Paris-based startup hub Station F, founded by billionaire Xavier Niel, is preparing to launch the second batch of its F/ai accelerator this September, aiming to help AI-focused startups move quickly from early product to real revenue. Director Roxanne Varza said the program builds on Station F’s broader role supporting AI startups, noting the hub has invested in its Future 40 companies since 2022 and that nearly all recent top-40 selections have centered on AI.
Varza said the accelerator was designed to connect European AI startups with major global tech players, and the second cohort will add backers including Eleven Labs, Nebius, Rippling, OpenRouter, HubSpot, and GitHub, joining first-batch supporters such as AMD, Anthropic, AWS, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI.
Two startups from the first F/ai cohort, Alpic and Rippletide, have already won international competitions. Varza said the program targets €1 million in revenue per startup within six months, addressing criticism over slow commercialization among European startups. She added that founders should not feel the need to relocate to the U.S. to access top AI talent and investors, pointing to past private sessions with figures like Yann LeCun as evidence Station F can offer similar access from Paris.
