How Emmanuel Macron brought France’s AI darling to the world stage
Mistral has forged unrivaled ties with the French presidency. Now, Emmanuel Macron is departing.
On June 11, 2025, President Emmanuel Macron joined the founders of French AI company Mistral and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on stage to announce a partnership between the two firms. Huang remarked that "your president worked really hard for you," referring to Macron's efforts to secure support from France's top companies for Mistral.
The deal included interest from BNP Paribas, Orange, SNCF and Thales, providing a significant boost for the startup. Mistral's rise can be attributed to Macron's support, which enabled the company to secure strategic ties with the French state and compete with leading global AI firms. The startup was founded in 2023 by Arthur Mensch, Guillaume Lample and Timothée Lacroix, who intentionally cultivated a relationship with the French executive branch, particularly Macron.
Mistral sought to build technological sovereignty in Europe, prompting former digital affairs secretary of state Cédric O to advocate for the startup in EU AI Act negotiations. The company recently announced a €3 billion funding round, valuing Mistral at over €21 billion, solidifying its position as Europe's leading AI player. However, with Macron's presidential term nearing an end, questions remain about the startup's future under a different French leader.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
