Red Rooster Dispatch #19
A busy month for the Franco-Polish tech ecosystem
Hi everyone! 👋
April brings a mix of new initiatives, ongoing conversations and visible developments across the Franco-Polish ecosystem. We’re opening the call for speakers for French Tech Connect Poland 2026 which continues to grow as a key event connecting the Warsaw and Kraków tech scenes. 🚀
💡At the same time our recent gathering around sport, infrastructure and innovation showed how these sectors are increasingly overlapping: not just in theory, but through real projects, partnerships and shared ambitions.
In this edition of Red Rooster Dispatch we also look at broader developments haping the ecosystem: from major AI moves in Europe to Poland’s growing visibility in the startup landscape, alongside upcoming events and opportunities worth following. So let’s walk through it!
📣Call for speaker: French Tech Connect Poland 2026
Have a chance to speak in one of the biggest tech community gatherings in the country! We are launching the 3rd edition of our French Tech Connect event now evolving into a national flagship event uniting the Warsaw and Kraków ecosystems!
📅 Save the date: 21 May 2026 - CIC Warsaw, Poland
After 600+ participants in Warsaw (2025) and 400+ participants in Kraków (2025) with international guests, FTC 2026 aims for 700+ high-level attendees, positioning itself as a key tech gathering in Central Europe. Reuniting the tech actors of Warsaw and Krakow around “AI Acceleration”, you will speak to:
💡 Founders & scale-up leaders
📊 Investors & VC funds
🏢 Corporate executives & innovation leaders
🌍 Public & institutional stakeholders
Apply now and be part of French Tech Connect Poland 2026!
⚽ La French Tech Warsaw brings sport & tech together around an Olympic ambition
Could Poland host a future edition of the Olympic Games? 🏅 That was the bold question at the heart of our latest event and after this day, the idea feels more tangible than ever.
The event kicked off at the French Embassy in Poland, where engaging discussions set the tone. We were honored to be welcomed by Etienne de Poncins, alongside inspiring panelists who explored the opportunities and challenges behind such an ambition.
⚽In the afternoon we moved from vision to reality with an exclusive visit to Legia Warszawa Facilities. A concrete look at world-class sports infrastructure and Poland’s potential on the global stage. The day wrapped up with a more informal networking session, bringing together leaders from sport, tech and infrastructure in a unique atmosphere. Special thanks to Lilou for hosting this final moment.
This event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our partners: roboticket, lemotion bistro and Probiernia Urbanowicz, as well as PZPN Innovation Hub and Business France Poland for their co-organization.
🚀 More than just an event, this was a clear signal: the intersection of sport, tech, and innovation is gaining momentum in Warsaw, and this is only the beginning.
More to come.
La French Tech Warsaw is deeply linked with French and Polish sports ecosystems!
We are also partners with Mecz Gwiazd, organizing a friendly but impactful match bringing together French and Polish personalities from sport, business, and beyond on August 29th.
🎟️ Spotlight Partner: roboticket
We were thrilled to have roboticket as our Supporting Partner for our Sport, Infrastructure & Innovation event on March 24th.
⭐roboticket is a natural partner for a sport-focused gathering, with their smart ticketing solutions to improve fans’ experiences: unifying every aspect of event organisation within a single, cohesive ecosystem.
🎟️Their explosive growth highlights bold international ambitions and how innovation fuels the sports industry: they are now equipping more than 100 sports clubs across continents and powering over 10 million fan transactions annually, from single mobile tickets and full memberships, to fan ID SSO and Data Analytics.
Business case:
We were proud to be part of the conversation at the French Embassy in Warsaw on March 24th a timely gathering of sport organizations, technology companies, and public institutions exploring the intersection of sport, infrastructure, and innovation. It was exactly the kind of room where Roboticket belongs. We started in Poland, and today we power ticketing for over 90 sports organisations across Belgium, Denmark, Brazil, the UK and Austria. That breadth of experience, across languages, cultures, and fan behaviours, is what gives us the confidence to pursue our next market. France is firmly on our radar: passionate, commercially ambitious, and ready for the kind of fan monetisation infrastructure. We’re actively looking for the right partners to make it happen.
✨Spotlight Event Partner: Lilou
Thanks to Lilou the experience has been able to continue in a truly exceptional setting with an exclusive cocktail to close the day, reuniting our guests in a friendly after-event. It was a meaningful network time, ensuring a lasting bond between the participants.
🎁An unforgettable moment: Lilou engraved and offered a tailored bracelet with the logo and the date of the event to every guest! To craft your own personalized jewel or buy an exceptional gift.
🍽️ Our Catering Partners: L’Emotion Bistro & Urbanowicz
The quality of our event wouldn’t have been the same without such a catering service!We deeply thank L’Emotion Bistro for their outstanding support throughout our event. From the morning discussions where they provided high-quality coffee, refreshments, and appetizers, to the evening celebrations, their team delivered an impeccable experience. Their bartending service and carefully curated dinner at Lilou made the after-party an outstanding moment.
🎁Get 10% on your first catering order with the code FTWAW10!
We are grateful to Urbanowicz Vodka for contributing to the unique atmosphere of our after-party. Their premium vodka enabled the creation of tailored cocktails that were highly appreciated by our guests. The quality and character of their product added a distinctive touch to the evening experience.
🎁Find a 10% discount with our code on your next order: J.Urbanowicz
🎙️ Red Rooster Podcast – Episode #6 is out!
🚀 Young Voice, Real Impact
In this new episode we welcome Weronika Nitecka, a young entrepreneur and rising figure of the Franco-Polish ecosystem. Currently studying Economics and Philosophy at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, she embodies a new generation of leaders at the intersection of innovation, public policy, and technology.
At just 21, Weronika has already built a strong international profile. Deeply involved in the Polish community in France, she has played a key role in strengthening connections between talents, initiatives, and institutions across borders. She has been recognized with multiple awards, including the ‘Wybitny Polak’ distinction in France and the Hummingbird Award, highlighting her impact both within the Polish diaspora and on the international innovation scene.
Her journey also includes experience within the French innovation ecosystem, notably through her involvement with La French Tech Warsaw and her work in a cutting-edge AI startup environment. Passionate about data, artificial intelligence, and public policy, she explores how technology can serve both innovation and society.
🔑 More than a promising profile, Weronika represents a new wave of European entrepreneurs: international, purpose-driven, and deeply connected to both innovation and community. An inspiring conversation at the crossroads of entrepreneurship, identity, and impact 🌍
Check on YouTube or Spotify:
🌍 Poland gaining visibility in the European startup ecosystem
Poland has recently reached a new milestone in the Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs 2026 ranking published by the Financial Times in partnership with Statista and Sifted. Seven Polish startup support organisations were recognised among the 180 leading hubs across Europe, reflecting the growing maturity of the Polish innovation ecosystem.
Among them, Startup Hub Poland ranked within the top 30 thanks to its mentoring programmes and acceleration initiatives supporting founders from across the region. For international founders and investors, this recognition highlights Poland’s increasing importance as a gateway to Central and Eastern Europe’s startup landscape.
🇵🇱🇫🇷 CCIFP: Franco-Polish Events in April
Economic Forum at the European Economic Congress (EEC) in Katowice
📅 April 22-23 2026
📍 European Economic Congress, Katowice
We invite you to participate in and help shape the Franco-Polish Economic Forum, the largest Franco-Polish economic initiative of the year. The Forum will take place on April 22-23, 2026, in Katowice, as part of the European Economic Congress (EEC): the most important platform for economic debate in Central Europe.
The Forum is a joint initiative of major economic institutions in Poland and France. It aims to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and create a space for dialogue between businesses and public authorities. It is designed as a platform for companies that wish to actively participate in shaping the future of economic cooperation, rather than merely observing it.
Business Meeting | How Tech Innovations are Transforming the Business World?
📅 April 14, 2026:18h00
📍BNP Paribas Bank Polska, Kasprzaka 2, 01-211, Warszawa
Join the “Members Get Members” program: invite your clients or partners to attend the Business Event for free. This is a unique opportunity for them to learn about the CCIFP organization, expand their network, and gain new experiences and for you, a chance to earn exclusive rewards! The event will be in French and Polish.
👥 Venture Café Thursday Gatherings in April
Thursday Gathering #254 CODE MEETS COMMUNITY
🗓 April 9, 2026
🕒 18:00-21:00
📍 CIC Warsaw, Varso Place
A more tech-focused edition bringing together developers, builders and innovators. Expect hands-on sessions, AI use cases and real conversations with people shaping today’s tech landscape.
Thursday Gathering #255 OWN YOUR CREATIVITY
🗓 April 23, 2026
🕒 18:00-21:00
📍 CIC Warsaw, Varso Place
This edition explores creativity as a practical tool in building products and ideas. A space to exchange perspectives, get inspired and connect with others across the ecosystem.
📰 Yann LeCun raises $1B to reshape the future of AI
French AI pioneer Yann LeCun has just made headlines with one of the most significant fundraising rounds in Europe. His new startup, Advanced Machine Intelligence (AMI), raised over $1 billion in seed funding, marking one of the largest early-stage rounds in European history.
Based in Paris, AMI aims to develop a new generation of artificial intelligence known as “world models” systems designed to understand and interact with the physical world, going beyond current text-based AI models.
This positioning reflects LeCun’s long-standing vision: today’s dominant AI approaches, particularly large language models, may not be sufficient to reach human-level intelligence. With AMI, he is betting on a fundamentally different paradigm, focused on reasoning, planning, and real-world understanding.
Backed by top-tier international investors, this record-breaking round values the company at around $3.5 billion, highlighting strong global confidence in Europe’s ability to compete in the AI race.
🔑 Beyond the funding itself, this move sends a clear signal:
France, and more broadly Europe, is positioning itself as a serious contender in the next wave of artificial intelligence innovation.
🔎 New opportunities this spring
Spring is a good moment to check what’s moving across the ecosystem. We’ve added new job offers and V.I.E. positions to our job board — whether you’re actively looking or just curious, it’s worth a quick look 🚀
