Wilfried Durand: “Eastern Europe is Missing from the French Tech Landscape”

In this interview with Atelier Europe, Wilfried Durand, CEO of Onvey and co-founder of French Tech Sofia, highlights a significant gap in the French Tech ecosystem: the absence of Eastern Europe. He argues that despite strong existing ties and aligned development goals with Western Europe, Eastern European innovation hubs like Sofia remain overlooked.

French Tech Sofia, Durand explains, aims to unite a network of French-speaking entrepreneurs around shared innovation challenges, from funding to talent development. Their events range from informal meetups like “Mardi soir on parle français” to professional gatherings such as quarterly IT job fairs and upcoming mini-conferences and leadership dinners.

Durand believes Sofia has the potential to become the first French Tech Capital in Eastern Europe, thanks to its growing dynamism, favorable business environment, and international outlook. The Bulgarian capital offers a climate of fast growth, low risk for startups, and a business-friendly fiscal regime. However, he notes that Sofia’s advantages diminish at global scale, where success requires cultural fluency and market access in regions like the U.S. and Asia.

He remains optimistic about Bulgaria’s tech sector, which continues to grow rapidly, supported by EU funds and strong demand for skilled talent. Fewer professionals are leaving the country, and many are returning. He concludes that the Bulgarian tech ecosystem is robust, attractive for entrepreneurs, and less exposed to political risk than often assumed.

Ultimately, Durand’s message is clear: Eastern Europe deserves a stronger presence in French Tech, and Sofia is well-positioned to lead that effort.