At CES this year, France is the second most represented country behind the US in terms of start-ups. Sometimes they expect a lot from this event for their development. Le Figaro met these entrepreneurs before departure.
They were 38 last year, they are now 66 . The French start-up move in numbers at CES 2015, Las Vegas electronics show being held this week. In January 2014, 160,000 visitors from around the world have walked the aisles, exclusively for professionals. Among them, a lot of manufacturers, distributors and journalists, key drivers for the future of these companies.
For their American getaway, the French start-ups are surrounded. Sebastien Cote created a support mission dedicated to the event, where he will direct twenty-one of them. “It’s a big shift that should not be missed. Success of French companies such as Withings Parrot or made themselves noticed at CES. For a startup, this is also an opportunity to say that it is ready for the international, with all that that entails, “he says. A thought shared by many start-ups that make the trip this year.
“Do not go there would be an error”
Didier Jousserand created the first show dedicated to connected Arbitration tennis. Dubbed iSet Watch, it allows to broadcast live amateur games, point by point, and analyze the performance of players. “It’s our baptism at CES. We will present to our product for the first time, it’s been a year since we develop so it’s a highly anticipated moment, “says the entrepreneur.
Didier Jousserand will also announce the release date of his watch, the development is complete. “The CES, this is the opportunity for us to meet with distributors who can sell our product. We’re not going there to seek funding “slides the contractor. About the importance of the event, it is clear: “not to go would be a mistake, it would slow down our development.” Once there, the
Entrepreneurs
Develop relationships
Gregory Gerard created Holi, a startup that wants to rethink the lighting in the house. The company exhibited at CES every year since 2013. “We have established relationships there. For example, we met with officials of the distribution at Apple, a few months later our products were present in the Apple Store, “says the entrepreneur. A scenario that could be the envy of other startups, such Sevenhugs.
“The opportunity to meet distributors”
Established in January 2014, it has created the first device designed to guard the sleep of all family members: the Hugone. “The CES, we had visited in 2014, this year it’s our first as an exhibitor,” says Simon Tchedikian, CEO and cofounder of Sevenhugs. “Our goal in Las Vegas is to make us relations, particularly with distributors, especially as our first product released in the spring. We will try to do there that would take a lot of time from France, “he added.
To put the odds on his side, the contractor is going to use his visit to the fair, a year earlier. “There was a lot of start-up that, in my opinion, did not have good products. I understand what is needed to attract visitors to the show, so we did everything to have a nice stand. It’s a shame to lose attractiveness and visibility after traveling 9000 kilometers that specific purpose. ”
Collect future trends to better fit
Other French startups present at CES this year MyFox. In 2009, the company was a pioneer in launching one of the first connected alarms. The company, which has passed the development phase and introduction visibly, too, interest to be present in Las Vegas. “This year’s goal for us is to start arriving in the US market, it has already opened a branch there. In this continuity, we will go to meet our future distributors, “said Alain Pakiry. The Las Vegas show will also be an opportunity for startups to announce two new products, and thus take advantage of the extensive media coverage of CES.
“A time of the year for the inevitable world of technology”
“This show is a moment the essential year for the world of consumer technology. We see future trends taking shape before our eyes, a good way to stick as close to them, “adds the director of MyFox. However, according to him, “CES is not the ideal event to look for fundraising.”
All the entrepreneurs interviewed by Le Figaro agreed to say that the CES has become an indispensable step for start-ups, “unless one is called Apple, it is not snobbish,” jokes one of them. For these young companies, moving to Vegas also appears to have the main objective to find distributors to address foreign markets and to radiate France. This year, the Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron also make the trip. He will be accompanied by Secretary of State for Digital Axelle Lemaire, and Pierre Gattaz, president of MEDEF. In 2014, Fleur Pellerin, Axelle Lemaire predecessor, was the first representative of a French government to visit the CES.
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