April 20 (Reuters) – The first quarter of 2022 saw a record fundraising for “French Tech” companies, with amounts up 259% compared to the same period in 2021, according to a study published on Wednesday by the consulting firm In Extenso Croissance.
This study, carried out by the subsidiary of the accounting group In Extenso, in partnership with ESSEC Business School, estimates the amount of fundraising carried out during the first three months of the year at 5 billion euros. A figure that would place France in second place in Europe for investment in technology start-ups, behind the United Kingdom and ahead of Germany.
This increase in investments is significantly supported by fundraising by Back Market (450 million euros), Qonto (486 million euros) and Doctolib (500 million euros). Amounts which raise the average ticket to 21.3 million euros for 236 exercises carried out over the period, i.e. a 21% increase in the number of operations.
“The geopolitical situation, with uncertain economic and financial consequences, does not seem to have had any visible impact in the first quarter,” said Nicolas Landrin, executive director of the center for entrepreneurship and innovation at ESSEC business school, in a statement.
On the contrary, the report suggests that war-related tensions in Ukraine raise the need to invest in the development of an alternative energy system, as well as solutions for managing intermittence.
This is evidenced by the buoyant momentum enjoyed by CleanTech. The sector, described as little affected by inflation, has raised 800 million euros since January. An amount that includes the 150 million euro operation carried out in March by Deepki, a company specializing in the analysis of environmental criteria in the real estate sector.
In Extenso Croissance also underlines the dynamism of the AgriTech and FoodTech sector and predicts “a record year for the French venture”. (Report Augustin Turpin, edited by Jean-Michel Bélot)