Vivatech takes place at Porte de Versailles, Paris, June 15, 16th and 17th

By @SimonCocking

When is it on?

VivaTech will take place at Porte de Versailles in Paris on June 15^th, 16^th and 17^th. The first two days are aimed at start-ups, large companies and investors, while the last day Saturday June 17^th will be open to the general public with a special agenda.

How many years has it been going?

VivaTech 2016 was our first ever event, which turned out to be a huge success, as a result we decided to hold the event again the next year, and viola VivaTech 2017 was born!

2017 will be our second year running and the beginning of many more…

What was the inspiration to start it?

The original idea was a mix of celebrating thriving innovation and putting Paris on the map of the large tech events. As the French digital ecosystem is buoyant today, we want to gather the innovators from all over the world, whether they come from startups, large companies, NGOs, governments… and give them the opportunity to meet and echange during three days.

What exciting things can people look forward to for the 2017 version?

More than 50,000 visitors including 5,000 start-ups, more international speakers (300 so far) and new schemes to help start-ups make important connections such as Talent Connect, to facilitate the search for jobs in the digital sector; Mentor Connect, to help start-ups find Mentors; and the Office Hours platform to encourage meetings between investors, VCs, and start-ups. Also, LVMH Group will be handing out the award for this year’s Challenges winner, the LVMH Innovation Award.

What opportunities are on offer for people / startups / investors and companies attending?

Start-ups and Investors alike will have the opportunity to forge meaningful and lasting relationships to co-innovate and grow their businesses. For all visitors VivaTech represents an opportunity to explore tomorrow’s trends, discover today’s best innovation, and be inspired by the most disruptive ideas on the planet.

What tips would you give to people attending to get the most out of it?

Our tip would be: follow the hashtag. All the content for the event – sessions, booths, partners – will be tagged with specific hashtags. There will be different hashtags for different topics, to help you enjoy VivaTech and explore the content that you are most interested in.

How can people book tickets / when does it usually sell out?

Tickets are available from the website. Delegates can also save 50% if they buy their three day passes before March 31^st.

Anything else you’d like to add / we should have asked?

VivaTech is a unique blend of startup spirit, corporate agility and forward thinking. Visitors should come to be surprised and get a fantastic overview of the digital revolution.

If you would like to have your company featured in the Irish Tech News Business Showcase, get in contact with us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie or on Twitter: @SimonCocking