The five most promising scaleups in France are joining TECH5's 'Champions League of Tech.'

      Five thriving French scaleups have secured spots in the TECH5 — the “Champions League of Technology.” This group will now vie for the title of the top scaleup in Europe. The competition will culminate on June 19-20, with the TECH5 champion being announced on the main stage of the TNW Conference. However, the participants must first claim a regional title.

      For the French competitors, this is a challenging endeavor.

      The tech industry in France has been experiencing a historic surge. Over the last ten years, the startup ecosystem has witnessed the most significant growth among European countries, with investments skyrocketing by nearly 1000% to €53 billion, as reported by VC firm Atomico.

      A notable recent funding round was secured by the French AI sensation Mistral, which raised €468 million in June 2024, making it Europe’s most valuable AI startup.

      France’s combination of highly skilled professionals, increased government backing, and expanded investment opportunities has fostered an environment conducive to the growth of tech companies. This has set the stage for an impressive array of scaleups.

      However, only five have made it to the TECH5 finals, handpicked by our judges based on their growth, impact, and future potential. The following high-flying scaleups were selected, in random order:

      1. **Kinetix**

      A leader in Paris’s booming AI landscape, Kinetix specializes in 3D character animation for games. Utilizing GenAI tools, the company converts camera footage and text prompts into accurate animations. AI filters can then apply extensive customizations to the visuals.

      The platform democratizes 3D content creation.

      “At Kinetix, we believe that character motion is essential to storytelling,” the scaleup shared with TNW. “Whether in gaming, entertainment, or branded content, movement brings digital characters to life and fosters meaningful, engaging narratives.”

      Kinetix is particularly known for its embeddable AI emote feature, allowing players to create and use custom emotes in-game. This concept has seen a surge in demand, with Fortnite alone featuring over 1,000 emotes. By 2030, the market for digital human avatars is projected to exceed €450 billion.

      2. **Kovalee**

      Kovalee has launched a robust publishing platform for non-gaming applications, aiming to empower every aspiring content creator to develop the best app in their domain, irrespective of their resources.

      By enhancing products, boosting monetization, acquiring users, and optimizing app store presence, Kovalee has enabled numerous success stories, with several apps becoming category leaders in the App Store, including the stretch platform Bend and the motivational companion PetTalk.

      Founded in 2020, Kovalee saw a rapid ascent, topping Sifted’s list of France's fastest-growing startups with a remarkable 626% revenue growth over two years.

      VC firm Iris, which spearheaded an €8 million Series A investment in 2023, stated that Kovalee has “the potential to become the leading non-gaming publishing platform.”

      3. **Swan**

      As one of Europe’s top fintechs, Swan provides a straightforward method for embedding banking services. Through simple APIs, companies can easily integrate features such as accounts, cards, and payments into their products.

      Established in 2019 by three seasoned fintech entrepreneurs, Swan was created to offer an alternative to the cumbersome processes often involved in embedded finance.

      Swan’s CEO and co-founder, Nicolas Benady, has ambitious plans: “Swan aims to establish the leading tech-driven bank in Europe.”

      Investors have shown considerable interest in these plans, as Swan announced in January that it raised €42 million, bringing its total funding to around €100 million.

      4. **Qovoltis**

      Qovoltis has devised an innovative all-in-one electric vehicle charging solution, featuring a smart charging station that adjusts power in real-time, a mobile app for remote management, and a cutting-edge energy optimization system.

      Last year, Qovoltis expanded its offerings with the Qobox mini, a compact smart charger that is the first to receive an “Origine France Garantie” certificate, affirming its French production and quality. It also won the Made in France Innovation Grand Prix 2024.

      That milestone year ended with a €45 million Series A funding round. Qovoltis president Ehsan Emani, who founded the company in 2019, described this funding as a “decisive step” for growth. “It will allow us to broaden our commercial offerings and reinforce our position in the transition to sustainable electric mobility,” he said.

      5. **Dalma**

      Dalma has introduced a novel approach to pet insurance, with a policy that reimburses all veterinary expenses within 48 hours — without excess or hidden fees.

      Founded in 2021, Dalma has grown rapidly and still possesses significant