Red Rooster Dispatch #5: FTW Volunteer Program, interesting events in Warsaw and January in a nutshell
Dear Readers,
This month, we have some exciting tech news to share and a carefully curated list of February events worth attending. But first, the most important update—one that gives you the opportunity to co-create French Tech Warsaw: we are now recruiting volunteers!
Are you passionate about tech and innovation? Want to be part of an international community shaping the future? This is your chance!
As a French Tech Warsaw volunteer, you’ll gain exclusive access to top events like French Tech Connect Warsaw and VivaTech Paris, network with industry leaders and investors, and even have opportunities to speak at events, join our awards jury, and build your personal brand. Plus, you’ll be recognized on our website and LinkedIn and get insider access to private board events.
We’re looking for committed volunteers to engage with our community on social media and at events, with a one-year renewable role.
Ready to make an impact?
…and be part of the future of La French Tech Warsaw!
We’ve spotted some exciting events that are a great opportunity to elevate your business and expand your network. Whether you're looking for insights, inspiration, or connections, these gatherings can help you take your next step forward. Check them out:
From Vision to Validation: Pitch, Improve, Succeed
📅 Date & Time: February 20th, 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Venture Cafe
This Startup Grind Warsaw event is designed for founders looking to refine their pitch and validate their ideas. Gain feedback from experienced entrepreneurs and investors to improve your chances of success.
More infoTurn Your Ideas into Actionable Strategies – Office Hour with Ahmad Piraiee
📅 Date & Time: February 6th, 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Venture Café Warsaw Foundation
Startup Grind Warsaw hosts a one-on-one office hour with Ahmad Piraiee, offering personalized guidance on transforming ideas into practical business strategies.
More infoEmerging Founders: Think Global – International Acceleration
📅 Date & Time: February 25, 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Google Warsaw - The Hub
This event focuses on scaling startups internationally, featuring insights from founders and experts on overcoming global expansion challenges.
More infoAMPLE-ify Workshop: Boost Your Potential
📅 Date & Time: February 5th-6th, 9:30 AM
📍 Location: Warsaw
Celebrate Women’s Day with AMPLE-ify, a two-day workshop designed to help women develop business ideas in the agri-food sector. In a supportive environment, you’ll gain the tools to refine your vision and build a strong business foundation. Join us in Warsaw on March 5-6, 2025, and take the first step toward your entrepreneurial journey!
More infoEU Startups Prize for Mobility – Call for Applications
📅 Application Deadline: February 7, 2024
📍 Online Application
If you're working on a clean mobility startup, this competition is a great opportunity to gain funding and support. Don’t miss your chance to apply before the deadline!
More info
#1: Stargate Initiative: Trump’s $500 Billion AI Bet
President Trump has unveiled Stargate, a bold $500 billion AI initiative in partnership with OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank. The plan starts with a $100 billion investment in AI data centers in Texas, aiming to create 100,000 jobs and accelerate artificial general intelligence (AGI) development.
While touted as a leap in U.S. tech leadership, the initiative raises concerns about power concentration and ethical risks. Will this reshape AI, or deepen big tech’s grip? Stay tuned.
#2: France’s AI Boom: Investment Soars, But UK & Germany Stay Ahead
France’s AI sector saw an 82% surge in investment in 2024, reaching €1.9 billion, reinforcing its ambition to become a major AI hub. Despite this growth, France still lags behind the UK (€16.4B) and Germany (€9.4B) in total VC funding.
Key drivers include strong engineering talent, government incentives, and big tech presence. However, challenges remain, with a slowdown in late 2024 and a struggling tech IPO market. Will France close the gap in 2025?
#3: ElevenLabs Raises $250 Million in Series C Funding
Polish AI startup ElevenLabs has secured $250 million in its Series C round, bringing its valuation to $3–3.3 billion. Led by ICONIQ Growth, the round also saw participation from Andreessen Horowitz.
Founded in 2022, ElevenLabs specializes in voice synthesis and AI tools, including text-to-speech, voice cloning, and audio editing. With over 36 global clients, including major players like Washington Post and HarperCollins, the company has seen rapid revenue growth, reaching an ARR of $90 million by late 2024. ElevenLabs continues to solidify its position as a leader in generative AI technology.
#4: Mistral AI Plans IPO as It Expands Globally
French AI startup Mistral AI is setting its sights on an initial public offering (IPO) to support its international expansion, particularly into the Asia-Pacific and European markets. CEO Arthur Mensch, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, reaffirmed that Mistral is not for sale, despite earlier rumors of acquisitions, including a €15 million investment from Microsoft.
The company, which is currently valued at approximately $6 billion, plans to open a new office in Singapore to strengthen its presence in Asia. Mistral’s IPO, rather than additional funding, is the key focus as it aims to establish itself as a significant player in the global AI industry.
#5: DeepSeek AI's R1 Model Disrupts Global Financial Markets
Chinese startup DeepSeek AI has launched its R1 technology, an AI model that predicts stock market movements with extreme accuracy. In just two months, it caused massive market upheaval, including a 13% drop in Nvidia's shares, wiping out $465 billion in value.
This breakthrough raises concerns about AI's influence on global markets, with analysts questioning the stability of financial systems in the face of such innovations. DeepSeek AI’s rapid success is challenging traditional investment strategies and reshaping the future of finance.