Zero to One: showcasing the strength of Lyon’s startup and tech ecosystem
Held on May 28, 2026, and organized by H7, Zero to One confirmed its position, now in its fifth edition, as the flagship event for Lyon’s startup and tech ecosystem. Bringing together more than 1,200 participants, including startups, investors, corporates, and top talent, the event focused on key transformations shaping today’s economy: the rise of artificial intelligence, technological sovereignty, reindustrialization, and emerging defense challenges. Positioned as both an insight platform and a networking hub, Zero to One highlights the economic dynamics and real-world innovations that are shaping the region.
Zero to One: a leading event for Lyon’s startup and tech community
Led by H7, Zero to One is an annual event designed for startups, investors, and innovation stakeholders, combining high-level content with meaningful networking opportunities. For its fifth edition, the event welcomed over 1,200 participants to a packed program featuring conferences, expert insights, and startup pitch sessions.
Organized across four thematic stages (Future, Impact, Builder, Pitch), the event provides a comprehensive view of major ongoing transformations, from artificial intelligence to reindustrialization, while showcasing concrete use cases developed by startups and companies in the region.
The opening session featured remarks from Cédric Denoyel (President of H7), Julien Marbouty (CEO), and Sana Chennoufi (Deputy Director), who reaffirmed H7’s mission: to structure an ecosystem capable of generating high-potential, innovative companies.
In her keynote, Véronique Sarselli, President of the Lyon Metropole, reiterated the region’s ambition to position Lyon among Europe’s leading innovation hubs. Artificial intelligence stands out as a central strategic driver, with a strong focus on practical, locally anchored applications.
Building on this momentum, Prisca Dalle, Head of Investment Promotion at ONLYLYON Invest, highlighted the agency’s role in supporting companies, connecting key stakeholders, and strengthening Lyon’s international visibility.
Backed by French Tech stakeholders, the event creates a platform for dialogue and collaboration each year, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and innovative companies around the technological trends shaping tomorrow’s economy.
How startups and tech are transforming Lyon’s economy
This fifth edition highlighted several key priorities: artificial intelligence, technological sovereignty, reindustrialization, and defense.
One clear takeaway emerged: innovation is no longer just about technological promise, it is increasingly defined by real-world applications. Artificial intelligence is now a powerful transformation lever across major industries, from manufacturing and healthcare to energy and urban services.
This approach reflects the growing maturity of Lyon-based startups, which are able to combine technological innovation with measurable impact.
Among the highlights, the Startup Contest showcased emerging companies. Six startups pitched in front of the audience.
UGOMED stood out, winning both the jury and audience awards. The startup has developed an AI-based solution designed to optimize emergency services by anticipating patient flows, addressing a major public health challenge.
Beyond the competition, the event demonstrated the region’s ability to generate tangible, operational solutions driven by a new generation of entrepreneurs.
H7: a key driver of Lyon’s innovation ecosystem
Located in the Confluence district, H7 has quickly established itself as a central player in Lyon’s entrepreneurial landscape. More than just a workspace, the hub plays a structuring role in both startup development and regional attractiveness.
As a true catalyst, H7 connects entrepreneurs, experts, investors, and large corporations. Each year, it supports more than 70 startups, from early-stage to growth, while fostering the emergence of innovative projects such as Chat3D (machine learning-based 3D production), Smash (a next-generation file-sharing service), and OOrion (AI-powered visual assistance technologies).
As part of its continued growth, H7 is entering a new development phase with a planned expansion at Confluence. A second building of approximately 4,000 m² will accommodate more advanced companies, typically employing between 10 and 50 people. Designed as a natural extension of its acceleration programs, this new space aims to support startups as they scale, while strengthening a long-term growth environment within the region. It will notably target companies addressing social and environmental challenges, reinforcing Lyon’s positioning at the intersection of tech and impact.
Lyon: a leading innovation hub in Europe
The event is part of a highly dynamic environment. Lyon stands as the second-largest tech ecosystem in France, behind Paris, with nearly 58,000 jobs, around 2,000 companies, and close to 1,000 startups.
This concentration of talent and companies, combined with key infrastructures such as H7 and strong public-private collaboration, creates favorable conditions for innovation and investment. Through initiatives like Zero to One, Lyon is building a model based on the convergence of entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and impact.
Today, the event stands as one of the most visible expressions of this ambition, reinforcing Lyon’s position on the European stage.
