Michel Floyd: Bridging French & US Tech

What does it take to build a career across countries, cultures, and some of the biggest shifts in technology?In this episode of Venturing Abroad, we sit down with engineer and longtime tech leader Michel Floyd, whose career has taken him from MIT and Silicon Valley to leading technology teams at companies including YouGov and TheFork in France. Drawing on decades of experience on both sides of the Atlantic, Michel shares how Silicon Valley has evolved, what distinguishes French and American engineering cultures, and why trust, autonomy, and ambition matter when building great teams.We also dig into the technological shift defining the moment: AI. Michel explains why he sees AI alongside the PC, web, and mobile as one of the major disruptions of his career, how it could transform software development and knowledge work, and why security, hallucinations, computing costs, and energy consumption remain critical challenges.Along the way, we talk about moving between France and the US, what European founders can learn from Silicon Valley, the value of curiosity when working with data, and Michel’s advice for anyone venturing abroad: learn the language, embrace the culture, and get outside your comfort zone.Plus: Pink Floyd, skiing in the Alps, and the enduring superiority of French food.Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite for more information.

What does it take to start over in a new country when you've already built a successful career? And what can Europe learn from the way business is done in California?After leading global brands like Lancôme and holding senior positions at Orange, Odile Roujol traded Paris for Silicon Valley. But despite her impressive track record, breaking into the American startup ecosystem wasn't quite what she expected.Today, Odile is the founder of FAB Co-Creation Studio, an investor in beauty tech, consumer health, and wellness startups, and a bridge between the French and American entrepreneurial ecosystems.In this episode of Venturing Abroad, Odile joins Erica and Madison to share what she's learned from building a new career and network in the US, and why adapting to a different culture can completely reshape the way you lead.In this conversation, we explore:Starting over in Silicon Valley: Why a successful career in France doesn't automatically open doors in the US.The unwritten rules of networking: From 30-minute coffee meetings to Silicon Valley's pay-it-forward mentality.Europe vs. the US: What founders and investors can learn from different approaches to leadership, regulation, and risk.Beyond Silicon Valley: Why Los Angeles, Austin, and Seattle deserve more attention as startup ecosystems.Building a global community: How Odile grew a beauty tech network connecting more than 15,000 people.The future of beauty tech: Why she's increasingly focused on health, longevity, and science-backed innovation.From Paris to San Francisco and now Los Angeles, Odile's journey is a reminder that sometimes, the most valuable thing you can bring to a new ecosystem isn't your experience, but your willingness to listen, learn, and rethink what you know.🎙️ Venturing Abroad is a podcast by daphni exploring how geography, culture, and experience shape the way we build businesses around the world.daphni is a Paris-based venture capital firm with nearly €1 billion in assets under management and 110+ portfolio companies. We back those pushing the boundaries of innovation. Discover more about us: https://daphni.com/Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daphni/Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite for more information.

What does it take to build & fund truly global companies from Europe?In this episode of Venturing Abroad, we sit down with Tom Guinness, founder and CEO of Raising Europe, to explore the ambition, capital, and mindset Europe needs to produce its next generation of global technology leaders. Drawing on a decade across Goldman Sachs, Lazard, Rothschild and GIC before launching Raising Europe, Tom brings an investor’s perspective to the challenges facing European founders.We discuss why fundraising is as much about relationships as process, what European founders should understand when raising internationally, the differences between the Paris and London ecosystems, and why Europe’s fragmented market and access to growth capital can still hold ambitious companies back.Tom also shares the story behind Raising Europe — from newsletter and podcast to a broader platform helping founders build and scale — and explains why media, distribution, and visibility are becoming increasingly important tools for attracting customers, talent and investors.From building investor relationships before you need capital to thinking bigger about what can be built in Europe, this conversation is a practical and optimistic look at what it will take for European founders to compete on the global stage.daphni is a Paris-based venture capital firm with nearly €1 billion in assets under management and 110+ portfolio companies. We back those pushing the boundaries of innovation. Discover more about us: https://daphni.com/Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daphni/Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite for more information.

In this episode of Venturing Abroad, we sit down with Deborah Li, founder of Alta One, to explore how Spain’s startup and venture ecosystem has evolved—and what it takes to build, invest, and lead across borders.Originally from Brooklyn, Deborah moved to Madrid nearly eight years ago, transitioning from operator to investor before launching Alta One. She shares what surprised her most about building a career in Spain, from the importance of relationships and local networks to the growing global ambition of Spanish founders. We also dig into Spain’s strengths in areas like energy, AI, and robotics, why more founders are looking to the U.S. earlier, and what European founders can learn from American storytelling and commercialization.Deborah also takes us inside Alta One, her new early-stage fund built around an unconventional model: giving a cohort of students and recent graduates the training and real decision-making power to invest in founders from their own generation. She explains why Alta One is betting on people at the earliest stages, the signals she looks for in exceptional young founders, and how hands-on investing can help develop Europe’s next generation of founders and VCs.Along the way, we talk Madrid vs. Brooklyn, learning Spanish, building genuine relationships, the importance of getting out of the office as an investor and, of course, tapas, bagels, and Deborah’s most practical piece of advice for Americans moving abroad: get a good tax advisor.daphni is a Paris-based venture capital firm with nearly €1 billion in assets under management and 110+ portfolio companies. We back those pushing the boundaries of innovation. Discover more about us: https://daphni.com/Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daphni/Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite for more information.

In this episode of Venturing Abroad, we sit down with Jonny Everett, co-founder and Managing Partner of Marble, the Paris-based venture studio building a new generation of climate and industrial companies.Jonny takes us from his early days as a founder in London to his move to Paris, his time at Entrepreneur First, and the journey that led him to launch Marble in 2021. Along the way, he reflects on how his definition of success has evolved, why the relentless “996” approach to startup life isn’t sustainable, and why rest and recovery should be treated as part of a founder’s strategy, not a distraction from it.We also dig into the differences between the London and Paris startup ecosystems, what Jonny learned from building a network from scratch in a new country, and how living and working across both cultures has shaped his approach to leadership and communication.Finally, Jonny explains why Marble chose the venture studio model for deeptech and industrial innovation, how the team works alongside founders to turn major problems into scalable companies, and why the next wave of climate technology may not always be labelled “climate” at all. From AI-driven demand for energy and materials to electrification, resource sovereignty and European reindustrialisation, Jonny makes the case for building technologies that win because they solve critical problems and happen to be better for the planet in the process.daphni is a Paris-based venture capital firm with nearly €1 billion in assets under management and 110+ portfolio companies. We back those pushing the boundaries of innovation. Discover more about us: https://daphni.com/Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daphni/Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite for more information.

What does it take to build a company across Lithuania, the UK and the US, while challenging decades of assumptions about women’s health?In this episode of Venturing Abroad, Erica and Madison sit down with Dr. Emilė Radytė, founder and CEO of Samphire Neuroscience, a neurotechnology company developing brain stimulation devices for women’s health.Emilė grew up in Lithuania before moving to the US to study neuroscience and anthropology at Harvard, then to Oxford for her PhD, and eventually making the leap from scientist to founder. Today, she’s building Samphire across Europe and the US. Its first product, Nettle, is a wearable brain stimulation device designed to help manage menstrual symptoms.We unpack how each place shaped the founder she is today: the resilience and bias toward action she took from Lithuania, the ambition she encountered at Harvard, the more cautious approach to risk she experienced in the UK, and the scale of thinking she found in the US.Emilė also shares why working as an emergency medic changed her view of scientific impact, what building Samphire taught her about listening to women, and why founders going global have to be willing to adapt not only their company, but also themselves.daphni is a Paris-based venture capital firm with nearly €1 billion in assets under management and 110+ portfolio companies. We back those pushing the boundaries of innovation. Discover more about us: https://daphni.com/Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daphni/Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite for more information.

We’re closing out our first season with a Silicon Valley trailblazer: Denise Peck. With over 30 years of experience in Silicon Valley, from Sun Microsystems before its IPO to her tenure as a Vice President at Cisco, Denise has navigated some of the most transformative eras in tech. Whether scaling global operations or representing Cisco in her birthplace of Shanghai during the World Expo, her journey is a masterclass in cross-cultural leadership.A few takeaways that stayed with us:Curiosity as a Career Throughline: Denise shares how growing up in a Chinese-American household and studying in France shaped her "puzzle piece" approach, observing cultures with humility before drawing conclusions.The Power of the Non-Linear Path: Your career doesn’t need a straight line. Denise built a diverse portfolio across marketing, IR, and operations by saying "yes" to roles outside her expertise and focusing on the value she could provide.Calculated Risks & Integrity: A standout story on the courage required to escalate a decision when it’s the right thing for the company, even when it involves personal professional risk.Listen Before You Lead: Whether navigating hierarchies in China or building global teams, success depends on understanding local context and adapting your leadership style accordingly.For anyone thinking about building an international career, or simply curious about the evolution of Silicon Valley and global tech, this episode is for you.A big thank you to Denise for sharing your journey! daphni is a Paris-based venture capital firm with nearly €1 billion in assets under management and 110+ portfolio companies. We back those pushing the boundaries of innovation. Discover more about us: https://daphni.com/Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daphni/Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite for more information.

“Europe will not have a vibrant ecosystem unless the markets are unified.”In the latest episode of Venturing Abroad, we sat down with Michael Jackson, an American entrepreneur and investor based in France, who is one of the most outspoken voices in European tech. With decades of experience investing across Europe and the US, he doesn’t sugarcoat his convictions throughout this conversation: Europe produces exceptional founders and world-class science, but systematically fails to turn that into globally dominant companies.In this candid and contrarian conversation, Michael argues why Europe continues to underperform on the global tech stage and what steps Europe should take as a collective to change this.Five of Michael’s key arguments from the conversation 👇Unify capital markets across Europe or accept being a followerEurope cannot build global tech leaders without unified, deep capital markets. Fragmentation caps ambition before companies even reach scale.Stop confusing science volume with commercial successEurope has incredible IP. However, commercialization, not research output, determines outcomes. Talent alone is not enough.Be global from day oneBuilding for a single European market is a dead end. The most successful European tech stories were never country-specific. They were global by design.Europe is sitting on a goldmine of university IP and failing to commercialize itLess than a fraction of European university research ever becomes a real business. Fixing university tech transfer is one fast way European tech champions can emerge.Let private markets do their jobVenture capital cannot thrive as a subsidized economic development tool. Without real exits, DPI, and competitive pressure, the ecosystem stagnates.Michael’s transatlantic observations are thought-provoking and underscore ideas that could accelerate and strengthen Europe’s position in the global tech ecosystem. We share Michael’s conviction that Europe’s university researchers need stronger support in building the right foundations for company creation, commercializing IP, and the know-how of raising capital. This belief sits at the heart of daphni’s Blue Fellowship, where we work with researchers to help turn breakthrough science into globally ambitious companies.Thank you for joining us, Michael!daphni is a Paris-based venture capital firm with nearly €1 billion in assets under management and 110+ portfolio companies. We back those pushing the boundaries of innovation. Discover more about us: https://daphni.com/Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daphni/Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite for more information.

“In Silicon Valley, anything can happen. Just because you're the giant today doesn't mean you'll be the giant tomorrow.”Today, we sit down with Leo Liu, an entrepreneur, investor, and tech leader whose life and career have crossed 16 cities, multiple continents, and more than 10 industries. From Taiwan to Singapore, Vancouver, Silicon Valley, Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong, Leo has built a world-spanning perspective shaped by early independence, unconventional decisions, and a deep curiosity for people and cultures.At just 10 years old, Leo made the life-altering decision to move abroad alone: the first of many bold jumps that shaped his “owner mindset,” sharpened his ability to navigate ambiguity, and ultimately prepared him for leadership roles at companies like WebEx, Cisco, Tesla, and Dentsu.In this conversation, Leo pulls back the curtain on:Breaking into the California / Silicon Valley culture Best approach to closing deals in ChinaWhy Tesla’s “dig the hole first” philosophy worksWhat Western observers misunderstand China’s tech ecosystem Why making friends is the key to international entrepreneurship successThis candid conversation is full of lessons and practical frameworks for anyone scaling across borders, from early founders to global investors to leaders navigating complex cultural and geopolitical environments.Thank you Leo for sharing your incredible story with us!daphni is a Paris-based venture capital firm with nearly €1 billion in assets under management and 110+ portfolio companies. We back those pushing the boundaries of innovation. Discover more about us: https://daphni.com/Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daphni/Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite for more information.

“Cultural intelligence is a competitive advantage… listening more and adapting your communication style and understanding to the local etiquette can really open doors.”In this episode of venturing abroad, we are traveling from Normandy to Hong Kong, as we follow the incredible journey of entrepreneur Ines Gafsi. Driven by her passions and instincts from a young age, Ines’ interest in languages and world cultures drove her to study and work abroad.  After a stint in Canada and London, she made her way to Hong Kong, where she has played an integral role in paving the way for women in entrepreneurship. Co-founding Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide, she shares how she built one of Asia’s leading communities for female founders.Today, Ines is bringing that same purpose-driven energy to Blissmi: a preventive health and longevity platform for employers. Powered by real biometric data, medical science, and AI, Blissmi helps companies support their teams with personalized, proactive health insights. What began with her own experience navigating motherhood is now reshaping how workforces understand and manage their well-being, shifting care from reactive to preventive.In our conversation, Ines details:Business communication nuances in Asia How to raise funds in Hong KongThe power of personal branding The tech landscape of APACCreating impact by filling gapsHer key advice for entrepreneurs? Dream Big.Thank you for joining, Ines! daphni is a Paris-based venture capital firm with nearly €1 billion in assets under management and 110+ portfolio companies. We back those pushing the boundaries of innovation. Discover more about us: https://daphni.com/Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daphni/Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite for more information.