Gender: Breaking the Glass Ceiling

In 2015, women founded just 8% of French startups. By 2024, that figure had nearly tripled to 23%, above the European average of 16%. This progress didn't happen accidentally.

SISTA: Changing the Game

Founded in 2019 by Tatiana Jama, Céline Lazorthes, and other prominent women in tech, SISTA set an audacious goal: by 2025, 25% of French startups should have at least one female founder, and 20% of investment committee members should be women.

SISTA's approach was strategic. Rather than shame, they used data and economic arguments. They created a charter that VCs and corporations could sign, committing to concrete diversity targets. By 2024, over 100 organizations had signed, representing €15 billion in assets under management.

"We made diversity measurable and accountability public," explains Jama. "Suddenly, all-male investment teams became embarrassing rather than normal."

Success Stories Inspiring Others

Female-founded unicorns provided crucial role models:

- Vestiaire Collective: Fanny Moizant's luxury resale platform proved women could build global marketplaces - PayFit: While not female-founded, COO Mélodie Kieffer's leadership showed women excelling in senior operational roles - Spendesk: CFO Jordane Giuly demonstrated women's strength in fintech leadership

These visible successes mattered. "Seeing Fanny Moizant on magazine covers changed my perception of what was possible," notes a young female founder. "She looked like me, came from a similar background. If she could do it, maybe I could too."

Structural Changes

Beyond role models, structural changes accelerated progress:

- Childcare Support: Station F opened an on-site nursery, recognizing that childcare responsibilities disproportionately affect women - Funding Initiatives: Bpifrance created specific programs supporting female entrepreneurs - Network Building: Organizations like Femmes du Numérique and StartHer created powerful support networks - Education: Engineering schools actively recruited women, with some achieving 40% female enrollment

Remaining Challenges

Despite progress, challenges persist. Women receive just 12% of venture funding. They're underrepresented in deep tech and overrepresented in "softer" sectors like fashion or wellness. Sexual harassment remains an issue, with #MeToo revelations shocking the ecosystem.

"We've made the entry door wider, but the hallway is still narrow," observes one female VC. "Women start companies but struggle to raise growth capital. They enter tech but hit glass ceilings in leadership."