Anyone can become an entrepreneur.
At least, that’s what it says on the website of Paris-based startup accelerator TheFamily. And if their rising popularity and gigantic funding deals are any indication, they might be right. So, if you are looking to start a business in Europe, this is definitely the place to start.
TheFamily launched as a small French startup accelerator. In recent years, they have morphed into a larger accelerator, while also taking on entrepreneur education. As you can find on their website, they provide a vast and thorough 12-step program (not THAT 12-step program) that helps entrepreneurs get a solid footing in the business. The free lessons cover everything from founders and focus to investors and missions. The Family also provides pertinent tech news stories and hosts exciting startup events for entrepreneurs of all skill levels to mingle and network as they see fit.
As far as their recent success goes, TheFamily has been on a tear. Their recent funding round came out to $6.6 million with investors from 500 Startups, ACE & Company, SGH Capital and several other big name capital-providers. These companies recognized TheFamily’s goal of making Europe’s startup ecosystem that much stronger.
“Our current goal is to develop the best program ever for startups,” says co-founder and CEO Alice Zagury. “With this new partnership, it’s all about being surrounded by passionate and experienced people to help us achieve our mission: to design a strong educational system and develop more unfair advantages for startups that do not exist in France.”
In addition to their own success, TheFamily provides startup studio space for larger European companies. This added revenue stream not only helps TheFamily grow their empire, but also creates a European tech ecosystem that is inclusive and expansive. Deemed Pathfinder, this teaming with larger companies to develop startups in a startup studio fashion has a great content model, producing news, stories and advice for entrepreneurs across Europe.
While the impressive funding rounds, the inclusive attitude, the future-thinking strategy and the free education model are working wonders, there is one thing that drew the eye of this writer: their website design. With so many startups taking the business a little too seriously, TheFamily takes a refreshingly casual and jovial approach to being an entrepreneur. Their navigation button is a hamburger. Their home page looks like a Las Vegas backdrop. And when you scroll off screen, the Fantastic Mr. Fox gives you a hearty wave. If all this doesn’t say, “You can trust us,” then their pop culture reference-heavy promo video should definitely do the trick.
Photo: Flickr / Moyan Brenn