NETVA program – Start in America
The NETVA – Start in America program is a tailor-made support program aimed at French deep tech startups in the early stage. It helps them analyze development opportunities in the United States and initiate strategic technological partnerships.
Managed by the teams of the Office for Science and Technology (SST) of the Embassy of France in the United States – present in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. – the program meets the internationalization needs of French startups originating from or connected to research laboratories and developing high-value disruptive technologies.
Formerly known as the New Technology Venture Accelerator (NETVA), the program now falls under La Synapse, an initiative launched in November 2023 by the French Embassy in the United States to accelerate deep tech collaborations across the Atlantic axis.
Since 2010, NETVA has supported more than 225 startups within the main North American innovation ecosystems. Each cohort benefits from the expertise of numerous specialists, personalized follow-up by the local SST teams, and privileged access to the wide network of contacts of the French Embassy in the United States. Each awardee averages between ten and thirty tailored individual meetings based on their needs.
A three-step program
The 12 laureates of the 2026 edition were selected by expert Franco-American juries from nine major innovation ecosystems: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. The laureates will undergo a personalized three-phase program:
- Training seminar in Paris – March 23 and 24, 2026: Two days of workshops led by French and American innovation experts to help entrepreneurs understand the specifics of North American ecosystems and prepare for their immersion. The seminar includes participation from the MEAE, MESRE, DGE, MI, Appleton Luff’s firm, and INPI, among others.
- Immersion in the United States – April to June 2026: Each startup will be hosted in one of the major American innovation ecosystems. This immersion will allow French entrepreneurs to align their business model with the realities of the North American market, meet key players in their sector, and participate in visibility and networking events. The immersion will take place between April and June 2026, depending on the host ecosystem.
- Post-immersion follow-up – 3 months: To strengthen established contacts, deepen identified opportunities, and support strategic directions initiated during the immersion.
