Startups in France & Southern Europe are gaining ground faster than ever. What used to be seen as a slower corner of Europe’s tech scene now looks like one of the most dynamic. The list of the fastest-growing startups in France & Southern Europe shows how quickly things are changing. From Paris to Lisbon, from Milan to Barcelona, companies are scaling, hiring, and attracting attention from investors who once focused mainly on Northern Europe.
Let’s see the details.
Why France & Southern Europe are startup hotspots
Several factors explain the rise.
#1 First, talent
The region’s universities and research centers keep producing skilled engineers, data scientists, and entrepreneurs ready to launch or join fast-moving ventures. International founders also view the Southern Europe market as an attractive place to set up, combining strong talent with lower operational costs than in London or Berlin.
#2 Second, the funding landscape
Venture capital firms, corporate accelerators, and public investment programs are more active than ever. Local investors have grown more ambitious, while global funds now view the region as a serious opportunity. That mix creates a healthier pipeline for early- and growth-stage startups.
#3 Third, demand
Southern Europe’s diverse markets give startups a wide testing ground, from large urban hubs to smaller regional economies. Consumers are open to digital services, while businesses are actively adopting new tools to modernize. This dual market dynamic helps startups validate products quickly and then expand abroad.
#4 And also, cultural momentum
Entrepreneurship is celebrated more openly than a decade ago. Founders are building visible communities, sharing knowledge, and inspiring the next wave. Together, these factors explain why the fastest-growing startups in France & Southern Europe are making headlines, and why the momentum will continue.
Key categories driving growth
This isn’t a list where one industry dominates. Instead, it’s a mix that reflects how the region’s startup ecosystem has matured. Examples?
SaaS. Folk, Onepilot, Sifflet, and Reflect represent a new generation of sales, HR, and data platforms. Italy and Spain, often overlooked, are producing serious players in HR tech, cybersecurity, and proptech. SaaS companies dominate because they scale quickly and serve international markets from day one.
Fintech. Startups like NEAT Protect, Payflow, Acheel, and MyInvestor are reshaping how people insure, borrow, and manage money. Spain, France, and Italy have become fertile ground for insurtech and wealthtech, while crypto and defi startups like Dfns, Brickken, and Mercuryo are pushing into riskier, but fast-moving territory. These brands highlight how Southern Europe is catching up with the finance innovation hubs in London and Berlin.
Climate tech. From electric vehicle startups like Electra and Upway to carbon accounting specialists such as Green Future Project, Iceberg Data Lab, and Greenly, the momentum is clear. These companies also align with the EU’s push for a greener economy. Add in niches like hydrogen (Simplifhy) and agritech (Elicit Plant, Wikifarmer), and you see a climate sector expanding in every direction.
Consumer startups. From wellbeing apps like sheerME to foodtech and online groceries like La Fourche or VICIO, these companies prove that lifestyle and convenience are still huge markets.
The ranking: 100 fastest-growing startups in France & Southern Europe
When you scroll through a big list, it’s tempting to skim. Names, numbers, logos, and a quick “oh, cool.” But this ranking isn’t that kind of list. These are the fastest-growing startups in France and Southern Europe right now. They’re raising big rounds, entering new markets, and hiring at speed.
Each one tells us something about where the region is headed. Some reflect the boom in fintech and AI. Others focus on sustainability or health, fields that keep attracting founders and investors. And a few are quietly building niche tools that suddenly become global hits.
Together, they map out a landscape that feels much bigger than one country or sector.
| Number | Company name | Category | HQ |
| 1 | Electra | Climate tech | Electric vehicles | Paris, France |
| 2 | REVER | B2B SaaS | Sales & customer service | Barcelona, Spain |
| 3 | folk | B2B SaaS | Sales & customer service | Paris, France |
| 4 | Sifflet | B2B SaaS | Data & analytics | Paris, France |
| 5 | Nabla | Healthtech | Caretech | Paris, France |
| 6 | sheerME | Consumer | Wellbeing | Lisbon, Portugal |
| 7 | BioEsol | Climate tech | Smart grids & energy trading | Grenoble, France |
| 8 | NEAT Protect | Fintech | Insurtech | Paris, France |
| 9 | Danelfin | Fintech | Wealthtech | Barcelona, Spain |
| 10 | Najar | B2B SaaS | Procurement | Paris, France |
| 11 | Serenis | Healthtech | Mental health | Milan, Italy |
| 12 | 2WATCH | B2B SaaS | Media & entertainment | Naples, Italy |
| 13 | Reflect | B2B SaaS | HR tech | Paris, France |
| 14 | Bloq.it | Consumer | Supply chain & logistics | Lisbon, Portugal |
| 15 | Hubcycle | Climate tech | Circular economy | Avignon, France |
| 16 | Nymiz | B2B SaaS | Legal & privacy tech | Bilbao, Spain |
| 17 | Toduba | B2B SaaS | HR tech | Turin, Italy |
| 18 | Shakers | B2B SaaS | HR tech | Madrid, Spain |
| 19 | Dfns | Fintech | Crypto & defi | Paris, France |
| 20 | Wibo | B2B SaaS | Edtech | Turin, Italy |
| 21 | Wikifarmer | Climate tech | Agritech | Athens, Greece |
| 22 | Exein | B2B SaaS | Cybersecurity | Rome, Italy |
| 23 | Upway | Consumer | Electric vehicles | Paris, France |
| 24 | Payflow | Fintech | Payments | Madrid, Spain |
| 25 | Flitter | Fintech | Insurtech | Paris, France |
| 26 | Simplifhy | Climate tech | Hydrogen | Villasanta, Italy |
| 27 | Unobravo | Healthtech | Mental health | Naples, Italy |
| 28 | Brickken | Fintech | Crypto & defi | Barcelona, Spain |
| 29 | Sharelock | Fintech | Insurtech | Paris, France |
| 30 | Kovalee | Consumer | App development | Paris, France |
| 31 | Prosperty | B2B SaaS | Proptech | Athens, Greece |
| 32 | Onepilot | B2B SaaS | Sales & customer service | Paris, France |
| 33 | Barkibu | Fintech | Pet tech | Gondomar, Spain |
| 34 | Allisone | Healthtech | Digital health | Paris, France |
| 35 | Doctorsa | Healthtech | Digital health | Rome, Italy |
| 36 | Hellas Direct | Fintech | Insurtech | Nicosia, Cyprus |
| 37 | Jump | B2B SaaS | HR tech | Paris, France |
| 38 | HOLYWATER | Consumer | Media & entertainment | Nicosia, Cyprus |
| 39 | MyInvestor | Fintech | Digital banking | Madrid, Spain |
| 40 | Emerald Stay | Consumer | Travel | Barcelona, Spain |
| 41 | Smartness | B2B SaaS | Sales & customer service | Arco, Italy |
| 42 | Green Future Project | Climate tech | Carbon accounting & ESG | Milan, Italy |
| 43 | Restworld | B2B SaaS | HR tech | Turin, Italy |
| 44 | Swile | Fintech | Payments | Montpellier, France |
| 45 | Acheel | Fintech | Insurtech | Paris, France |
| 46 | Coverflex | Fintech | HR tech | Portugal |
| 47 | Flanks | Fintech | Wealthtech | Barcelona, Spain |
| 48 | Tuidi | B2B SaaS | Retail | Putignano, Italy |
| 49 | Pono | Fintech | Digital lending | Paris, France |
| 50 | Omi | Deeptech | Gen AI | Paris, France |
| 51 | OneFlash | Consumer | Electronics | Paris, France |
| 52 | Aria | Fintech | Payments | Paris, France |
| 53 | Imperia | B2B SaaS | Supply chain & logistics | Valencia, Spain |
| 54 | Tomorro | B2B SaaS | Legal & privacy tech | France, France |
| 55 | Kiro | Healthtech | Digital health | Paris, France |
| 56 | Multiverse Computing | Deeptech | Quantum computing | San Sebastián, Spain |
| 57 | Amenitiz | B2B SaaS | Hospitality | Barcelona, Spain |
| 58 | Stockly | B2B SaaS | Ecommerce | Paris, France |
| 59 | TaxDown | Fintech | Wealthtech | Madrid, Spain |
| 60 | Onlive.AI | B2B SaaS | Sales & customer service | Barcelona, Spain |
| 61 | WeRoad | Consumer | Travel | Milan, Italy |
| 62 | Up2You | Climate tech | Carbon accounting & ESG | Milan, Italy |
| 63 | Fairly Made | Climate tech | Fashion | Paris, France |
| 64 | Dalma | Fintech | Pet tech | Paris, France |
| 65 | Sesame | B2B SaaS | HR tech | Valencia, Spain |
| 66 | Ukio | Consumer | Proptech | Barcelona, Spain |
| 67 | FABA | Consumer | Kids & parents | Treviso, Italy |
| 68 | Equal Food | Consumer | Foodtech | Lisbon, Portugal |
| 69 | BizAway | B2B SaaS | Travel | Spilimbergo, Italy |
| 70 | Viceversa | Fintech | Digital lending | Milan, Italy |
| 71 | Sekoia.io | B2B SaaS | Cybersecurity | Rennes, France |
| 72 | Iceberg Data Lab | Climate tech | Carbon accounting & ESG | Paris, France |
| 73 | Cyber Guru | B2B SaaS | Edtech | Rome, Italy |
| 74 | Descartes Underwriting | Fintech | Insurtech | Paris, France |
| 75 | WhiteLab Genomics | Healthtech | Drug discovery | Paris, France |
| 76 | Aryel | B2B SaaS | Marketing & adtech | Milan, Italy |
| 77 | Greenly | Climate tech | Carbon accounting & ESG | Paris, France |
| 78 | CubicUp | Consumer | Construction tech | Valencia, Spain |
| 79 | Mercuryo | Fintech | Crypto & defi | Nicosia, Cyprus |
| 80 | ChapsVision | B2B SaaS | Business intelligence | Paris, France |
| 81 | Inpulse | B2B SaaS | Hospitality | Paris, France |
| 82 | Dalfilo | Consumer | Home living | Casnigo, Italy |
| 83 | Vestack | Climate tech | Construction tech | Paris, France |
| 84 | CarPlanner | Consumer | Mobility | Rome, Italy |
| 85 | GitGuardian | B2B SaaS | Cybersecurity | Paris, France |
| 86 | EPICODE Institute of Technology | Consumer | Edtech | Rome, Italy |
| 87 | VICIO | Consumer | Online groceries | Barcelona, Spain |
| 88 | Spacest.com | Consumer | Proptech | Milan, Italy |
| 89 | InSilicoTrials | Healthtech | Drug discovery | Trieste, Italy |
| 90 | Foorban | Consumer | Foodtech | Milan, Italy |
| 91 | Weglot | B2B SaaS | Marketing & adtech | Paris, France |
| 92 | Trustfull | B2B SaaS | FinCrime | Milan, Italy |
| 93 | Matera | B2B SaaS | Proptech | Paris, France |
| 94 | padoa | Healthtech | Digital health | Paris, France |
| 95 | Monga | B2B SaaS | Proptech | Paris, France |
| 96 | Soplaya | B2B SaaS | Hospitality | Udine, Italy |
| 97 | Hiboo | B2B SaaS | Industrial tech | Paris, France |
| 98 | Salabam Solutions | B2B SaaS | Travel | Rimini, Italy |
| 99 | La Fourche | Consumer | Online groceries | Paris, France |
| 100 | Elicit Plant | Climate tech | Agritech | Angouleme, France |
You can see now what we have said before – that the region’s growth isn’t driven by one category, nor city. It’s more like a network effect. Yes, Paris and Barcelona remain strong hubs, but Lisbon, Milan, Nicosia, and smaller cities like Turin or Valencia are now major players too. This shows how startup ecosystems across Southern Europe are maturing beyond their capitals.
Check out also: Top 30 E-Commerce Startups in the DACH Region
Challenges for scaling startups in Southern Europe
The fastest-growing startups in France & Southern Europe prove that the region has momentum. But scaling here isn’t always smooth. Growth brings its own set of obstacles, and founders across the region face a few common hurdles.
First, while universities and training programs keep producing skilled graduates, retaining top talent is harder. Many skilled workers still move north to London, Berlin, or Amsterdam for higher salaries and more established ecosystems. For scaling startups, building a strong team without breaking salary budgets is often a balancing act.
Another challenge is regulation. Each country has its own legal and tax frameworks, and that slows down cross-border expansion. A startup that wants to grow from Paris to Madrid or Milan quickly discovers that compliance, payroll, and even data rules can vary in ways that complicate scaling. For global expansion, one-size-fits-all doesn’t work. This patchwork adds extra cost and time.
Funding is maturing, but gaps remain. Early-stage capital has improved, yet later rounds can still be harder to secure compared to Northern Europe or the US. Some startups hit a plateau when they need larger checks to compete internationally.
Finally, infrastructure can be uneven. In some parts of Southern Europe, digital adoption is fast, but in others, businesses remain conservative. This creates uneven demand and forces startups to adapt their go-to-market strategy for each country, sometimes even each region.
Yet, despite these challenges, founders keep finding creative solutions. Remote-first teams help with talent shortages, partnerships ease market entry, and international investors are starting to close the funding gap. So yes, many challenges, but also opportunities.
Last words
The ranking shows how wide the France and Southern Europe ecosystem has become, with new ideas emerging in every corner.
For investors, partners, and future founders, the message is clear: Southern Europe is no longer the quiet corner of the startup map. It’s a vibrant, competitive, and opportunity-rich region where the next generation of global leaders is being built.
So, you’d better watch these fastest-growing startups in France & Southern Europe. After all, it’s more than following growth rates. It’s following the future of innovation.
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