Avolta Reveals Its Picks for the Next 20 French Tech Unicorns
Which French tech start-ups will be the next to reach the symbolic $1 billion valuation mark? That's the prediction game French investment bank Avolta has played in its latest report, focused on the state of venture capital in France in the first half of 2026 and its major trends. For its analysis, Avolta drew on several sources, including data from partners such as Dealroom and PitchBook, as well as coverage from the specialist press.
In total, the report lists 20 companies that, according to Avolta, are set to become the next unicorns—a status that is both symbolic and prestigious. While the study does not detail the methodology used to make this selection, it highlights several well-known players in the ecosystem, which you can see in the image below.
Avolta had already taken on this exercise in 2025. This year's selection stands out from the previous one, with 13 new start-ups among the 20 identified. Among these newcomers that could soon join the big leagues is LegalPlace, a company specializing in business creation, which made headlines last May by acquiring its longtime rival Legalstart. The list also includes Flowdesk, which develops technology for the cryptoasset market, and Upway, a specialist in refurbished electric bikes. Notably, the cohort also features Deepki, an energy performance management platform, which French tech investors had already named as a future unicorn during a vote organized by the JDN.
With 13 new entrants compared to the 2025 selection, Avolta's list naturally has just as many companies dropping out. Among them, Pasqal has since joined the unicorn club. The quantum computing start-up reached this milestone after a $340 million funding round announced in March. The other companies simply dropped off the list, such as Swan, a banking-as-a-service specialist, and Electra, which focuses on ultra-fast charging for electric vehicles.
Avolta's selection reflects the hottest sectors in French tech. DefenseTech is represented by Command AI, quantum by Alice & Bob, and new space by Look Up Space and Infinite Orbits.
This article was automatically translated from French. Read the original version: https://www.journaldunet.com/start-up/1556935-deepki-legalplace-flowdesk-quelles-seront-les-20-prochaines-licornes-de-la-french-tech-selon-avolta/