Let’s Make It Happen At VivaTech

VivaTech is taking place in Paris, France. This year, Luxembourg will be represented by a pavilion covered in national colors, welcoming Luxembourg-based startups and innovation leaders and organized jointly by the Chamber of Commerce, House of Startups (Host), the Ministry of Economy and Luxinnovation. Interview with Violaine Mathurin, Advisor, International Affairs at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce.

(Featured Image: Violaine Mathurin, Advisor, International Affairs at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce / Image Credit © Silicon Luxembourg / Anna Katina)

What do you expect from this edition of VivaTech?

Our goal is twofold: on the one hand, we want to help position Luxembourg as an international hub for startups and spread the word about the “unexpected Luxembourg” talk, even though it has a say and a place to defend alongside the biggest tech hubs like Paris and Berlin. On the other hand, we want to support our companies interested in the summit and in particular the startups by offering them the possibility to exhibit on the national pavilion, around which we take care of organizing the logistics and communication. They can thus focus on their business and prepare for the summit as well as possible, without having to worry about the practical aspects we manage for them.

In addition to startups, we also offer reduced price tickets to allow as many of our members as possible to participate because the summit is also of interest for the largest companies, such as large industrial companies, insurance companies, etc. that are constantly looking for the latest innovations but also medium-sized companies. We will also propose a privileged networking moment with Belgian delegation on May 15 where we hope that the Luxembourg participants will leverage their contacts. As we know, neighboring countries are our main trading partners. With VivaTech, we will reach two neighboring markets: France and Belgium.

“VivaTech is clearly one of the events not to be missed with an impressive number of visitors, an innovative concept, in a neighboring market.”

As a Chamber of Commerce, it is important for us to support the internationalization efforts of our members, startups, SMEs and large companies. It is in this context that each year, in close consultation with the Ministry of Economy and dedicated partners – in this case Luxinnovation – we decide the international fairs and exhibitions in which it seems to make the most interest to participate in. VivaTech is clearly one of the events not to be missed with an impressive number of visitors, an innovative concept, in a neighboring market.

How can startups gain visibility through such a summit?

To get the most out of attending such an event, the preparation before the conference and the follow up afterwards are as crucial as the presence at the summit itself.

Startups, if they prepare well, by carefully studying the list of exhibitors and attending partners, can target who they want to meet and take advantage of these 3 days to meet the exhibitors who seem most relevant to them to develop their business.

On the other hand, the exhibiting startups on the national pavilion are referenced on the “main list of exhibiting startups” which is distributed to investors who visit the summit and therefore, they can anticipate receiving many visitors on the stand, including investors.

“In addition to the Luxembourg presence at VivaTech, we will also communicate on the networks and highlight the exhibiting startups, in order to give them visibility.”

The conference also offers a very rich conference programme with inspiring renowned speakers. I am thinking of Clickbye, for example, which could certainly be inspired by the intervention of Gillian Tans, CEO of Booking.com

The follow up after the show will also be decisive. Of all the people who will come to meet them, it will then be important to sort the contacts and define the priority contacts and how best to approach them on a business level.

In addition to the Luxembourg presence at VivaTech, we will also communicate on the networks and highlight the exhibiting startups, in order to give them visibility. It is hoped that Luxembourg participants will also relay the published news and use the dedicated #LUatVIVATECH hashtag to create some buzz on social networks.

Testimonial of a selected startup: Gaëlle Haag, Founder & CEO of StarTalers

What do you expect from a show like VivaTech?

Visibility on the French B2C market through the general public day as well as contacts with potential investors for our current or future round of financing.

What does it mean to you to be in the Luxembourg delegation?

Greater visibility, an exchange with the other participants in the ecosystem, a certain legitimacy towards the public.