Our Mission is to empower students to take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey, so they build innovation and startups. We cultivate a community of forward-thinking individuals who are driven to create impactful ventures and drive positive change in their respective industries and beyond.

START Paris is a student-led movement that empowers the next generation of founders by helping them build and connect — in Paris and beyond.But before it became a thriving community, it began with one person’s story.Léonard Perrier, the founder of START Paris, moved to Paris just before the COVID pandemic. He struggled to fit into the traditional French school system and was close to failing. At the same time, he was already learning in a different way. At just 15, he launched his first business. At 17, he pitched his startup publicly for the first time.In 2023, he was invited to attend START Summit in Switzerland, where he met young founders from across Europe. He quickly realized that the same ambitious mindset he had in Paris existed in cities like Helsinki, Vienna, and Munich. Everyone was building, learning, and helping each other grow.That experience led to a simple question.If Paris had this same energy, why not connect it to global opportunities?At 18, Léonard launched START Paris with the belief that students in France deserved more than just local events. They needed access to people, ideas, and inspiration from across the world. They needed to build something real while learning how to think globally.Today, START Paris creates experiences that go beyond the classroom. From startup events and international delegations to founder meetups and cross-border collaborations, we give students a way to learn by doing and grow through meaningful connections.We do not exist to challenge the system. We exist to question it.Is success only about your school or degree? Or is it about your ability to take initiative, connect with others, and build something valuable?START Paris is for students who are curious, ambitious, and ready to create.For those who believe entrepreneurship is a powerful way to learn.And for those who see Paris not just as a city, but as a gateway to the world.We are here to build. We are here to connect. And we are only getting started.

START Paris exists to empower the next generation of entrepreneurial minds in Paris and connect them with global opportunities.We believe that students and young builders deserve more than lectures and theory. They deserve access to real experiences, practical learning, and a community that sees their potential no matter their background.Our vision is to make Paris a global hub for ambitious youth, where students can launch startups, learn by doing, and connect with founders, investors, and innovators from around the world.We want to create a future where the most impactful projects are not defined by age, school, or privilege but by courage, action, and connection.