Access to the French ecosystem

Access to WILCO’s network of 450+ investors (Business Angels, VCs, CVCs, Family Offices) and 500+ corporates
6-8 one-to-one tailored business meetings in Paris with strategic French stakeholders — clients, investors and partners

Tailored approach

Individual coaching on French market fit, competitor analysis & sales strategy
Dedicated sector-specific business manager alongside + experienced entrepreneur mentor
Exclusive environment: 5 startups. Maximum focus. Maximum support

Paris Immersion Week

Kick off the immersion program in Paris and a presentation from WILCO main partners – BPIFrance, Choose Paris Region, Paris-Saclay, The Fintech Observatory & La French Tech
Collective Workshops/Bootcamps to learn how to develop your business in France
Demo Night to pitch in front of 150+ French stakeholders

What does the program cost?

The program is completely free for selected participants. You only cover your own travel and accommodation costs for the Paris immersion week.

What stage should our company be at?

Seed+ funding stage with 15-75 employees, some revenue or strong validation, and genuine readiness to expand to the French market.

Who can participate from our team?

We recommend 1 to 2 team members, ideally a founder or senior executive, with decision-making power and commercial understanding of the business. Your presence during the entire program is expected.

When does the program start and what's the timeline?

Program starts with online preparation (August-September), Paris immersion week on 13-17 October, and then November follow-up to keep the momentum going. Total duration: 4 months.

How will we find out the results of the selection process?

We will contact you once the selection process is complete.

Can I get funding through this program?

This program does not provide direct funding. However, it gives you access to over 450 investors (VCs, business angels, family offices) and can help you build investor relationships in France.

Is every session mandatory?

Yes. Each session (collective or individual) is part of a carefully designed path to maximize your market entry. Your 360° review, work sessions, boards, workshops, and business meetings are mandatory for the quality and consistency of the experience.

Can I organize meetings by myself?

Yes. While WILCO will organize your core business meetings, you’re welcome to schedule additional ones if they don’t interfere with the weekly program in Paris. We recommend sharing your external meetings with your WILCO Business Manager and mentor for feedback and alignment.

Regulatory Insights

Providing knowledge on navigating regulatory requirements through external partnerships (outsourcing) and internal strategies such as licensing and acquisition.

BaFin Engagement

BaFin actively engages through dedicated workshops on regulated financial services and offers one-on-one coaching sessions, providing participants with direct insights and guidance on permission-relevant business models.

Problem-based Learning

Development of your individual case study focused on your own regulatory roadmap, identifying relevant regulatory requirements and evaluating strategic options such as licensing, outsourcing, or partnerships to enable compliant growth.

Individual Coaching

One-on-one coaching with experts and top-tier law firms specializing in finance and capital markets.

Networking opportunities

Offering of valuable networking opportunities through close and intensive exchange with other WealthTech scale-ups, fostering dialogue on shared challenges and enabling potential business development with participating B2B partners.

Wealth-Tech Focus

The cohort is composed exclusively of scale-ups from the WealthTech segment, enabling a focused, expert-level exchange and tailored discussion of industry-specific regulatory and strategic challenges.

HoFT Berlin's Scale-Up Academy - Germany's fintech growth program with specialized tracks in Regulation & Compliance, Fundraising & Investment, Market Entry, and Leadership — each with expert coaching and proven frameworks.

WILCO – France’s leading accelerator for Tech & DeepTech early-stage startups, act network of mentors, investors and corporate partners to accelerate startup growth. WILCO has backed 1,500+ innovative projects across Industry, Healthcare and Digital since 2012. WILCO combines a KPI-driven acceleration methodology with a high-impact network of entrepreneur mentors, investors (BAs, VCs, CVCs, FOs) and large & mid-cap corporates.

Market Entry Program

for German Fintechs

Expand Your Fintech Company

into the French Market with

Apply until July 20, 2025!