Chris O’Brien: From Silicon Valley to France’s Startup Revolution
“We said okay, let's pack our suitcases, go to France for three years… and 11 years later, we are still in France.”
In this episode of Venturing Abroad, we have the pleasure of talking with Chris O’Brien. An American journalist based in France, Chris is the founder of The French Tech Journal and one of the key voices covering France’s tech scene.
After years of reporting on Web 2.0 and the rise of social media in Silicon Valley, Chris found himself building a new life and a new career in France. From navigating French bureaucracy to chronicling La French Tech’s incredible growth, his journey offers both humor and wisdom about adapting, learning, and thriving in two different countries.
In our conversation, Chris shares:
- How timing, curiosity, and adaptability can shape a career
- His observations on the evolution of French tech ecosystem
- Misconceptions about Silicon Valley and La French Tech
- Cultural shocks of moving from California to Toulouse
- Journalism in the age of AI and more
Thank you for sharing with us your France-US experience, Chris!
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