Thanks. The #pigeons did hurt a lot last year, and after a few months in SF and in Boston I've been amazed how many beliefs foreign observers have about the French startup ecosystem. You're probably right about France (vs) Europe. Would be happy to have some comments from European folks here.
Some links about that "pigeons" thing would strenghten your article. I had to google the term to understand what it meant - a national political pressure campaign about taxes that backfired in terms of reputation, am I right?
When reading the article I just skipped that particular point thinking it was some kind of inside joke I didn't get.
One thing I'd like to know about Paris is how non-French-speaking-friendly the startup scene there is. I'm Dutch, my French goes as far as "je m'appelle une baguette". I'm weary of moving to Paris simply because of my experience that the French are, well, less comfortable communicating in English than the inhabitants of some other countries around here, even among the higher educated.
You're right, thanks @skrebbel. "Pigeons" were indeed a group of entrepreneurs fighting a new tax project of the newly elected socialist government in 2012. If they were right or wrong, I won't debate, I'm just thinking they did a terrible job in downgrading the image of France abroad.
Non-French-speaking entrepreneurs are welcome in Paris, I can help putting you in touch with good accelerators that can host you and provide guidance. The startup scene in France today is totally fluent in English, you should feel comfortale.
