JFD

What JFD does

JFD (Join Forces & Dare), founded in 2012 in Paris by Delphine Remy-Boutang and operated through the entity THE BUREAU, is a private growth accelerator for women in technology operating across Europe, Africa, and Canada. The organization is built on three pillars: ACCELERATE (the Margaret Awards and a Growth Accelerator program), CONNECT (the paid JFD Club membership network of 400+ women entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, hosting monthly events at a 300m² Paris venue), and INSIGHTS (proprietary research products, most notably the European AI Barometer produced with EY Fabernovel). Headcount is small at 11–50 employees, with named roles covering communications, partnerships, content, and regional advisorship for Africa and Canada.

JFD does not sell technology products in the conventional SaaS sense. Its core 'platform' is a curated coalition of 30+ corporate partners — including La Poste, Carrefour, LVMH, Mastercard, Bpifrance, IBM, Allianz, L'Oréal, TotalEnergies, and EY — combined with a content library, an annual awards ceremony under the high patronage of the French President, and dedicated physical and digital gathering spaces. The Margaret Awards, first held in 2014, distribute approximately €1 million in acceleration services per cohort (coaching, grants, accelerator access, legal support) to women-led tech ventures. Sub-brands include the Margaret Foundation (2018), Margaret Junior (2021, ages 7–18), the JFD Manifesto, the White Shirts Movement (2017), and 'Women rAIsing' (2025).

Revenue is generated from three streams: JFD Club membership fees (subscription/recurring), corporate sponsorships and bespoke partnerships with major enterprises (subscription/recurring), and event revenue from annual Margaret Awards, Join Forces & Dare flagship events, and JFD Nights. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; both membership and corporate partnership packages appear to be quote-based and tiered. JFD's claimed scale metrics include a 25 million cumulative audience, 50,000+ people in its international network, 1,000+ startups supported, and 10,000+ talents trained since founding. No venture or private equity funding rounds are disclosed.

Name

JFD

Legal name

JFD

Website

https://joinjfd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

JFD (Join Forces & Dare) is a Paris-based growth accelerator founded in 2012 that connects women-led tech ventures in Europe, Africa, and Canada with a coalition of 30+ corporate partners, investors, and institutions through its JFD Club membership, Margaret Awards, and European AI Barometer research products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women-in-Tech Growth Accelerator

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Strategic Partnerships, Alliances & JVs Advisory (BPAHADAI)

Keywords

• Women in tech accelerator
• Startup growth programs
• Business networking membership
• Corporate innovation partnerships
• Strategic AI research

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: JFD Club membership network providing access to business opportunities, networking events, and exclusive content for women entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in tech.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Revenue generated from major corporate partners (La Poste, Carrefour, LVMH, Mastercard, etc.) who sponsor JFD programs, events, and initiatives to access innovation ecosystems and promote diversity in tech.
3. Event Revenue: Annual Digital Women's Day/Join Forces & Dare events, Margaret Awards ceremonies, and related ticketed events generate revenue while building brand awareness and community engagement.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

JFD operates an international growth accelerator for women in technology, organized around three pillars: ACCELERATE (Margaret Awards program and growth accelerator for women-led ventures), CONNECT (JFD Club exclusive membership network with monthly events and business opportunities), and INSIGHTS (European AI Barometer and strategic intelligence studies produced with EY Fabernovel). The organization runs annual flagship events, awards ceremonies, masterclasses, and corporate-sponsored partnerships across Europe, Africa, and Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Margaret Awards: Annual award program recognizing women entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in Europe and Africa, under the high patronage of the President of the French Republic
• Margaret Foundation
• JFD Club
• JFD Manifesto
• Les Chemises Blanches (White Shirts Movement)
• European AI Barometer
• The Growth Report
• JFD Voices Masterclass Series

Products and services

• JFD Club Membership
• Margaret Awards Program
• Growth Accelerator
• European AI Barometer Exclusive annual barometer and studies providing strategic intelligence on AI trends and challenges, produced in partnership with EY Fabernovel. Gives innovation leaders competitive advantage by mapping AI as either an accelerator of inequalities or a vector of progress.
• Corporate Partnership Programs Tailored sponsorship and partnership packages with major corporations (La Poste, Carrefour, LVMH, Mastercard, L'Oréal, Allianz, TotalEnergies, Bpifrance, etc.) providing access to innovation ecosystems, diversity commitments, employer branding, deal flow for corporate venture arms, and Margaret Awards sponsorship opportunities.
• JFD Voices Masterclass Series Educational masterclass series in partnership with WOUMNIA featuring experts on leadership, finance, innovation, sustainability and tech topics (blockchain, AI, communication, partnerships, business modeling, cybersecurity) for women in tech.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000+ network members, 10,000+ talents trained, 1,000+ startups supported
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• Bleu Blanc TechsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Local partner in Quebec supporting JFD's international expansion to Canada and Quebec innovation ecosystem activities.
• Consulat de France à MontréalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Hosted Delphine Remy-Boutang for networking event in June 2023, connecting JFD with key economic actors for Quebec deployment.
• BpifrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor strategic partner hosting the Margaret Awards ceremony. Bpifrance is France's public investment bank and the 2nd most active investor globally. In 2023, Bpifrance deployed over €9 billion in innovation financing benefiting 6,000+ companies.
• EY FabernovelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner leading the European AI Barometer initiative with JFD. EY Fabernovel conducted research on AI as accelerator of inequalities or vector of progress. Jean-Christophe Liaubet, Partner EY Fabernovel, publicly endorsed the Women rAIsing 2025 campaign.
• IBMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBM collaboration to create inclusive environment for women in tech. IBM provides free access to SkillsBuild platform (1,000+ courses in AI, cybersecurity, data science, cloud, software development) in 20 languages as part of IBM's commitment to train 30 million people by 2030.
• MastercardcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides access to Start Path and Strive Europe programs for Margaret winners, plus mentorship on tech topics including Blockchain, AI, communication, partnerships, business modeling, and cybersecurity. Access to Mastercard's Women Leadership Network.
• La Poste GroupecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides mentorship by activity leaders and startup ecosystem, participation in VivaTech for #FemmesduNumerique results announcement, and €5,000 grant for Championing Women promotion winners.
• EuratechnologiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOffers €10,000 coaching by investment manager, €10,000 International Program for non-French startups, €7,000 incubation program, and observation internships for Margaret Juniors at Euratechnologies startups.
• Lombard OdiersecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides expertise sessions in Wealth Engineering and mentorship opportunities with private bankers and Paris office leadership team members for Margaret winners.
• Groupe CasinosecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerOffers visibility, communication opportunities, and meetings with group executives plus privileged access to various innovation laboratories across Casino brands.
• Banque des TerritoiressecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerContributes to commercial development plan for territory-focused winners through connections with social housing sector actors and provides 6-month residency at Hub des Territoires offices.
• CCI française au CanadacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides €10,000 access to Transatlantique bilateral accelerator between France and Canada for Margaret winners to expand into Canadian market.
• DentonssecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal support worth €2,500 for Margaret Canada winner and €1,000 legal analysis for each Margaret winner by Xavier Van Overmeire, international law partner.
• AllianzsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerDirect access to selection committee for next 6-month intensive Accelerator program - only 10 out of 200 startups gain this access.
• Abeona NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst French-Canadian network for diversity in innovation actors in France and Canada. JFD participated in joint report 'Women and Innovation: Encouraging Female Entrepreneurship' published March 8, 2013.
• Les EchossecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing coverage and Charlie Perreau (startup editor) as ceremony mistress for Margaret Awards.
• ChallengessecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner covering Margaret Awards and JFD activities with Adrien Schwyter participating on expert jury.
• Caisse des DépôtssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerMagali Theveniault Prevet from Caisse des Dépôts sits on the Margaret Awards expert jury. Major French public financial institution.
• CarrefoursecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor French retailer and founding partner of JFD ecosystem. Logo appears on partner section of JFD website.
• LVMHsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor luxury goods conglomerate and founding partner of JFD ecosystem. Logo appears on partner section of JFD website.
• L'OréalsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor beauty and cosmetics company and founding partner of JFD ecosystem. Béatrice Kosowski (President IBM France) coaches Margaret winners on sustainability.
• TotalEnergiessecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor energy company and founding partner of JFD ecosystem. Valérie Laugier (President TotalEnergies Proxi Sud Est) participated in JFD Voices Masterclass.
• AllianzsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor insurance company and founding partner of JFD ecosystem. Sylvain Theveniaud from Allianz Accelerator participates on expert jury.
• French TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClara Chappaz from La French Tech sits on the Margaret Awards expert jury. Major French tech ecosystem organization.
• MeeticsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCéline Boudière (Meetic Europe) sits on expert jury and provides direction committee mentorship to Margaret winners.
• Canal+ InternationalsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerGrace Loubassou from Canal+ International sits on Africa expert jury for Margaret Awards.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Station F: World's largest startup campus based in Paris, hosting accelerator programs, corporate partners, and a startup directory. Comparable to JFD's role as a French innovation-ecosystem hub, though Station F is infrastructure-led (real estate + programs) versus JFD's community-led approach.
• NUMA: Paris-based innovation accelerator and startup campus running acceleration programs, corporate innovation services, and community events. Directly comparable to JFD's corporate-partnership and event-driven model, though NUMA is a generalist tech accelerator without the women-in-tech focus.
• 50inTech: Initiative accelerating diversity and inclusion in tech through investments, events, and corporate commitments. Comparable to JFD's D&I-and-tech acceleration focus and corporate-partnership model; overlaps in European footprint.
• Women Who Code: Global non-profit community supporting women in technology through networking, events, and career resources. Closely comparable to JFD's CONNECT and ACCELERATE pillars, though operates at larger global scale and is primarily English-language/online rather than event-and-club based.
• Girls in Tech: Global non-profit focused on women in technology through education, entrepreneurship, and community programs. Closely comparable to JFD's mission, network/events model, and target audience; differs in geographic focus (global/English-language) and nonprofit-versus-for-profit structure.
• All Raise: US-based non-profit increasing diversity in venture-backed tech by supporting women founders and funders. Comparable to JFD in mission (women-in-tech acceleration), though focused on US VC ecosystem and less event-driven than JFD's Margaret Awards model.
• WomenTech Network: Global community connecting women in tech through conferences, networking events, and awards programs. Analogous to JFD's events-and-awards operating model, though more globally distributed and digital-first rather than anchored on a flagship French ceremony.
• SISTA: French collective promoting gender diversity in the French tech and VC ecosystem. Directly comparable to JFD in mission (women-in-tech and investing in France) and geography, though SISTA focuses on investment-side commitments (charter) rather than running awards and accelerator programs.

Regional players

• The Riveter: US-based membership community for women entrepreneurs and professionals, offering co-working, events, and content. Comparable in women-focused community/membership model but operates primarily in the United States versus JFD's Europe/Africa/Canada footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator operating numerous vertical programs including dedicated tracks for underrepresented founders. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same accelerator/ecosystem-building category; not a women-in-tech specialist but operates the same fundamental accelerator-and-corporate-partner model at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/JFD080313
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/joinjfd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 JFD