Les Entrepreneurs et la Vallée du Silicium

French entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley

Just read this interesting article in the San Francisco Chronicle. Everyone says that the French invented the word entrepreneur, yet they don't know how to be one! Most people seem to choose 'safe' jobs and public servant jobs like a teacher or police officer, or something like engineering, or something in the medical/health field.

Anyway, here's part of the article. It's quite interesting..

According to the Consulate General of France in San Francisco, the number of French citizens in Northern California increased from 13,446 in 2000 to 18,056 in 2007, an unprecedented 34 percent jump. Because many don't get registered, officials estimate that number to actually be around 30,000 and will conduct an updated study next month.

"We have seen more incoming French businesses in the last 18 months than in the past," said Carole Granade, who has headed the French American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco for the past seven years.

Just last year, about 200 French companies paid a visit to the Bay Area, said Gaetan Gachet of Ubifrance, a trade organization that helps French companies with business development abroad.

In fact, their increased presence is having a direct impact on the local economy: French companies employ 63,000 people throughout California, the most of any state...

Many said expanding a company in France can be hard because of stringent employment laws and the country's small market. In the United States, on the other hand, a startup can expend the same resources to access a much bigger market - and thus faster growth and larger profits. There's also something to be said for the Bay Area's culture of innovation.

"Compared to France, people here are much more enthusiastic about new projects and innovation," said Skander Larbi, founder of Techshower, the first French Web TV and tech news site about the Silicon Valley. "The valley is a very stimulating environment."...

I think this is an exciting thing for both the US and France because their people can combine their great minds and ideas to create new innovations...