Rachel Vanier Interview

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For those out there who are unaware of your books, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m not sure how much I like this description of myself, but I’m most commonly known as ‘the start-up girl’ – which seems a bit contradictory as it’s not who I am at all. I’m sure there’s lots of similarities between writing a book and creating a start-up, but I guess being an author you tend to get stereotyped as this pensive person with a feathered quill in your hand and poetry in your heart – and not necessarily someone who likes to write about technology, business and the gig economy. I prefer to call myself a ‘geekette’ as my work combines start-up businesses and literature.

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Tell us about your time in Cambodia that inspired your first book?

I was in Cambodia on a gap year after university when I started penning my first book. I started sending friends and family emails with headings like ‘first draft’, ‘second draft’ etc. and they encouraged me to start a blog. In 2011, it was still pretty popular to use a blog like an online journal. I launched the blog, ‘ Paris-Phnom Penh’ which targeted expats and people looking to travel, too. I wouldn’t say the tone was authentically ‘me’ as I pushed it to be funnier and proved to myself that I could write. The process convinced me to write my first book. I was 24 years old and had just graduated as a humanities major and my father was working as a professor – writing a novel was considered sacred in our house. It wasn’t a traditional process, but the blog really helped my self-confidence.

Which entrepreneurs have influenced your career? Who do you look up to?

Without a doubt, Oussama Ammar, who co-wrote The Family and also invests in start-up programs. He was a pioneer on the Parisian scene and is sort of a guru in the world of investment start-ups. He inspired the main character in my novel. I wouldn’t say he’s my personal guru but he has greatly inspired me because of his literary and business past. His wife is just as inspirational, too! I have met them both separately before they were married. She’s called Lavinia Lionita, she works as a businesswoman in the health and pharmaceutical sector. She has a really holistic vision and always thinks about the balance of brain and body. She really helped me with my personal advancement, in fact – I should have put her first! I also have to mention my best friend and very first roommate, Camille. She launched a start-up in the culture sector and it’s thanks to her I got to see the reality of day to day life in a growing business – the doubts, the questions. Without her, I couldn’t have written “Écosystème” as she was my first guinea pig! She has some very strong views which gave birth to some great debates that lasted hours! I dedicated my book to her.

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Your book talks about America and Silicon Valley, L’Exception is a French company that chooses to showcase homegrown talent. What differences do you see between these two countries?

There is a big difference because the entrepreneurial ecosystems are so different. The American start-up model is a lot older, more mature – France is only getting started in that respect. Consequently, there are intrinsic differences that France may have caught up with over time, although it is not very useful to compare it to Silicon Valley. France is renowned for its different qualities like strict labour laws and strong entrepreneurial culture, it’s a country with lots of talented engineers… If you look at the numbers, there is a lot more capital available than 5 years ago, and today, it’s easier than ever to gain investment. Although it must be said, it’s much harder to raise the kind of investment that’s possible in America. But we must not lose sight of the fact that there are nerve centres around the world, that will depend on the markets. Some will look to invest in the European market but there are business centres in Berlin, London, Shanghai, Tel Aviv – the world doesn’t revolve around America and Paris.

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What is the role of Station F in the French start-up landscape?

? It’s a symbol of entrepreneurial spirit that has attracted some of the biggest start-ups in the world - proving that Paris has what it takes to be a global leader.

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Tell us about your role in this huge start-up machine?

I look after communications for Station F, it’s a role that includes lots of different things! I make sure we always have the right start-ups from across the world looking to apply. I also make sure that all the resident entrepreneurs (3-4000 people from over 1000 start-ups) have all the info they need on campus. Outside the office, I work to showcase the values of Station F, expressing why start-ups choose to join us.

What are the qualities of a good entrepreneur?

Resilience. A good entrepreneur needs to know how to dust themselves off and try again. It’s such a daily part of building a business. You also need to be optimistic, it’s the other side of the coin – be tough but hopeful and try to see the silver lining in every cloud.

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"I prefer to call myself a ‘geekette’ as my work combines start-up businesses and literature."

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Do you think writing a novel is like creating a start-up?

It’s pretty close, yer. Even if you don’t have to be much of an optimist to write a good book, in fact, the opposite is probably true *laughs*! You have to find depth in the human condition, the hurdles in writing a book are similar to a start-up – and so are the failure rates. Even if you don’t make any money out of it, you want to try and change the world, leave your mark.

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Anything in the pipeline?

I’m in the process of writing my third book at the moment. I find it quite exciting when people say print will be dead in 15 years and that I’ll have to find another format… maybe a drama? Who knows. In any case, I’m going to keep writing – whatever form it takes. I like to juggle different tasks, it helps my creativity and gives me balance. I like to be a bit of a polymath.

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People to follow

Photograph : Marine Billet
Stylism : Maylis Guerre
Production : Maëva Bessis
Discover the book : "Ecosystème"

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