Pitches and Panels in Paris — A Startup Journey Through France’s Green Future
The Eiffel Tower in the early summer dusk set the scene on the first evening of SOLAR MATERIALS‘ market exploration to Paris, as the first get together took place on a boat on the Seine. The boat is part of a social initiative offering former inmates a second shot at life through jobs and training in gastronomy. For the startups of the market exploration by AHK Frankreich / Deutsch-Französische Industrie- und Handelskammer , it was the beginning of an intense week into the heart of the French innovation scene.
After a cultural crash course: how to decode French business etiquette, why small talk matters, and how long a proper lunch break reallytakes in Paris. These aren’t minor details—they’re survival tools for startups trying to win French investors and partners.
While enjoying canapés and networking with Eiffel Tower views, conversations on the boat shifted from intros to the urgent question: What happens to France’s aging solar panels?
End of Life, Start of Innovation
France is scaling up its solar ambitions. By 2050, the country wants to boost its solar capacity fivefold, according to government plans. But there’s a catch: tens of thousands of panels installed a decade ago are now nearing their end of life. The question of recycling occurs. But scaling in France means understanding the regulatory jungle of e-waste laws. France’s policy is ambitious: by law, producers must finance the recycling of solar panels. But infrastructure is lagging. That’s where SOLAR MATERIALS comes in—with tech, timing, and now, a taste of French flair.
Station F: Europe’s Startup Supernova
On Day Two, we descended into Station F. Housed in a former railway depot, Station F is the largest startup campus in the world. With over 1,000 startups under one roof, it feels more like a tech cathedral than a co-working space. Every hallway is buzzing with founders and art. Here, the French startup ecosystem pulses with energy and ambition. From deep tech to green tech, France is betting big on innovation.
Elevator Pitch, Paris-Style
No startup tour would be complete without a visit to the top, or in our case the rooftop at Bpifrance for pitches. Bpifrance is the public investment arm of the French government. So of course Solar Materials took the chance to pitch in front of French investors and Sacre Coer.
Viva La Tech!
From Thursday to Saturday, we dove into VivaTech, Europe’s answer to CES and SXSW. This year, the 2025 edition was all about AI for climate, circular economy, and green mobility. With over 150,000 visitors in years past, VivaTech has become the place to be for visionaries and venture capitalists. So we were more than happy for our booth at the French German Tech lab by de:hub Initiative .
SOLAR MATERIALS als proudly showed of the new pink VivaTech “Most Promising Startup” trophy—but the real test came at the German-French Pitch Battle. Despite their compelling case for solar circularity, the crown went to OPTIPUS PV . Maybe we were still too excited from that Viva V win.
Takeaway: Tech alone won’t save the planet. Collaboration might.
From Seine-side social projects to the rooftop of France’s biggest startup bank, the trip was a reminder: innovation isn’t just about tech. It’s about people, policies, and the unexpected power of a well-timed canapé.