Beta-i was invited to meet the French President, François Hollande at the Elysee Palace, for the launch of Allied for Startups, in Paris.

It was a fantastic launch, with several key players attending, and of course, Pedro Rocha Vieira, President of Beta-i, did not miss out on the opportunity to take a picture with Hollande, dubbed in the Beta-i office “the selfie with two presidents”.

Check out the press release below, if you’re looking for further information.

Paris, France – A group of startup advocacy organizations from around the world came together today in Paris, France to launch Allied for Startups.

Counting 15 countries, 4 continents and more than 16 associations in its membership, Allied For Startups’ mission is to connect the policymakers of technology ecosystems from around the world. By building a global network of startups, entrepreneurs, VCs, and advocacy organizations, members will work together to develop a global consensus on policies that can positively impact startups by growing digital entrepreneurship and the digital economy at large.

Allied for Startups first action item will be to take a global inventory of each of its member countries’ startup ecosystems. Gathering data on key policy metrics including startups’ contribution to the economy, barriers to startup growth, and current effective startup policy. Based on this data, Allied for startups will create white papers and lobby for the issues identified by its members as the most pressing including data protection, privacy and immigration.

Beta-i s proud to be a partner in this important effort to start a global conversation on startups and public policy and to make an impact on an international level.

For more information visit www.alliedforstartups.org

Member Associations and Countries:

Brazil – Startup Brazil

Chile - Startup Chile

Denmark – Danish Entrepreneurs’ Association

European Union – European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs, YES

France – France Digitale

Germany – The Factory

Greece – Hellenic Startup Association

Hungary – Bridge Budapest

Italy – Italia Startup

Malaysia – Startup Malaysia

Portugal – Beta-I

Slovakia – The Spot

Spain – Spain Startup

United Kingdom – Coalition for a Digital Economy (COADEC)

United States of America – Engine Advocacy