champions a circular, sustainable model to meet industry demand for high-performance, eco-friendly alternatives.

• Jubilé, the fintech specializing in reverse mortgages, has raised €3 million and secured conditional ACPR financing approval, making it the first regulated French startup in this niche. With a digital platform tailored to seniors and a market poised to grow from €100 million to €8 billion by 2035, Jubilé aims to tackle financial exclusion among older homeowners and become the go-to infrastructure for PVH distribution in France.

• Base for Music has raised €1.5 million from LeanSquare and strategic investors including Spotify’s Tristan Toulemonde to expand its data-driven music marketing platform. By linking fan engagement metrics to campaign outcomes, the startup helps artists and labels boost algorithmic visibility on platforms like Spotify, aiming to bridge the gap between digital marketing and streaming performance.

• Angel, a startup offering AI tools for small business creation and management, has raised €1.1 million from business angels, Wendel’s VIF fund and Bpifrance. The funding will accelerate its tech development and national expansion as it aims to simplify entrepreneurship in France with AI agents replacing traditional business planning and consulting roles.

M&A transactions 🎊

ScrapingBee, the French web scraping startup bootstrapped since 2019, has been acquired by Lithuanian data collection leader Oxylabs for over €10 million in a fully self-funded deal. Known for its lean, remote model and API-first product aimed at developers and SMEs, ScrapingBee will continue to operate independently as Oxylabs expands into the direct-to-consumer market amid growing strategic demand for accessible public data in AI development.

Simplébo has acquired Actusite in a self-financed deal, bringing its revenue to €9 million and expanding its reach to 10,000 clients, particularly in regulated professions. This strategic consolidation strengthens Simplébo’s position as a digital partner for small businesses, combining proprietary tech with AI-enhanced services, and sets the stage for building a multi-brand group focused on industry-specific verticals.

Hublo, one of France’s leading HR tech providers for the healthcare sector, has welcomed Five Arrows as a strategic investor to support its continued growth and international expansion. With over 5,000 healthcare institutions and one million users, Hublo plans to accelerate product innovation and pursue acquisitions, following recent buys like Permuteo and Staffea, to further digitalize HR management in a fragmented healthcare software market.

Citron has acquired iQspot to strengthen its leadership in energy management systems (EMS) for buildings, forming a 150-person entity with €15 million in 2025 revenue. Backed by Eiffel Investment Group, the move expands Citron’s tech capabilities, investor-focused services and European footprint, advancing its goal to simplify energy compliance and accelerate real estate decarbonization.

Videlio has acquired Octalino to strengthen its foothold in the education and public service sectors, where digital transformation and operational reliability are increasingly critical. Octalino will retain its operational autonomy, continuing to serve schools, universities and public institutions with tailored audiovisual solutions, now backed by Videlio’s broader resources and strategic support.

MBO+ has taken a minority stake in SYXPERIANE, a leading French integrator of ERP, CRM and BI systems, to support its continued growth and upcoming acquisitions. Alongside Ouest Croissance and Sofival, the investment also enables broader employee ownership, with 80 staff members now shareholders, reinforcing SYXPERIANE’s commitment to collaborative expansion and digital transformation excellence.

Andera Partners has acquired a majority stake in Jaws Group, a fast-growing French digital marketing and consulting firm, to support its expansion in France and Europe. With 120 employees and projected 2025 revenues of €32 million, Jaws plans to accelerate external growth and integrate synergies across its services, from content creation to SEO/SEM, under the continued leadership of its founding team.

Investor & accelerator news 🚀

Le Village by CA Paris is launching a new two-year acceleration program specifically for tech founders over 50, aiming to support a first cohort of 10 startups starting in September 2025. Backed by French Tech Grand Paris, the initiative seeks to boost age diversity in startups, where only 2.4% of employees are over 55, by offering tailored mentoring, masterclasses and intergenerational collaboration.

Startup news 💡

Battri has opened its first electric vehicle battery recycling plant in Saint-Laurent-Blangy, aiming to process up to 100,000 batteries annually and produce "black mass" for future material recovery. Backed by €20 million in funding, including Bpifrance support, the facility will initially handle production waste and used batteries, with a business model focused on reselling recovered materials.

A new coalition of five startups including Lucca, Worklife, Contakt, Coup de pousse and Ekip has formed to challenge what they call an oligopoly in France's €10 billion meal voucher market, dominated by Swile and three long-standing players. The group denounces excessive commissions, opaque pricing and anti-competitive practices, and proposes regulatory reforms to open the market via a transparent bank-standard-based model that could redirect €300 million into the local economy.

Despite backing from Xavier Niel and Iliad, Qiara, Free’s smart home security partner, has been placed under judicial recovery and is seeking a buyer before a June 30 deadline. Founded in 2020 with ambitions to disrupt the home alarm market, the startup saw strong growth and a major partnership with Free in 2024, but struggled to cover rising costs amid a tough funding climate.
ChatGPT said:

Last week, the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget gathered global aerospace leaders alongside a strong contingent of startups and SMEs aiming to gain visibility in the industry. Among them, many young and innovative companies participated under regional banners like Nouvelle-Aquitaine, using the opportunity to showcase their technologies, connect with potential partners, and carve out a space in one of the world’s most competitive sectors.

Big company & policy news 💡

Starting summer 2026, Netflix subscribers in France will gain access to TF1's live channels and on-demand content from TF1+ directly within the Netflix platform, as part of a landmark partnership between the two media giants. This integration will bring hit shows like Koh Lanta, Demain nous appartient, and major sports events to Netflix, enhancing its offering with top French entertainment while giving TF1 unprecedented reach and new advertising opportunities.

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