Facebook launches their first startup program with Station F in Paris, France.
While the social media company is facing an Oculus lawsuit and Facebook executives are leading a war against fake news, Facebook’s COO, Sheryl Sandberg announced a new program with Station F to help data focused startups in the home of the Eiffel Tower.
Facebook launches startup garage Station F
In a Medium post by Station F, Facebook will be launching a 6 month program that is designed for 10 to 15 startups who are focused on data. Overall, 80 desks zones will be used by Facebook’s startup garage.
Station F reports that Facebook experts will help assist these start ups by providing them access to a wide array of developmental tools including assistance with user experience, marketing and more.
“Facebook is thrilled to be a founding partner of Station F. We are committed to France, which is home to some of the most innovative technology companies in the world,” Sandberg explained during a tour of Station F.
“We look forward to bringing together entrepreneurs, developers and startups in this unique space where they will grow and flourish, and we’re excited to support a new generation of French startups with enormous potential to grow the economy and create jobs,” Sandberg added.
So far, Facebook has announced their program will include Mapstr, which is a program that allows for people to bookmark places they enjoy and Chekk, a startup that helps people keep track of the digital identity.
What is Station F?
Station F is located in Paris, France and is a start up campus that provides the “strongest startup ecosystem”. According to their website, the campus features over 3,000 startup desks, a coffee shop, 3D printers, restaurants, a bar, showers, event spaces and even 100 shared apartments, which are coming soon. Along with those amenities, Station F also features VC funding.
“Our program is built around the notion that 90% of entrepreneurs’ problems can be solved by other entrepreneurs,” Station F director Roxanne Varza explains. “Therefore, we go out of our way to pick the best, most ambitious, intelligent entrepreneurs from around the world for our program.”
The partnership was first revealed during the last TechCrunch Disrupt, as the social media company was one of the founding partners of startup program.