Paris Surges in 2025 Startup Rankings
Paris has achieved a landmark position in 2025 as Europe’s leading tech ecosystem, overtaking long-standing champions like London according to the latest industry reports. The
2025 Startup Heatmap Europe Report highlights Paris’s remarkable ascent, recording an 18.9% founder preference index—an increase of six percentage points year-over-year. This surge marks the fastest rise among Europe’s top technology hubs, firmly placing Paris at the center of the continent’s innovation landscape[4].
Key Drivers Fueling Paris’s Tech Boom
The transformation of Paris into a tech powerhouse is underpinned by several important factors:
- AI Talent and Research: Paris has built up a robust AI ecosystem, attracting leading experts, launching pioneering research initiatives, and supporting the success of repeat founders[3].
- Semiconductor Investments: Significant capital flows have been directed into semiconductor R&D and manufacturing, enhancing Paris’s strength in foundational tech infrastructure[1].
- Government Support: French government-backed programs and incentives have fostered startup growth, entrepreneurship, and global investment[1].
Shifting Geography of European Tech
For almost a decade, London and Berlin dominated Europe’s startup geography. However, 2025 marks a new chapter as Paris climbs from fourth to second place, reflecting a shift in founder preferences and the broader startup momentum sweeping France[4].
Other key hubs such as Amsterdam and Munich also maintain strong positions, but none have matched the meteoric rise of Paris this year[4].
How London and Paris Compare
| City |
2025 Rank |
Strengths |
Founder Preference (%) |
| Paris |
2 |
Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors, Government-backed innovation |
18.9 |
| London |
1 |
Fintech, AI research, Cybersecurity, Startup density |
32.6 |
18.9 |
18.9 |
