“I wasn’t sure what to expect…” That was the initial reaction of Philippe Espitalier-Noël, CEO of ER Group, a top Mauritius-based investment firm, when he was invited for the first time to Bpifrance’s 2025 Big in Paris last September. What he found at Europe’s single largest business gathering was that “Big’s approach was very positive and efficient. For a business event, I also felt a lot of benevolence and collective support.”

A similar favorable impression came from Marc Negre, another first-time participant at the annual event. “It was a great opportunity to take a step back and discover various perspectives on issues that interest us as entrepreneurs,” says Negre, co-founder of Kraaft.

Big’s theme this year revolved around the notion of “Truth,” and featured three stages dedicated to international development. In total, they attracted more than 5,700 people to attend 55 sessions led by experts and entrepreneurs on various topics, from how to export “the French exception” to the rise of climate-tech in Africa and understanding and taking advantage of European financing programs.

Some 38 international delegations were also present, while matchmaking sessions were organized in a devoted networking space.

Learning from others

Negre’s Kraaft has built a next-generation messaging app built for the construction industry, used by 1,400 clients mainly in European French-speaking countries. He came to Big to showcase the impact of Bpifrance’s Insurance Export on his business’ strategy to develop internationally. Thanks to the financial support, Kraaft was able to test different go-to-market strategies to reach foreign markets and gather real data about their efficiency, while also gaining nine new clients in the U.S.-Canada zone along the way.

For the company’s co-founder, it was quite useful at the event to be able to confront his own experience with the concrete strategies and knowledge of other entrepreneurs: “It can be frustrating when trying to expand internationally because when it drags on, it may feel like you’re failing somehow. But then you learn from others, who have different types of businesses, that they are also going through this same process, and that seeking new markets does take time — and it’s Ok!”

Fruitful meetings

One of the event’s highlights for the first-time participant was also how the many encounters and exchanges led to follow-up meetings, potentially unlocking new partnerships and opportunities. Philippe Espitalier-Noël, CEO of leading Mauritian investment company ER Group, came to the event to share the success story, but also to explore partnerships and financing opportunities for his company which operates in 17 territories.

“Although nothing concrete has emerged yet, there’s a strong will to work together in the future,” said Espitalier-Noël. “It will take time, but I’m convinced the small links that were created at the event will someday consolidate and lead to new opportunities.”

Solidarity and support

Both entrepreneurs agree on the importance of such business events, in a difficult economic context. “In the entrepreneurial adventure, there’s nothing more difficult than feeling alone in the face of current challenges, so anything that can help us encourage each other and feel supported is good for morale,” says Negre.

Espitalier-Noël agrees on the need for solidarity: “It’s comforting to see such a dynamic ecosystem, it gives us courage and hope for the future.”