For the second year in a row, I decided to candidate to become one of France Digitale next board members (investors panel).

Arnaud LAURENT
Nov 3 · 4 min read

The main reasons of my candidacy last year are still relevant today and really matters to me :

  • Business angels are disproportionately under-represented in France Digitale current Board (by chance gender parity is ✅ )
  • As I am at the heart of the startups ecosystem meeting more than 200 founders and 100 business angels per year, I know that I will have a very positive contribution for the association
By chance we do not have to wait 5 years and I can re-use last year contents : )

Why France Digitale ?

As an entrepreneur turned investor (previously also lobbyist) I know that I have to push hard, to fight for my convictions, to be part of the debate, to contribute (…) from the Pigeon movement to today, this is France Digitale DNA and I like it !

During the 5 last years, I have witnessed the importance of France Digitale on the field. I saw the association growing and becoming a key player. But the association have still a long way to go… I feel very lucky every day to work in a such positive and dynamic ecosystem. “ Giving back “ and help the next generation to reach their potential motivate me :

I will dedicate 1 day per week to France Digitale. I truly believe in what FD do and appreciate how the current team do it.

What will I bring on the table ?

As a board member, I will try to be an evangelist for the association and will encourage :

early stage investment because it’s still one of the weaknesses of our ecosystem

My entrepreneurship journey was marked by both investing and fundraising. During the last 5 years, I’ve raised for wesprint €4.000.000 and help my portfolio to raise more than €40.000.000…

I was the 1st professional investor to bet on Onoff : 3 years before professional VC’s like Breega or Idinvest. I go through each step of this hard process with Taïg (and my others startups) who had been forced to raised with 120 private investors. Because today market reality is that even if many VCs tell that they are doing seed, only a few players are really doing seed…

This video shows how much I’m dedicated to help entrepreneurs

As France pain point is still early stage, I will help France Digitale to gather many more private investors and family office. Together we will liberate sleeping capital that will be dedicated to french startups at seed stage. I will set up “ free office hours “ each week for entrepreneurs who are looking to raise seed rounds.

Regional startups wake up !

The main problem that I’ve felt when meeting people in regional hubs like Caen, Lille, Avignon, Nantes, Annecy, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse or Montpellier (…) is the lack of global ambition / network at the national & European level. I will be an operational link between theses regions and France Digitale. I want to represent them and encourage the development of their regional ecosystem / some of their flagship entreprise at a national or international level.

I’m probably already the most active ambassador for France Digitale outside Paris

I will not only take part in France Digitale Tour but I will took 30/40 days / per year to go everywhere France Digitale is needed in France

Who I am ? A dreamer, a doer and a business angel / investor in more than 45 french startups.

This year, I’m 31 (times flies!), married (❤️) and daddy (now of two : 😍🍼).

I believe that my personal path shows that you can start with almost nothing and achieve your dreams. My parents and my passion taught me that the most important thing is to seize the days and to follow your dreams : if you can dream it — you can make it is my personal leitmotiv.

Wingsuiting with my friends over Swiss Alps ( you can see full vidéo here)

To accomplish what I’ve done, I’ve taken risks soon and as natural consequence I’ve also failed a lot. But I’m definitively not afraid of failure or risk. As an extrem sport lover (skydive, kite surf, paragliding, speed riding …), I’m meticulous, I always try to deal with my fears, be safe and do great home runs.

France Digitale needs more than a “ déjà vu “ new board member. It needs a dynamic and young leader of startup investment.

Arnaud LAURENT

Written by

Startup accelerator @Team_WeSprint & Entrepreneurs fund @xlrcapital // Investor : @onoff (@taigkhris), @edjing (…) #Iloveskydiving

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