Country comparison
France vs South Korea: startup funding compared
Since 2 June 2025, startups in France raised $11.8B across 366 rounds, 4.7 times South Korea's $2.5B.
Capital raised running total by month
Where the money goes share of capital by sector
France
South Korea
Biggest rounds
South Korea
Stage mix share of rounds
Most active investors rounds joined
| Investor | France | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Bpifrance | 55 | · |
| Kima Ventures | 46 | · |
| Korea Development Bank | · | 13 |
| Daphni | 11 | · |
| 50 Partners | 10 | · |
| Better Angle | 10 | · |
| EIC Fund | 10 | · |
| Speedinvest | 10 | · |
| Y Combinator | 10 | · |
| Alven | 9 | · |
| BNP Paribas Développement | 9 | · |
| Elaia | 9 | · |
Startup hubs rounds and capital by city
France
South Korea
Latest rounds
Questions
Which country raised more startup funding, France or South Korea?
France. Since 2 June 2025, startups in France raised $11.8B across 366 rounds, against $2.5B across 91 rounds in South Korea, 4.7 times more. That is 1.7% and 0.4% of all the capital FundraiseBase tracked worldwide over the period.
How many startup funding rounds were announced in France and South Korea?
366 rounds in France and 91 rounds in South Korea since 2 June 2025, about 20 and 5 a month.
Are startup rounds bigger in France or South Korea?
The median round is $6.9M in France and $6.8M in South Korea, and the average round $32.1M and $27.6M. The median shows the typical round; the average is pulled up by a few very large ones.
What is the biggest startup round in France?
The biggest startup rounds in France since 2 June 2025 are Mistral ($3.5B, Series D, 8 Sept 2026), Mistral AI ($2B, Series C, 9 Sept 2025) and Alan ($547M, 29 Jun 2026).
What is the biggest startup round in South Korea?
The biggest startup rounds in South Korea since 2 June 2025 are FuriosaAI ($620M, 29 Oct 2026), Rebellions ($400M, Growth, 30 Mar 2026) and Rebellions ($250M, Series C, 30 Sept 2025).
Which sectors attract the most startup funding in France and South Korea?
In France, AI ($7.7B, 66% of the capital), Health ($752M, 6%) and Fintech ($594M, 5%) lead. In South Korea, AI ($1.9B, 77% of the capital), Robotics & Hardware ($207M, 8%) and Health ($165M, 7%) lead.
Is France or South Korea better for early-stage startups?
Early-stage rounds (Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A) make up 66% of rounds in France and 35% in South Korea. France recorded 172 Pre-Seed or Seed rounds and South Korea 15 Pre-Seed or Seed rounds, with a median of $3.1M and $1.5M.
How much growth funding (Series B and later) goes to France and South Korea?
Startups in France raised $6.8B in 30 Series B or later rounds, 58% of the country's capital. In South Korea, $901M in 27 rounds, 36% of the capital.
Who are the most active startup investors in France?
Bpifrance (55 rounds, 8 led), Kima Ventures (46 rounds, 5 led) and Daphni (11 rounds, 8 led) are the most active investors in France.
Who are the most active startup investors in South Korea?
Korea Development Bank (13 rounds, 5 led), KB Investment (7 rounds, 2 led) and Crit Ventures (6 rounds, 4 led) are the most active investors in South Korea.
Which investors back startups in both France and South Korea?
1 investor joined rounds in both countries. The most active: Korelya Capital (2 in France, 1 in South Korea).
Which cities lead startup funding in France and South Korea?
Paris leads France with $6.1B across 198 rounds, ahead of Grenoble ($327M). Seoul leads South Korea with $1.6B across 37 rounds, ahead of Yongin ($122M).
Which month brought the most startup funding?
In France, September 2026 ($3.7B). In South Korea, October 2026 ($620M).
How much did startups in France and South Korea raise in the last 90 days?
In the 90 days to 12 Nov 2026, startups in France raised $4.2B across 29 rounds and in South Korea $620M across 1 round.
Where does this data come from?
FundraiseBase lists startup funding rounds from public announcements: press releases, company posts and news coverage, checked and updated every day. Amounts are in US dollars. Some rounds are never announced, so the figures show what was made public, not every round. Corrections are welcome.