From Paris to San Francisco Entrepreneur: A French Founder’s Journey

You’re standing at the edge of the Pacific. Golden Gate Bridge just stretching into the fog. And you gotta ask: what really pushes a San Francisco entrepreneur? All that sun? The insane amount of innovation around here? Or something else entirely? Usually, it’s pretty personal. A journey far from these California shores, for sure. Shaped by global adventures and a super sharp eye for what folks really need.

Want a Different Career Path? Go Abroad. Seriously

The journey usually kicks off with a solid education, yeah, like attending ESSEC Business School. But let’s be real: the detours? Those are what define everything. Early internships, especially in tough fields like aeronautics, gives you awesome hands-on stuff. Taking a gap year to totally dive into a buying job at a big company? Not just fancy words on a resume. A seriously key lesson. Living abroad while studying – even just six months in a spot like Slovenia? It just opens your eyes. Fast. After graduating, the global trip keeps going, often. Two years in Singapore. Another two in Beijing. Each time, more growth. Personally. Professionally. And another thing: these international trips aren’t just for kicks. They’re the literal building blocks for figuring out unique global market gaps later.

Got a Personal Annoyance? Turn It Into a Business. Smart move, especially for specific groups

Ever just wanted something familiar? But nope, can’t find it online. Happens. Ideas spark there. For French folks living elsewhere, snagging French films on streaming platforms? Man, that’s always been a pain. Even though France? Second-biggest film exporter globally. Not just nostalgia. Because it’s a huge global market, right? We’re talking 300 million French speakers. Plus another 120 million Francophiles. Seriously. Why is 70% of all streaming stuff American? So, building a platform just for French cinema, aiming right at this international crowd, that came from being super frustrated. Specific market. Underserved. Solving that problem? Meant turning a personal headache into a real business.

Silicon Valley: A Hotspot for Entrepreneurs who Like Risk

Heading into the US, especially landing here in Silicon Valley, totally changes the game for anyone with a business itch. Often, you gotta link up with an innovation center. Like one set up by a big corporation, right here in the Bay Area, just to really get it going. Suddenly, everyone around you breathes entrepreneurship. The energy? Contagious. But this setup? Not just about plush tech campuses. It actually celebrates taking risks. And grows a culture where fresh ideas, even the quirky personal ones, can absolutely explode. Super supportive. Really.

Your University Crew + Old Bosses = Lifeline

No one builds a company alone. The ties you make in university, especially with an active alumni network? They are freaking crucial. Business schools often push students to dream massive, but also stay real. A mindset that founders, who want to change the world, truly get. More than just contacts, individual relationships with mentors – like an old boss from an early internship who also ends up in Silicon Valley – can give ongoing smart advice and backup. And another thing: these connections aren’t frozen. They change. Offering awesome new ways to look at things, plus real-world tips as careers move forward.

Don’t Forget Where You Came From. Use It

Working all over the globe? You always get a chance to rep your home country. Not just a personal thing. It can totally become part of your work self. Launching a platform explicitly for French cinema, for example? More than just a business. It’s truly showing French culture to everyone. It’s about remembering your roots, even while you build something brand new. A purpose bigger than just making cash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why even make a French cinema streaming platform?
A: It was born out of a personal frustration. French people living abroad, plus Francophiles, just had a super hard time watching French films online.

Q: So, what movies are on this streaming thing?
A: It’s all about French cinema, exclusively. Got films by working with big French studios like TF1, Canal+, Orange, and EuropaCorp.

Q: Where can I actually watch this French cinema service?
A: Launched first in the U.S. and Canada.