About
Long before it was home to startups, STATION F was already a place of innovation.
STATION F: innovating since 1927!
A monument
1927
The building was built by engineer Eugène Freyssinet, who happens to also be the person who first patented prestressed concrete.
The former Halle Freyssinet building was originally a freight station and represented a major breakthrough for its time. Iconic, luminous, and visionary, the building was listed as a historical monument in 2012.

A bold idea
2013
Our founder, Xavier Niel, purchased the building with a bold idea: to transform this industrial masterpiece into the world's largest startup campus.
His goal? Bring together 1,000 startups under one roof and provide all the services they need to grow.

Leading innovation
Since 2017
At the time, the idea seemed quite far-fetched – even former President François Hollande wasn't sure whether or not there were 1,000 startups in France.
And yet, since opening, that bet has paid off: over 1,000 startups call STATION F home each year, in addition to many world-class partners.

Transforming the French ecosystem
Since opening, STATION F has played a key role in reshaping the French tech ecosystem. Before, the startup landscape in France was fragmented, siloed, and largely under the radar. By bringing together top startups and leading innovation partners, STATION F quickly became a main hub for tech in Europe. The country has quickly moved up the ranks and now tops the charts in Europe and around the world for innovation. Today, STATION F is home to the largest AI startup community in Europe.
