Forvis Mazars at VivaTech: a signature experience for the next leaders of transformation
This was the third year Forvis Mazars supported Europe’s biggest startup, tech and innovation summit, held this year from 11 June 2025 at the Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles. Forvis Mazars created an experience for clients and delegates centred around exclusive learning expeditions as well as sponsoring the Female Founder Challenge – a VivaTech initiative that embodies the firm’s own reputable startup accelerator, the Forvis Mazars XFactory.
The firm's role and its impact were strategic this year, delivering significant value across multiple elements of the event:
- Exclusive learning expeditions for over 200 clients, delegates and partners. These guided experiences offered a curated, insider’s view of the event, helping participants make sense of the key tech trends and what they reveal about the future.
- Thought leadership support on stage, including a standout session with Paul Midy, where Forvis Mazars called on corporates to mobilise in support of building European tech champions – a message which sparked strong interest and engagement.
- Exclusive interviews with public bodies and sector leaders (both French and European) who are actively shaping the tech and innovation landscape to better understand the policy and regulatory context.
- Hundreds of meaningful interactions with the French Tech Mission, talented entrepreneurs and startup founders. The firm also took part in startup juries, reinforcing its commitment to and cementing its experience in supporting innovation at every level.
- Proud sponsors of the Female Founder Challenge is a cause that is interconnected with the firm’s own values around diversity and inclusion in tech and continues to spotlight and support the next generation of women-led startups.
Leading this initiative and the firm’s overall involvement was its Chief Transformation Officer, Florence Sardas, who commented: “VivaTech 2025 radiated energy, ambition and a renewed sense of purpose. Europe is clearly stepping up as a new centre of gravity in an increasingly polarized world. This year’s event shattered records with an astounding 180,000 attendees, an impressive number of exhibitors, and viral media attention.”
One of the most symbolic moments was the opening day keynote by NVIDIA’s CEO, joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and the CEO of Mistral AI – France’s GenAI champion. Sardas continued: "It sent a strong message in that Europe is not just participating in the global tech race, it is determined to lead it. What struck most was how AI is finally being treated as a means, not an end. The hype is giving way to real, impactful applications – especially in fields like medicine, where the progress is genuinely impressive. From diagnostics to drug discovery, the use cases are becoming more concrete, more mature and a more substantial turning point.”
One distinguishable difference from previous years’ events came in the form of participation from Saudi Arabia, appearing at VivaTech for the first time. Sardas highlighted: “For a debut, they made a massive impression. Their presence was not only highly visible, with large, prominent exhibition spaces but also incredibly strategic. It was clear they came with a well-defined investment agenda and a strong ambition to position themselves as a serious player in the global tech ecosystem. It’s also a sign of how fast the global tech landscape is evolving and how new players are entering the scene with serious intent and resources.”
The response from delegates who engaged and interacted with Forvis Mazars at the event was overwhelmingly positive towards the exclusive learning expeditions, the quality of connections facilitated, and the firm’s ability to bring together diverse stakeholders for a unique and thoughtful exploration of the tech landscape.
One Chief Creative Officer described the firm’s experience: “This was my second time at VivaTech, but my first time participating in the Learning Expeditions. It is a fantastic opportunity to take the pulse of global tech development, especially tech for good and tech with purpose. “
Sardas said: “It’s become a signature experience we’re proud to offer, combining expertise and creativity with thought leadership and meaningful connections at the heart of one of the world’s most exciting tech events. VivaTech is more than an event – it’s a platform for collective intelligence and we’re proud to contribute to that dynamic. Staying competitive means constantly questioning your assumptions, challenging your models and being open to transformation. By immersing ourselves in this ecosystem, we’re better equipped to help our clients prepare for what’s next and act on it with confidence.”
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Press contacts
Heather McMaster, Group Head of PR and Content
Heather.McMaster@mazars.co.uk / +44 (0) 20 7063 4165
Rosa Mejia Banks, Group PR and Content Officer
Rosa.Mejia-Banks@mazars.co.uk / +44 (0) 20 7063 4934