Mapping FinTech Founders in France: implications of changes and continuities in the profiles of Fintech entrepreneurs in France

Financial Technologies (FinTechs) are quickly transforming the world of finance, creating new, albeit sometimes unanticipated, opportunities and challenges to the financial system and its regulatory framework. While a growing body of research has sought to map out and make sense of the disruptive potential of FinTech developments as well as regulatory and policy responses to these across different political economy configurations, the profile of FinTech founders has scarcely generated any research interest whatsoever. Yet, such an oversight risks overstating Fintech as a purely technocratic and technological challenge for political economy. This working paper proposes to examine the evolving profiles of FinTech founders in France, a country long known for the consanguinity between its financial and bureaucratic elite, analyzing both the changes and continuities in their backgrounds, motivations, and business strategies in comparison with the traditional French financial elite. By mapping the demographic and professional characteristics of FinTech entrepreneurs in France, this study hopes to unearth key trends such as the growing diversity in the educational and professional trajectories of founders, the increasing prominence of international experience, and the changing gender dynamics in the sector. Of importance to political economy, the paper considers the interactions between the profile of FinTech founders and legal and regulatory choices pertaining to the FinTech enabling environment and corporate finance. In using the case of France as a crucial test, this paper finally considers the broader implications of this avenue of research for political economy and legal research on FinTech, offering key insights into the factors driving the rise of new business models and regulatory shifts.