Colors: Curtains in the Wind VI

I’m publishing this series on LinkedIn called Colors to explore a topic that I care deeply about: the Renaissance Mind. I am just as passionate about entrepreneurship, technology, and business, as I am about art and culture. In this series, I will typically publish a piece of art – one of my paintings – and I request you to spend a minute or two deeply meditating on it. I urge you to watch your feelings, thoughts, reactions to the piece, and write what comes to you, what thoughts it triggers, in the dialog area. Let us see what stimulation this interaction yields. For today – Curtains in the Wind VI

Curtains in the Wind VI | Sramana Mitra, 2023 | Watercolor, Ink, Pastel | 12  x 18, On Paper

Featured Videos

France’s Startup Accelerator Ecosystem: Toulouse Focuses on Aerospace and Industrial Tech

Toulouse is France’s industrial powerhouse, and its startup ecosystem reflects this specialization. Known globally for aerospace innovation, Toulouse offers a focused environment for startups that intersect with aviation, aerospace, industrial technology, and advanced engineering. While the ecosystem is smaller than Paris or Lyon, it provides deep sector expertise and highly targeted mentorship.

France’s Startup Accelerator Ecosystem: Marseille Emphasizes Sustainable Innovation

Marseille represents a different flavor of the French startup ecosystem. While Paris and Lyon are defined by scale and sector specialization, Marseille is emerging as a hub for sustainable innovation, digital services, and creative entrepreneurship. Its ecosystem is smaller, more intimate, and increasingly focused on connecting startups with corporate partners to solve real-world problems in sustainability, logistics, and urban services.

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France’s Startup Accelerator Ecosystem: Lyon Focuses on HealthTech and Deep Tech

Lyon is France’s hub for specialized innovation. Unlike Paris, which emphasizes scale, visibility, and multi-sector networking, Lyon focuses on deep tech and HealthTech, supporting startups that intersect with biotechnology, medical devices, and industrial technology. For founders in these domains, Lyon offers highly relevant mentorship and sector-specific networks. But the same constraints that define Paris — geographic dependence, selectivity, and equity orientation — are present, and they shape founder outcomes in subtle but powerful ways.

France’s Startup Accelerator Ecosystem: Paris Remains the Epicenter of Innovation

Paris is, without question, the heart of France’s startup ecosystem. It is where ambition, visibility, and resources converge — but it is also where the accelerator conundrum is most visible. Many entrepreneurs flock to Paris believing that Station F, WILCO, or Leonard are golden tickets to success. But as I have consistently written in The Accelerator Conundrum, access does not guarantee outcomes. The reality is far more nuanced.

December 18 – 712th 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are invited to the 712th FREE online 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 8 a.m. PST / 11 a.m. EST / 5 p.m. CET / 9:30 p.m. India IST.

If you are a serious entrepreneur, register to Pitch and sell your business idea. You’ll receive straightforward feedback from Sramana Mitra, advice on next steps, and answers to any of your questions. Others can register to Attend to watch and learn.

You can learn more here and REGISTER TO PITCH OR ATTEND HERE. Please share with any entrepreneurs in your circle who may be Interested.

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711th 1Mby1M Entrepreneurship Podcast with Investor Gus Tai

Gus Tai is a veteran Venture Capitalist and a close friend. We discuss why the Venture Capital industry needs to shrink in size.

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France’s Startup Accelerator Ecosystem: The Major Hubs and Their Strengths

France has a geographically diverse startup ecosystem with hubs in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Brittany, each offering distinct advantages and limitations for solo founders and bootstrapped founders. While accelerators provide mentorship, resources, and networking, many entrepreneuers face structural constraints — the essence of the accelerator conundrum.