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Jun 15, 2017

Mobility Tech Accelerator founded by BP Kicks Off in London at New RocketSpace CampusRocketSpace’s Mobility Tech Accelerator officially kicked off in London last week, bringing together a value chain of corporate collaborators and eleven innovative global startups to make up its inaugural cohort.On Thursday, June 8, the group convened at RocketSpace’s new London Campus steps from Angel tube station to learn about corporate innovation strategies and internal opportunities for disruption from the program’s collaborators, which include BP, Magna, IBM, Allstate, Avis Budget Group, and VW. The following day was spent exploring BP’s Sunbury facilities, where startups also pitched early solutions and engaged with corporate collaborators.

“The kick-off event last week provided our team with a lot of really exciting ideas that we’re looking forward to pursuing. It was great to see such high calibre startups, brainstorming directly with a group of motivated corporate innovators. We look forward to seeing some positive results from the pilots in the program,” said Roy Williamson, VP Mobility, BP PLC.Following the London kickoff, startups returned home to begin a five-week virtual program, focused on corporate-led knowledge shares, piloting preparation workshops, and advanced business strategy sessions. When workshop sessions end in July, collaborators will select startups to engage in an eight-week pilot testing and product validation phase, where their solutions will be integrated and tested within various business units of the participating corporate collaborators.“In support of our commitment to provide mobility solutions to customers, it is imperative that we focus on emerging technologies and do our part in setting a new standard for mobility and transportation,” said Arthur Orduña, chief innovation officer, Avis Budget Group. “We’re excited to partner with RocketSpace to accelerate innovation by working hand-in-hand with top corporations in the industry sector and disruptive startups.”The eleven startups in this inaugural cohort come from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Israel and India —representing a geographically diverse set of mobility solutions — and were chosen to represent the accelerator’s mobility focus of the electric vehicle ecosystem and connected car and associated services.Mobility Tech Accelerator Cohort 1 Startups:CARFIT ( Portland) - By combining NVH vibration science and artificial intelligence, CARFIT leverages car’s vibrations with data science to revolutionize predictive maintenance.

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MAY 9, 2017

Ficosa and Idneo select 10 start-ups to present projects at Automobile BarcelonaUnder the framework of the Discovery programme promoted by Onboard Ventures, the open innovation initiative of Ficosa and Idneo. With support from Onboard Ventures, these emerging companies will display their solutions for the automotive industry on 11 and 12 May at the 4YFN Mobility Village in the Automobile Barcelona Connected Hub. Ficosa and Idneo have created Onboard Ventures with the mission of supporting start-ups in advancing their projects and turning them into sizeable, scalable businesses, with access to both companies’ assets. Onboard Ventures, the open innovation initiative of Ficosa and Idneo -the Ficosa group’s engineering firm specialized in developing high value-added technological products-, has selected 10 start-ups to present their solutions for the automotive industry at the Automobile Barcelona Connected Hub, the renewed Salón del Automóvil of the Catalan capital. These start-ups will have a booth, promoted by Onboard Ventures in collaboration with 4YFN, at the 4YFN Mobility Village, where they will display their projects in areas like smart mobility and driverless vehicles. These 10 start-ups, from cities like Moscow, Berlin, Portland and Barcelona, have been selected within the framework of the Discovery programme, which Onboard Ventures kicked off this past March. These innovative projects include a solution to help cars find a place to park automatically, solutions based on the Internet of Things for motorcycles and bicycles, and a solution that will redefine human interaction through intelligent vision.

In the words of Edouard Rozan, Managing Director of Onboard Ventures: “We’re very proud to be giving start-ups the opportunity to display their innovative, disruptive solutions at the Automobile Barcelona 4YFN Mobility event, as it is a true springboard for emerging companies. Discovery is the first programmepromoted by Onboard Ventures and it has been a total success: in just five weeks, we received 75 submissions from over 25 countries around the world. All of them have an excellent level of quality, which made it very difficult for our panel of judges to choose these 10 finalists.”The finalists are: MAPIT IOT (Barcelona), a company that develops complete geolocation solutions: PARKTAG (Berlin), which is working to help cars find parking automatically; GESTOOS (Barcelona), which is redefining human interaction through intelligent vision; CAPTE (Amsterdam), which is working to boost vehicle connectivity; COMODULE (Tallinn), which offers Internet of Things solutions for bicycle and motorcycle manufacturers; CARFIT (Portland), which leverages car’s vibrations to revolutionize predictive maintenance; MYWHEELS (Warsaw), which providesa driving assistant to make any car intelligent; ADVANCED NANOTECHNOLOGIES (Barcelona), which has developed anti-fog solution for car windows, based on nano-coatings, R3COMS (Berlin), which provides Ultra-Available Time-Critical Wireless Technology; and SITUM (Santiago de Compostela), which has developed a highly precise indoor geolocation system that stands out for its high accuracy, lowinfrastructure and fast deployment

Onboard Ventures, the open innovation initiative of Ficosa and IdneoOnboard Ventures, created this past February, is a new business unit of Ficosa and Idneo with the mission of supporting start-ups in advancing their projects and turning them into sizeable, scalable businesses, with access to both companies’ assets.As Edouard Rozan highlights: “This initiative goes beyond venture capital, giving start-ups access to the assets of the Ficosa group and Idneo, including their technology, global reach, industrialisation and production capacity, team of professionals, portfolio of clients (which includes the top automotive brands in the world) and knowledge of the various sectors in which the group operates (automobiles, industry, energy, medical equipment, etc.).”

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In addition to the Discovery programme, Onboard Ventures has also launched the Open Innovation programme, which is geared towards projects in a growth stage that already have clients interested. This initiative gives them the chance to create a joint venture, through a commercial deal, giving them access to the Ficosa and Idneo portfolios and promoting projects to give them global reach. This programme is ongoing and there is no deadline for applications. More information is available at www.onboard.ventures .

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MAR 24, 2017

French Tech Ticket : les startuppeurs étrangers débarquent à Lyon

Deuxième édition de ce programme unique au monde, le French Tech Ticket est destiné à attirer les talents internationaux dansl'écosystème français. - French Tech Ticket

La métropole lyonnaise accueille le plus gros contingent de start-up étrangères après Paris dans le cadre du French Tech Ticket.L'inauguration de cette deuxième saison du French Tech Ticket entre Saône et Rhône donne la mesure du lobbying de Lyon French Tech depuis l'année dernière : l'association réclamait l'ouverture du dispositif parisien aux autres métropoles, alors qu'il devait être rodé un an de plus dans la capitale. « Nous n‘envisageons notre action qu'à l'échelle internationale », explique Virginie Delplanque, déléguée générale, pas moins active dans l'organisation de la soirée prévue au départ pour les 35 « provinciales », et finalement étendues aux 70 start-up de la promotion. Elle rappelle combien Lyon French Tech s'est engagé depuis sa création en 2015 dans des partenariats étrangers, à Boston, Montréal, San Francisco, Shenzen, Moscou, Berlin, Hong Kong, Osaka… Le rythme des événements et délégations à l'international a doublé l'année dernière.

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Les chiffres clefs70 start-up étrangères sont accueillies dans l'un des 41 incubateurs partenaires du programme. 2.700 candidatures ont été reçues émanant de 100 pays. 5 équipes : c'est le nombre de start-up installées à Lyon, comme à Toulouse et Grenoble. 45.000 euros : le financement accordé par la French Tech pour couvrir les dépenses professionnelles des startuppeurs.

Key figures

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MAR 6, 2017

French Tech Ticket : Greater Lille hosts three foreign start-ups for a year under the French Tech Ticket program.

Deuxième édition de ce programme unique au monde, le French Tech Ticket est destiné à attirer les talents internationaux dans l'écosystème français. - French Tech Ticket

Three foreign start-ups have chosen Lille as the place to grow their

business in France

Following a call for candidates in the spring of 2016, three Lille-area

centers of excellence have been chosen to host international start-ups

under the French Tech Ticket program: EuraTechnologies (digital

sector), Eurasanté (biotech, healthcare and nutrition) and Plaine

Images (digital imaging and creative industries). Led by Métropole

Européenne de Lille, representing towns and communities across the

Greater Lille area, the initiative has created one more asset for the new

Hauts-de-France region, which continues to forge ties with the global

business community.

THE START-UPS:

Of the 180 winning applicants for the 2017 edition of French Tech Ticket, three have been in

residence in Greater Lille since mid-January.

CARFIT: A North American company with a connected diagnostic system for automobiles,

hosted by EuraTechnologies.

Mash&Co: An Italian start-up with an educational app for young children, hosted by Plaine

Images.

Weza Interactive Entertainment: A Kenyan company with e-learning solutions, also hosted

by Plaine Images.

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FEB 28, 2017

EuraTechnologies, l'incubateur lillois au format XXLEuraTechnologies vient d'accueillir la troisième promotion de son programme Start by EuraTech. Ce pôle d'excellence s'affiche comme le plus gros incubateur de France, avec 75 à 90 projets par an.

EuraTechnologies, pôle d'excellence dédié aux nouvelles technologies créé en 2009, acteur phare de la French Tech, vient d'accueillir la 3e promotion de son nouveau programme Start by EuraTech lancé l'année dernière, qui a amorcé une nouvelle phase dans son programme d'accompagnement des jeunes pousses. Celui-ci accueille désormais 75 à 90 projets par an, ce qui en fait le plus grand en France (en attendant Station F à Paris) en nombre de projets, avec 245 incubés depuis sa création, qui ont généré 120 start-up, mais également en termes de surface : 500 m2 à Lille, et 200 m2 à Roubaix au sein de Blanchemaille by EuraTechnologies, incubateur dédié à l'e-commerce. C'est la spécialisation d'EuraTech, qui s'est lancé dans une nouvelle stratégie en préparant de nouveaux « verticaux », dont un autour de l'agriculture connectée et un autre sur les fintech dans la banque-assurance.

Avec Start by EuraTech, l'institution nordiste donne trois mois aux porteurs de projet pour passer de l'idée au prototype. Si, à l'issue de la période, le projet n'est pas suffisamment abouti, mais qu'il tient la route, il peut rester dans ce programme jusqu'à 18 mois au total. S'il est performant, il passe dans par les programmes Scale, puis Grow où la jeune pousse déjà mature va être accompagnée dans son déploiement notamment à l'international. Les créateurs bénéficient de toute une palette de services que ce soit en termes juridiques, financiers, conseils, formation et même aide au recrutement et profitent aussi de l'expertise des entreprises présentes sur place.

Un écosystème bénéfiqueOutre la kyrielle de PME et de start-up, aux activités très complémentaires, EuraTechnologies abrite des majors, telles que IBM, Tata, Capgemini, Microsoft ou Cisco, des laboratoires - tout ce monde-là jouant les synergies - et six écoles et centres de formation, en attendant le futur campus de l'innovation en 2018, sans oublier un partenariat avec Stanford. Le site lillois accueille aujourd'hui 150 entreprises, 3.600 salariés, sur 65.000 m2 et vise en 2020-2022 les 400 à 500 sociétés, 10.000 salariés et 150.000 m2.

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Pour Raouti Chehih, directeur général d'EuraTechologies, les secrets de cette réussite résident d'une part « dans le temps investi patiemment dans la construction de l'écosystème », d'autre part « dans la sélection, désormais élargie à la France entière et à l'international, ce qui permet de toucher plus de talents », en veillant à la complémentarité des projets. Mais « EuraTechnologies a su aussi s'adapter au monde privé qui l'entoure en adoptant ses codes, son rythme et en intégrant ses problématiques pour répondre aux entreprises qui y naissent et s'y développent ».

Success storyIneat, créée en 2006, qui aide les entreprises à déployer des solutions digitales, fait partie des success stories. La désormais PME emploie déjà 200 personnes et affiche un chiffre d'affaires de 15 millions d'euros en 2016, avec également des bureaux à Paris, Bruxelles et Londres. Vekia, éditeur de solutions de supply chain, vise en 2020 les 1.000 salariés (contre 55 aujourd'hui) et un chiffre d'affaires de 100 millions d'euros contre 2,4 millions en 2014. Giroptic, qui a révolutionné la vidéo avec sa caméra à 360 degrés de la taille d'un oeuf, a encore joué les vedettes au dernier CES de Las Vegas avec sa nouvelle version du Giroptic IO, deux fois moins cher, et incluant un petit boîtier à clipser sur le smartphone. La société créée par Richard Ollier emploie 48 personnes mais ne communique plus sur son chiffre d'affaires, qui était de 1,4 million en 2014.À LIRE AUSSIStereograph travaille avec les plus grands cabinets d'architecture mondiaux grâce à sa solution 3D. Avec 21 personnes et un chiffre d'affaires de 1,2 million d'euros en 2016, elle est déjà présente aux Etats-Unis et vise 3,5 millions d'ici à trois ans avec un effectif qui sera alors de 36 personnes. Critizr et sa plate-forme facilitant l'expression des mécontentements des consommateurs, véritable baromètre de satisfaction, atteint déjà 40 salariés et un chiffre d'affaires d'un million (pour 18 salariés) qu'elle espère tripler en 2016. Sans oublier Adictiz, créateur de jeux marketing et du célèbre Paf Le chien, avec 35 personnes avec un chiffre d'affaires de 3 millions d'euros. En progression de 60 % par an, elle vise les 10 millions d'ici à 2020. Symbole de l'attrait du site, la jeune pousse américaine CARFIT, basée à Portland, qui développe un objet connecté pour la gestion de la maintenance de sa voiture, incubée là depuis deux mois, a choisi ce site pour s'attaquer au marché européen.

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FEB 24, 2017

TECHNOLOGIE : CARFIT aide au diagnostic du véhicule

La société Carfit, originaire de Portland et spécialisée le développement d'un outil permettant de collecter des données sur le véhicule d'un conducteur, a été invitée pendant une année au sein d' EURATECHNOLOGIES / T : 03.20.19.18.55. Grâce à un boitier se plaçant sous le volant, le conducteur peut connaître les besoins de maintenance de son véhicule, avec l'état des freins ou des amortisseurs. Cette technologie permet de gagner du temps, d'assurer davantage de sécurité et d'économiser par rapport aux rendez-vous chez le garagiste. A Lille, la start-up a un an pour développer son concept.

CARFIT Members Mr Nicolas OLIVIER Mr Peter HAUSER Business Area(s) Connected car, Autotech, Data Analytics CARFIT is a global startup in the data analytics connected car/autotech space aiming to revolutionize the car maintenance industry.

The current approach of car repair is a reactive one – an idea we find to be dated. We leverage the NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) automotive science with data science to create a predictive maintenance platform. Our PULS sensor is able to continually receive and transmit data about car’s vibrations and identify them to give the user an up to date snapshot of their vehicle’s tires, wheels, brakes, shocks, and other wearing parts – something current on board car computers aren’t capable of doing.

Using prior and ongoing data, CARFIT is able to determine when a problem will occur for a car before it happens. CARFIT will result in less expensive repairs, more informed drivers, and safer roads.

Point of contact Mr Nicolas OLIVIER www.car.fit Facebook : CARFIT Nicolas@car.fit+33 6 63 10 96 40

FEB 24, 2017

TECHNOLOGIE : Carfit aide au diagnostic du véhicule

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FEB 21, 2017

Carfit se propose de donner au conducteur des informations claires et précises en faisant un diagnostic personnalisé de l’état des freins, des roues, des amortisseurs de son véhicule.

Avec son associé, ils ont été des pionniers de la montre connectée. « Bien avant Apple », précise Nicolas Olivier. Le codirigeant de la jeune pousse Carfit a pris ses quartiers depuis le 13 janvier dans l’ancien bâtiment Leblan-Lafont qui abrite l’excellence de l’industrie digitale en métropole lilloise.Cette technologie de la montre connectée, ils ont décidé de l’appliquer au monde de l’automobile. C’est ainsi qu’est née Carfit, au nord-ouest des États-Unis. L’idée : créer un boîtier capable de traduire les vibrations du volant d’une automobile en algorithmes qui permettent en retour de savoir quelles sont les pièces qui auront besoin de réparation.« Maintenance prédictive »Cela s’appelle de la « maintenance prédictive ». Et cela s’applique aux éléments dont on ne tient pas compte sur un tableau de bord : les pneus, les amortisseurs, les freins… car pour ce qui est du moteur, le constructeur donne déjà ces infos.« Nous avons développé une plateforme technologique permettant de mesurer les vibrations d’une voiture. La technologie permet d’en comprendre les origines et de proposer une information à valeur ajoutée, explique Nicolas Olivier. Cette vibration vient de tel problème et la solution est celle-là et ça peut coûter tant. » Les données recueillies par le capteur sont transmises sur un smartphone.Et comme ce boîtier est individuel, il va traduire en informations spécifiques les données propres à la voiture. La voilà qui va donc pouvoir s’affranchir des contrôles standards appliqués par les constructeurs automobiles. Le conducteur prend ainsi la mesure du« véritable état de la voiture ». Les rendez-vous chez le garagiste sont mieux gérés. « Gain de temps, de budget et de sécurité », assure Nicolas Olivier.Un an pour se développerAutre satisfaction pour le conducteur(trice) : savoir exactement de quoi souffre (ou pas) notre « titine » et faire enfin la pige aux techniciens qui savent toujours tout mieux que vous.Aujourd’hui, en France, Carfit dispose d’une année pour pouvoir se concentrer sur le développement de son concept et se spécialiser sur les données propres au marché automobile européen.

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Lauréat de la French Tech TicketL’entreprise Carfit est arrivée à Euratechnologies, à Lille, grâce au concours crée en 2015 à Paris puis étendu à l’Hexagone pour attirer des talents internationaux. Cela s’appelle la French Tech ticket. La jeune pousse codirigée par Nicolas Olivier fait partie des lauréats de ce programme qui donne aux entreprises les moyens de se développer en facilitant leur implantation (locaux, dotation financière… etc).À peine arrivés à Lille le 13 janvier, Nicolas Olivier et son associé ont ainsi rencontré le président de la République François Hollande… trois jours plus tard à Bercy où se déroulait une cérémonie en l’honneur des lauréats.En 2017, soixante-dix start-up lauréates de cette compétition sont ainsi soutenues partout en France. En métropole, trois sont accueillies par la MEL. Outre Carfit hébergée à Euratechnologies, une jeune pousse italienne et une autre kenyane sont installées à La Plaine images à Tourcoing.

Winner of French

Tech Ticket

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FEB 17, 2017

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JAN 24, 2017

Lille. La Mel accueille 3 start-up étrangères

Dans le cadre du programme French Ticket 2017, la Métropole Européenne de Lille (Mel) reçoit trois start-up étrangères, à partir de janvier 2017 et pour une durée d'un an. Ces jeunes entreprises canadiennes, kenyane et italienne seront hébergées à La Plaine Images et à Euratechnologies.Labellisée French Tech, la Mel (1,2 million d'habitants, 90 communes) accueille depuis mi janvier trois start-up étrangères, pour une durée d’un an. Un accueil qui se fait dans le cadre du programme international French Tech Ticket 2017. La start-up canadienne Carfit, qui développe des solutions autour de la voiture connectée, est ainsi hébergée par Euratechnologies. La Plaine Images reçoit de son côté la start-up italienne Mash & Co, qui développe une application éducative pour les jeunes enfants et Weza Interactive Entertainment, une start-up Kenyane développant des solutions d’e-learning. Pour être éligibles, les start-up devaient être composées d’équipes internationales, de 2 à 3 co-fondateurs anglophones, incluant au maximum une personne de nationalité française.A propos du French Tech TicketLe French Tech Ticket est un programme conçu par les entrepreneurs du monde entier, qui souhaitent créer leur start-up en France. Ce sont 70 start-up internationales, sélectionnées dans le cadre d'une compétition, qui rejoignent 41 incubateurs partenaires en France dans le cadre d'un programme de 12 mois, à compter de janvier 2017. La French Tech Ticket leur offre notamment un package comprenant des aides financières, administratives et un accompagnement dédié.

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JAN 23, 2017

French Tech Ticket 2017Labellisée French Tech, La MEL accueille, pour un an, trois startups étrangères dans le cadre du programme international French Tech Ticket 2017Concours international de la mission French Tech, le programme French Tech Ticket a pour objectif d'attirer en France, des entrepreneurs étrangers afin qu'ils puissent y développer leur projet en s'installant dans un incubateur français pendant un an.Trois incubateurs des sites d’excellence de la MEL, EuraTechnologies, La Plaine Images et Eurasanté, ont été sélectionnés en juin 2016 via un appel à candidature pour être partenaires du programme et héberger des entrepreneurs du monde entier.Depuis les 11 et 13 janvier 2017, trois startups étrangères lauréates du French Tech Ticket 2017 sont accueillies par la Métropole Européenne de Lille pour un an. Une start-up hébergée à EuraTechnologies :CARFIT - startup canadienne qui développe des solutions autour de la voiture connectéeEt deux start-ups hébergées à la Plaine Images :Mash&Co - startup italienne qui développe une application éducative à destination des jeunes enfantsWeza Interactive Entertainment - startup kenyane développant des solutions d'e-learningPour être éligibles, les start-ups devaient être composées d’équipes internationales de 2 à 3 co-fondateurs anglophones incluant au maximum 1 personne de nationalité française. Le projet porté devait être en phase de création ou de développement.« C'est une merveilleuse illustration de la réussite de la stratégie numérique de la MEL. La place de notre territoire dans le concert mondial des écosystèmes compétitifs dans le digital est devenu incontestable. » Akim Oural, Conseiller métropolitain délégué au Schéma d’Aménagement Numérique et Nouvelles TechnologiesLille’s French Tech avec l’appuie de plusieurs directions de la MEL : la Direction Stratégie, Recherche, Innovation et Enseignement Supérieur, la Direction Attractivité et Coopérations Internationales, la Direction des Transports et la Direction de la Culture, se sont mobilisés sur ce projet avec l’ensemble des partenaires : Direccte, Lille’s agency, Euratechnologies, la Plaine Images, Eurasanté…Les directions de la MEL ont notamment développé un package d'accueil facilitant l'arrivée des entrepreneurs sur la métropole lilloise. Celui-ci comprend une C’ART, un pass muséal unique, une carte Pass Pass Transpole, une journée de visite guidée du Vieux Lille, un accès à certains évènements sportifs et un accompagnement spécifique pour la recherche de logement et dans les démarches administratives.Forte d’un écosystème numérique métropolitain ambitieux et d’un positionnement géostratégique clef, la MEL fait du numérique un outil au service de son attractivité nationale, européenne et internationale. Cette opération est une opportunité pour valoriser et faire rayonner les sites d’excellence du territoire.Elle s’inscrit par ailleurs dans la stratégie Relations Internationales de la MEL «une métropole ouverte sur le monde» et plus particulièrement autour de l’axe «internationaliser la Métropole».La MEL, #résolution digitale !Le numérique transforme les organisations, les pratiques, les modes de vie, les relations entre les individus, les territoires, et la Métropole Européenne de Lille est évidemment concernée par ces mutations sans précédent.Pour accompagner ces changement et saisir les opportunités que crée le numérique, la MEL s’en engagée dans une stratégie #résolument digitale.Trois axes rassemblant 53 actions concrètes composent cette stratégie :1. Une métropole performante et résiliente pour le développement durable du territoire2. Une métropole résolument citoyenne et créative pour impulser des changements de société3. Une métropole résolument européenne et internationale pour renforcer sa position géostratégique

Across a series of events this week, the French Tech ecosystem sought to deliver a clear message that France is eager to serve as a global home for entrepreneurs from around the world, even as other countries put up new barriers. “France is an open, a deeply open country, and believes that the world can bring a lot to it, and that France can also contribute to the future of the world,” said President François Hollande at a startup event in Paris. “We believe that exchanges of goods, but above all of people and capital that can be invested effectively, are the keys to controlled globalization.”The talk in much of Paris this week, among both elected officials and entrepreneurs, was of the looming inauguration of Donald Trump in the United States and of Brexit in the United Kingdom.

Following presentations from 20 startups at the event, Hollande was introduced to the program’s second class, which grew to 200 entrepreneurs this year and received applications from 90 countries.

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Hollande criticized Trump for his remarks about the weakness of Europe and his belief that more countries will leave the European Union. On Tuesday, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May re-confirmed her country’s intention to leave the EU and its single market. The latter’s remarks continued to cause nervousness among London’s robust tech community. Paris is one of several tech hubs, including Dublin andBerlin, that have been making overtures to London-based entrepreneurs who

might be worried about losing access to Europe’s single market, even if the numberof members drops from 28 to 27. Indeed, Hollande sought to use that as a selling

point for France’s tech economy.

“It is a chance to be in the Europe of 27 if the British confirm that it is their intention to leave the European Union,” Hollande said a day before May’s remarks. “It is important to have a large market of 27 and where precisely, in the case of the digital economy, we will be able to invest massively. This is what can convince British people to move to France…We are going to do more to convince them.”Hollande was speaking Monday at a Demo Day for the French Tech Ticketprogram that was launched in 2015 to encourage startups from around the world to move to France, where they would receive visas and seed money to develop their projects. Out of 1,500 applications, 50 entrepreneurs were selected.

JAN 19 , 2017

Seeking to expand its global ambitions, the government announced the launch of the French Tech Visa, a program designed to streamline the applications of entrepreneurs, engineers, investors, and developers who want to relocate to France. The visa comes with the right to work for four years in France.Digital Minister Axelle Lemaire, speaking at the Demo Day, also took a swipe at incoming president Trump’s comment about being “tired of winning,” noting that Trump already seemed quite tired. She also emphasized that Paris wants to be a haven for international entrepreneurs.“European entrepreneurs living in the United Kingdom, they are extraordinarily worried,” she said. “In this context, it’s important to emphasize that Paris is welcoming and open to entrepreneurs, and is conscious of the need to involve others in the ecosystem.”The next day, Lemaire met with her German counterpart, Matthias Machnig, to discuss plans for a joint French-German $1 billion late-stage growth fund. While venture capital across Europe has been on the rise, raising larger, late-stage funding can still be a challenge for many startups here. The two countries are hoping that international cooperation will help bridge that gap.

At the moment of their meeting, far across the city, French journalists were gathered at Station F, where Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg was announcing that her company would open an incubator for data-driven startups. The $265 million startup campus is set to open in April and has already attracted a wide range of venture capital firms, hacker spaces, and incubators.The campus is located inside the historic Halle Freyssinet train station, which is nearing the end of a two-year renovation that has been funded almost exclusively by Xavier Niel, a French telecom entrepreneur. Niel has said part of his motivation for opening Station F was to create a kind of global symbol for the rising French Tech scene, a message that Sandberg seemed to echo.“Paris has always been a place where people come together to break new ground,” Sandberg said. “Now Paris has a thriving tech scene. Entrepreneurs are the engine of economic growth all over the world. At Facebook, there’s nothing we care about more than supporting them.”These big events eclipsed a number of other interesting developments.For instance, Serena Capital, a Paris-based venture capital firm, announced the closing of an $85 million fund focused on artificial intelligence, Europe’s first. That was a prelude to a larger announcement the French government is making on Friday about a strategic initiative to boost the country’s AI ecosystem. France already has a large concentration of AI and machine learning researchers and startups, but, as with other aspects, it’s hoping to do more to gain international recognition of that potential.All this effort to draw in outsiders reflects a cultural and political shift for France. Whether these initiatives succeed could go a long way to determining whether the French Tech community can secure its place as a global startup movement that truly transforms the country’s economy.“When you look at the top ecosystems, the percent of international people and talent is really what contributes to the innovation that comes out of there,” said Roxanne Varza, director of Station F and a Silicon Valley native, while on stage at the Demo Day. “That’s one thing that’s been lacking in this ecosystem. And it’s terrific to have a program like this that is finally addressing that. I think this is hugely important.”

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DEC 17, 2016

“香港國際創客節2016”亮點項目之一的“德必特約：創匯021項目路演”12月16日晚在香港中環蘭桂坊舉行，共有17支專案團隊進行路演展示，比賽評選出冠亞季軍及1項最佳人氣獎，這標誌著本屆創客節在今日落下帷幕。”這17支團隊分別來自中國內地、香港、台灣、以及韓國、美國等不同國家和地區，路演涵蓋的項目豐富多樣，涉及科技智慧、廣告設計、生活服務、兒童教育等諸多領域。香港國際創客節副主席、“創匯021”籌委會主席伍啟賢對記者說，“活動的籌備期我們共收到數百份高水準的商業計畫書，最終挑選出17名路演入圍者是一個艱巨的任務，希望這次活動能為國內外的初創企業提供一個合作交流的好機會。

Winner ofTop 10

Excellence Project

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路演分為中文與英文兩個專場，每個創業團隊共有6分鐘項目展示時間，展示結束後，由現場150位投資者進行模擬投資。每位投資者手上共有3000萬虛擬投資金用於對各個路演專案進行投資分配，依此評選出最具實力的創業項目。出席路演活動現場人數達200多人，網路實況轉播上也獲8.8萬觀看人氣。經過一番激烈角逐，來自內地的“鄰趣”、深圳的“靈喵”、美國的“alikeaudience”團隊獲得冠、亞、季軍，其路演專案分別是有關C2C跑腿服務平台、機器人技術、廣告技術。最佳人氣獎則由來自廣州的比逗網路科技有限公司獲得。這些優勝團隊將獲得專業投資者的指導建議及更多投融資機會。

香港特區政府創新及科技局副局長鐘偉強表示，隨著特區政府大力推動創新發展，去年香港有超過2000家初創企業成立，而隨著“北水南下”，現在有很多內地公司來港上市，其中不乏一些天使培植企業，鐘偉強認為香港已成為國際間融資的理想平台。

值得一提的是，本次路演活動以“創匯021”為主題，具有深刻意義。據主辦方介紹，“創”結合了“創新、創意、創業”的寓意，“匯”具有“匯合、匯聚、匯集”的意思，“021”則是英語的“zero to one”（“從零到一”），蘊含了主辦方對香港努力成為創新創業中心的期望。此次路演的戰略合作方之一為來自上海的德必集團。德必是以“助力中國創意”為宗旨的文創、科創企業服務商，其一直關注創新創意領域的進步和發展，此次德必攜手園區企業“鄰趣”和“一英里科技”來到香港，參與了中文分會場的路演，獲得了現場眾多投資者的青睞。據悉，德必集團還將和香港相關機構合作，成立滬港金融科技創新協同基地。在不久的將來，青年創業平台將分設在上海、香港兩地，通過這個平台，陸港兩地創業者以及投資者能夠相互交流、促進合作，共謀發展、創造機遇。

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Winner ofTop 10

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SEPT 6, 2016

OEMs and startups: The incubator at Jaguar Land Rover HQ

The first question you might have when learning that Jaguar Land Rover has its technology headquarters in Portland, OR, is, “Why?” There’s an easy answer for that question, said Rupert Poole, Senior Collaborations Manager of Future Technology at the facility in Portland. JLR, as it’s known, already had a relationship with Intel, and Intel is located in a Portland suburb. There’s also a thriving startup culture in Portland, and it’s not hard to travel up and down the West Coast to other tech hubs.The first JLR facility in Portland, the Open Software Technology Center, opened in July 2014. The nearby JLR Tech Incubator opened six months later and a third building next door to the incubator, the collaborative lab, is undergoing renovations to create space for test chambers and vehicle bays. I got to tour all three — including the very much not-yet-completed lab.While about a hundred JLR engineers are working on infotainment and connectivity tech to be tested in simulators and eventually introduced into Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, a handful of startups are down the street developing new technology that may or may not end up being used by the British automaker. All engineers, whether they’re JLR employees or startups, have access to collaborative brainstorming spaces — with walls you can write on and buckets of LEGOs.The incubator hosts 12 startups each year for six-month periods. “We found that three months is too short,” says Danielle Alexander, the manager of the incubator. The teams get access to space, funding, tools and equipment — including Jaguars and Land Rovers —partnerships, mentors and engineering and technology expertise from the JLR staff.Like other OEMs that want to work with startups, the JLR Incubator is looking for small teams that have more agility and speed than a century-old automotive manufacturer. It’s also looking for technologies that dovetail with automotive needs rather than overlap, such as augmented reality, connected car, human-machine interface (HMI) and data visualization technologies.

When I visited the facility, I met with the half-dozen startups currently in residence. One, Carfit, is developing a technology directly applicable to the auto industry. Its small, puck-shaped devices attach to the steering wheel and monitor all of its shakes, wobbles and corrections. In the same way that (some) drivers can tell the car is out of alignment or the shocks need replacing, Carfit analyzes the information from the steering wheel and sends the diagnosis to an app.But not every startup in the incubator has such a direct relationship to the automotive industry. Take Neptune, which is developing a streaming, curated video service for kid-friendly, interactive, educational content. In a connected car, kids could pick and choose and stream at will without the parent in the driver’s seat needing to monitor their every choice. Or SicDrone, a drone that can pivot its rotors for maneuverability or remain stable while flying in wind. This could come in handy when scouting for emergency response or to looking ahead at an uncharted off-road course — something Land Rover drivers have been known to take.“Infotainment and connectivity are the only parts of a car where consumer expectations are set against other technologies,” Poole said. “All other expectations are set versus automotive technology.” By bringing the cutting edge of connectivity into the incubator, where startups work with the local engineers and have access to 10,000 JLR engineers worldwide, a decades-old company gets access to the latest innovations.

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JUL 27, 2016

JAGUAR LAND ROVER EXPANDS FUTURE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH OPERATIONS IN PORTLAND, OREGON

To further Jaguar Land Rover’s future technology research, the company has also announced the addition of a new 20,000 sq. ft ., state-of-the-art vehicle center, focused on the development and trial

of new technologies and in-car experiences for customers. This new facility is scheduled to open in late 2016, with plans for Jaguar Land Rover to recruit and employ up to 30 additional developers and engineers

in-house. In July 2014, Jaguar Land Rover opened its Open Software Technology Center (OSTC) in Portland, for its proximity to technology hubs in California and Seattle. The Jaguar Land Rover Tech Incubator

opened in January 2016 and together, the two facilities have grown to have approximately 80 employees. The innovative Incubator was created to encourage, promote and support new automotive and

connected-car technologies that are being developed by U.S. start-ups. The Jaguar Land Rover Incubator has committed to selecting around 120 start-up companies to work with over the next decade.

Current and past JLR Tech Incubator companies include:

•ParkIT- Computer vision/machine learning technology

using cameras to collect real-time parking availability data

and lot utilization analytics to improve the parking

experience for drivers, parking managers, and cities.

•Urban.Systems - builds vibrant communities using

technology to facilitate civic engagement, deliver services

and share resources. They do this through an open, secure,

transaction platform and a searchable catalog of solutions

compatible with this platform.

•BabyBit™ - a small wearable sensor you snap onto your

baby’s clothing. It connects through the caregiver’s

smartphone and sends notifications throughout the day,

giving new parents the information they need when they

can't be with their baby.

•Workfrom - a platform that connects the growing

community of nomadic workers, creatives, freelancers,

independent professionals and entrepreneurs with the

businesses that support a work anywhere culture.

•SICdrone - a UAS solutions company that builds off the

platform of: Speed, Stability, Payload and Distance.

•Carfit - a device that monitors vibrations of the steering

wheel to analyze driving information and road conditions,

enabling drivers to make informed decisions on usage, costs

and maintenance.

The start-up companies from the inaugural group selected

for the Jaguar Land Rover Tech Incubator have already

begun to see successes. ParkIT has started further

collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover and has secured a

real-world trial of their technology with the city of Portland,

while Urban.Systems has been working with a number of

companies globally on its open connected infrastructure

platform and are currently in the final stages of its next round

of funding. BabyBit™ has seen successes as well, with

extensive national coverage of their demonstrated infant

wearing technology with vehicles.

To learn more about the Jaguar Land Rover Incubator, or to

apply, please visit: https://www.jlrtechincubator.com

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MAY 31, 2016

Jaguar Land Rover Tech Incubator Welcomes Spring 2016 Cohort

The Jaguar Land Rover Tech Incubator is pleased to announce its newest crop of companies accepted into the Spring 2016 cohort: Carfit, SICdrone, and Workfrom.The three companies span a wildly diverse range of future infotainment offerings, from a diagnostic tool; to a drone technology with innovative camera systems; to software that helps mobile professionals find a workspace on the go. The latter two in particular — out of the bounds of what one would deem an automotive company — demonstrate the range of what connected car technology could enable.The companies make up the second cohort in Jaguar Land Rover Tech Incubator, a 10-year program to support and advance startups whose products carve a path for the future of connected cars. Each company gains funding, access to Jaguar Land Rover global engineering resources, design support from Jaguar Land Rover’s Portland team, residence in state-of-the-art office space, mentorship from world-class leaders across a range of industries, and a community of others in the startup space to offer peer support.

Carfit measures the health of your car like a doctor checks your pulse. Through a device located on the steering wheel, Carfit’s technology dynamically monitors vibrations and conveys diagnostic information via an app, providing insights and frictionless relationships with auto service centers and dealerships.Why was Jaguar Land Rover compelled by this company? Carfit is looking at future technology that translates to a better experience for vehicle owners.

SICdrone develops and manufactures consumer and commercial drones with a design that provides capability for 2-3 times top speed and up to 5 times farther flights compared to existing multicopter drones, along with expanded photography capability through its variety of camera systems.Jaguar Land Rover is interested in exploring potential use cases of drones in a vehicle context as they could potentially provide our customers with unique “birds-eye” insights. We believe that SICdrone, with its innovative technology design, is well positioned to experiment in this space with us.Workfrom helps mobile professionals find an optimal spot to work on the fly. It’s a web and mobile platform that helps people find reliable places to park their laptops and get work done based on the things they need like good WiFi, access to power outlets and low noise levels.

Many of Jaguar Land Rover’s customers are young professionals, entrepreneurs, remote workers, business travelers, and freelancers — and they all need multiple places to get work done as they move around. Millions of these professionals are often tasked with finding an office for the day, so why not find a way to do so directly from their car? We are currently exploring the potential value of in-vehicle integration.We’re thrilled for the companies to be joining us. They’re all moved in and the energy is high as they engage with their fellow incubator companies (including the Winter Cohort, with which they overlap), Jaguar Land Rover staff, and the greater startup community. We’re working with them now on next steps, project plans, and mentorship.Stay tuned for an update on their progress.