SoCal (Southern California) FACC - French American Chamber of Commerce

What SoCal (Southern California) FACC - French American Chamber of Commerce does

The SoCal French American Chamber of Commerce (FACC SoCal) is a non-profit business association founded in 1995 and headquartered in San Diego, California, that serves as the regional affiliate of CCI France International, the global network of French chambers of commerce spanning 125 chambers across 98 countries. Its mission is to facilitate bilateral trade, investment, and professional integration between France and the Southern California region, with a stated emphasis on San Diego's innovation economy spanning life sciences, technology, defense, and consumer products. The organization serves roughly 150 member companies and individuals and operates as a membership-driven community platform rather than a technology product company; its operational stack consists of third-party SaaS tools including Sendinblue for email, Eudonet for CRM, and Airtable for a co-branded career center.

FACC SoCal generates revenue through a four-tiered membership structure (Individual at $100/year, Entrepreneur at $400/year, Corporate at $1,000/year, and Partner at $4,000/year), event registration and sponsorship across approximately 13 annual events, business development and matchmaking services for member companies, and a coworking partnership with Ouistart at $350+/month. Leadership is led by Managing Director Sylvie Almeri, with Tessa Loofbourrow in marketing and business development, against a reported headcount of approximately 9 staff. The organization does not develop proprietary technology, has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, and its competitive position is anchored in the international FACC network and locally embedded relationships with organizations including Biocom, the San Diego Regional EDC, Qualcomm, Dassault Systemes, and U.S. Army immersion programs.

Name

SoCal (Southern California) FACC - French American Chamber of Commerce

Legal name

CCI France International (data controller for FACC SoCal)

Website

https://france-socal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FACC SoCal is a San Diego-based non-profit chamber of commerce, founded 1995, that connects roughly 150 member companies between France and Southern California through membership tiers, networking events, coworking, and business development services as the regional affiliate of CCI France International.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber of Commerce Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYTHAHACAK

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

Keywords

• Chamber of commerce
• Business networking services
• Cross-border business development
• Bicultural business support
• Coworking space rental

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues from Individual ($100/yr), Entrepreneur ($400/yr), Corporate ($1000/yr), and Partner ($4000/yr) tiers. Members receive access to events, networking, job postings, newsletter visibility, and business development services.
2. Coworking Space (Ouistart): Revenue from private office and desk rentals at their Ouistart coworking facility. Private desks start at $350/month. Includes meeting room access and amenities.
3. Event Fees: Ticket sales for events and bootcamps. Scale Up Bootcamp: Members $50, Non-members $250. Events provide networking opportunities and generate non-member revenue.
4. Business Development Services: Consulting and lead generation services including prospection/outreach, account management, and market strategy development for companies looking to expand into US markets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The SoCal FACC is a non-profit chamber of commerce that connects French and American businesses through tiered annual memberships, the Ouistart coworking space, business development and prospection services, networking events (approximately 13 per year), a Career Center job board, and the CCIFI Connect mobile app. It serves as the San Diego chapter of the CCI France International network (125 chambers in 98 countries), facilitating cross-border market entry and partnerships for member companies and individual professionals.

Product overview

FACC SoCal operates as a chamber of commerce providing a comprehensive platform of business services rather than a single software product. The core offering centers on Ouistart, their co-working space platform providing physical office solutions (private offices, open space, business addresses, VIE hosting). Supporting services include HR support (recruitment, wage portage, payroll), legal and administrative services (immigration, corporate, real estate, accounting), and business development (networking, market strategy, lead discovery, prospection). Additional offerings include the Career Center recruitment platform, CCIFI Connect mobile app for the French business network, La French Tech San Diego tech community initiative, events management (~13 events/year), and news communications (8,000+ newsletter contacts). Membership is available in four tiers from Individual ($100/yr) to Partner ($4000/yr).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Plans Tiered annual membership subscriptions providing progressive benefits for individuals, entrepreneurs, and corporations seeking access to the French-American business network in Southern California. Members receive event access, newsletter visibility, networking opportunities, and business development services.
• Ouistart Coworking Space Physical coworking space offering private offices, open space desks, business addresses, and VIE hosting with 24-hour access, meeting rooms, high-speed WiFi, and parking. Located in San Diego and co-located with the FACC SoCal headquarters.
• Business Development Services Market development support including networking, market strategy development, value proposition refinement, brand positioning, lead discovery meetings (4+ qualified sales opportunities per month), and prospection across North America for companies expanding into the U.S. market.
• Career Center Online job board platform where employers post job offers and job seekers browse and apply. Includes resume database access for member companies, connecting French-American professionals with cross-border career opportunities.
• CCIFI Connect Mobile App Mobile application reserved exclusively for members of French CCIs abroad, providing access to 120 Chambers, 33,000 companies, 4,000 events, 300 committees, and 1,200 exclusive privileges across the global French business network. Available on iOS and Android.
• La French Tech San Diego Community Official La French Tech community representing San Diego within the global French Tech network spanning 100 cities worldwide. Connects startups, investors, policymakers, and community builders across 45 French communities in France and 63 international communities.
• Events Management Organization of networking events, conferences, trade shows, galas, company visits, and cultural events including French Market, Scale Up Bootcamp, Job Fair, Bonjour Future CES, and Bastille Day celebrations. Approximately 13 events hosted annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 meetings arranged in 2 years for 20+ clients
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, strategic and core.

• QualcommminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Major technology company and sponsor of Bonjour Future CES event. VP Anne-Lise Thieblemont serves on La French Tech San Diego board, bringing semiconductor and mobile tech industry connections.
• Allegro DVTminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Video technology company and sponsor of Bonjour Future CES event, part of the French-American innovation showcase.
• FragomenminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Immigration law firm and sponsor of Bonjour Future CES event, providing expertise in immigration matters for French companies entering US market.
• Boisel International ProductionsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Event production company and sponsor of Bonjour Future CES event at Bellagio in Las Vegas.
• Air France-KLMstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025FACC SoCal advocates for direct San Diego-Paris air service. KLM launched San Diego-Amsterdam route in May 2025. Ongoing lobbying for Air France Paris route. General Manager Nicolas Henin engaged with SoCal delegation including Mayor Todd Gloria and Rep. Scott Peters.
• FreecoveryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025French startup with FreePad muscle recovery solution. FACC SoCal conducted field mission visiting sports clubs, universities (USD, SDSU), health experts, and French Consulate. Multiple partnerships reportedly in preparation.
• SoleCoolerminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022French thermal insole company (founded 2018) that joined FACC SoCal in 2022 to prepare for CES. FACC SoCal helped secure 250 contacts at CES 2023 and facilitated U.S. Army discussions and American manufacturing partnerships.
• Ouistart CoworkingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Founded in 2017, Ouistart provides 3,000 sq ft of innovative workspace. FACC SoCal team is co-located at Ouistart, offering members $100-200 discounts on coworking space. Services include private desks, offices, meeting rooms, and business amenities.
• CCI France InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization managing 125 chambers in 98 countries with 33,000 companies in the French international business network. FACC SoCal is a member chamber representing Southern California in this global network.
• La French Tech San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial La French Tech community representing San Diego in the global French Tech network spanning 100 cities with 45 French communities in France and 63 international communities. Board includes tech leaders from Qualcomm, Dassault Systemes, Kyriba, Humetrix, and local entrepreneurs.
• BiocomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCalifornia life sciences network. CEO Joe Panetta praised FACC SoCal's tour and promotional services, indicating ongoing collaboration interest.
• HumetrixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Bonjour Future CES event. President & CEO Bettina Experton serves on La French Tech San Diego board, representing healthcare AI expertise.
• San Diego International AirportstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFACC SoCal lobbies for direct Paris flight service. Met with CEO Kimberly Becker and San Diego Regional EDC to promote air connectivity between San Diego and France.
• U.S. ArmyminorOthersInterested in SoleCooler's thermal insole technology for military applications including high-altitude and desert missions. Also engaged with Navy SEALs through FACC SoCal connections at CES.
• San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization collaborating with FACC SoCal on promoting San Diego's French business community and air connectivity to France.
• Dassault SystemesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench software company. Director Jean-Philippe Laguerre serves on FACC SoCal Board and La French Tech San Diego board, representing simulation and 3D experience technology.

Scale indicators13 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• JETRO Los Angeles: Japanese government-affiliated trade promotion organization with a Los Angeles office serving Japanese companies expanding into the US market. Functionally similar to FACC SoCal but with different national sponsorship.
• Italian American Chamber of Commerce West: Bilateral chamber serving Italian-American business on the US West Coast. Same mandate (European bilateral business facilitation), similar membership tiers and event programming.
• BritishAmerican Business (BAB): National bilateral business organization facilitating UK-US commerce with membership, networking events, and business development services. Operates the same core chamber model with broader geographic scope.
• French American Chamber of Commerce New York: Sister chapter of CCI France International serving the French-American business community in the New York tristate area. Directly comparable mission, structure, and service mix (membership, events, business development), operating in a different region.
• Swiss American Chamber of Commerce: Bilateral chamber supporting Swiss-American business with events, networking, and business development services. Directly comparable membership-based bilateral chamber model.
• German American Chamber of Commerce California: Bilateral business chamber supporting German-American business ties in California. Highly comparable membership, events, and business development services model applied to a different bilateral relationship.
• La French Tech New York: Sister La French Tech community in New York, part of the same global French Tech network. Closely comparable if more tech-focused, sharing the same parent network and brand identity.
• French American Chamber of Commerce San Francisco: Another FACC chapter serving the Bay Area under the same CCI France International umbrella. Closest geographic peer with the same bilateral mandate, member tiers, and event programming model.

Broad incumbents

• San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation: Regional economic development organization that collaborates with FACC SoCal on cross-border business attraction and air connectivity. Broader mandate but operates in the same ecosystem and competes for corporate engagement and sponsorship dollars.

Regional players

• Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce: Larger general-purpose regional business association serving the broader San Diego business community. Operates the same chamber-of-commerce model but without bilateral/national focus and at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/socalfacc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SoCal (Southern California) FACC - French American Chamber of Commerce