Fighters Program: A new format powered by TikTok, Nearly 400 startups supported and more boldness

When STATION F opened its doors in 2017, it was clear that our main goal was to attract the best entrepreneurs, regardless of their background. From this ambition, our two in-house programs were born: the Founders Program and the Fighters Program. The Founders Program is designed to support entrepreneurs with solid experience and early stage challenges - build a product market fit, funding and team building. Some come from a top background, while others have already founded multiple startups.

The Fighters Program is designed for entrepreneurs with unconventional backgrounds. They don’t have engineering or business degrees, in some cases they don’t have any higher education at all, may be refugees, or have navigated through other difficult circumstances. But they know what it means to dare, are true problem solvers - and truly deserve a shot at building a great company. There are as many definitions of a Fighter as there are Fighters

In this program, the diversity of backgrounds is precisely a game-changer. However, five criteria unite them: they are deserving, supportive of each other, highly creative, autonomous, and above all, they are here to be the leaders of their business.

We've already seen the emergence of several successful companies from the program, including Oneflash (Mobility solution, €3M raised), Reenbow (​​VR / AR EdTech, €2M raised), Fresh Afrika (FoodTech), and more. We also organized Fighters Day, bringing in our founder, Xavier Niel, footballer Édouard Mendy, and Olivier Rousteing. However, we felt that we were not doing enough and needed to support more entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds and localisations if we truly wanted to make a difference. That's why we launched a new program format this year.

Édouard Mendy during The Fighters Day in 2022

Now powered by TikTok

2023 is a special year for the Fighters Program, taking it to another level. After supporting around a hundred startups since January 2018, we now aim to support 1,000 per year, which is ten times more. To help us achieve this ambitious goal, we are grateful for the support of TikTok, now powering the program. TikTok, the breakthrough short-form video platform with a community of 1 billion users worldwide, will provide expertise and insights to Fighters from the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey, including workshops with TikTok teams and access to specific resources.

The program is now divided into two rounds. Round 1 is selective with a one-month intensive exercise serving as a springboard into the world of entrepreneurship. During this phase, we are introducing a new "Remote" version of the program to make it accessible to even more Fighters, alongside the existing "On Campus" format, which takes place in person at our campus in Paris. 

Entrepreneurs selected for Round 2 will have access to the best STATION F resources and full-time access to the campus for 6 months to focus on building their MVP. With this new format, we were able to work with just under 400 entrepreneurs in 2023, and in 2024, we plan to grow this number to 1,000.

New batch with more boldness, nothing but boldness

Currently, we are accompanying the second batch of the Fighters Program powered by TikTok. It includes 15 startups with the ambition to become leaders in their sector. Today, we are very proud to introduce them to you.

Act For Earth: they help companies to reduce their digital carbon footprint. They measure and eco-design solutions to reduce IT costs and environmental impact of digital services.

Afrobloomy: it is the first platform dedicated to career management and the fulfillment of African and Afro-descendant women. They offer a community and a support network, connecting individuals and providing personalized guidance by experts to accelerate their professional success.

Albatros: Albatros develops softwares that detect at early stage wildfires thanks to an artificial intelligence onboarded on drones and planes, helping firefighters in their mission and contributing to protect citizens and ecosystems.

Hefestoshop.com: it is an e-commerce specializing in innovative technologies for people with disabilities.

Joue-La comme: they reinvente the sports fan entertainment merging IRL and digital sports activities.

Life Protect: their mission is to democratize connected defibrillators, raise awareness and provide training on life-saving techniques in virtual reality.

MidlJob: it is an inclusive app that merges artificial intelligence with the mechanics of dating apps and social networks to prioritize connecting candidates and companies based on affinity criteria.

Möss: it is a haircare brand that puts scalp-care first. They help consumers understand their hair profile and recommend products that suit the best their needs.

Neeedco: it is the 1st egalitarian network that matches profiles and ads in the audiovisual and film industries.

Ohmyseason: it is the first platform for seasonal jobs with lodging. They bridge the gap between candidates seeking opportunities to live and work in new places and companies in search of extra support.

Ordo'Lib: it is an inclusive platform connecting patients and pharmacists, enabling users to pick up their medicines via click & collect or have them delivered.

OuiPark: they develop solutions working towards sustainable and inclusive mobility and urban logistics. For individuals, OuiPark is the trusted parking space rental platform. For professionals, OuiPark provides a Data Management and Rental Management service to reduce vacancy while improving yield.

Plateya: they help companies to connect with the best freelance administrative assistants in just a few clicks

Take-Caire: it is a platform between independent educators and families of autistic children in need of specialized care.

Test&Work: it is the hub for executives and managers determined to build dynamic and caring workspaces. They help your company engage on societal and technological fronts with concrete examples and best practices.

And you, what are you waiting for?

STATION F is a unique place, not only in France but in the world. We are the largest startup campus, where you can find Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, LVMH, and many more working side by side. There is always a before and an after STATION F for our entrepreneurs.

Joining the Fighters Program powered by TikTok could change your life. If you want to be part of it or if you know someone who may be considered as a potential Fighter, please apply here.

To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

• You are a Fighter: incredible entrepreneurs can and do come from ANYWHERE.

• You have an idea: you don’t need an MVP, but you need to have a tech-based idea that you obsess over and a vision for what you want to build.

• You are committed: you must be working full-time on your project.

The next batch kicks off on February 5, 2024. Let’s go!