The Top Startups France ranking, published in mid-October 2026 by LinkedIn News, prominently features start-ups from École Polytechnique. This ninth edition identifies the country's twenty most dynamic young companies based on four criteria: workforce growth, member interest on the platform, LinkedIn interactions, and the ability to attract talent from LinkedIn Top Companies.
Bruno Bellier, Managing Director of École Polytechnique, expressed his satisfaction with the strong presence of engineering schools, particularly the X, in this ranking. He views it as a reflection of the institution's robust model, which combines academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and innovation.
The 2026 edition includes fourteen new entrants, eight of whom are in the top ten. Selected companies are independent, founded less than five years ago, and employ at least 30 people in France. The ranking is characterized by the dominance of Artificial Intelligence and disruptive technologies, with AI, defense technologies, and deeptech taking precedence over SaaS software publishers and marketplaces.
Several companies in the ranking were founded or co-founded by École Polytechnique alumni: Mistral AI (1st), led by Arthur Mensch (X2011), develops generative AI models and recently raised €3 billion. Harmattan AI (2nd), co-founded by Mouad M’Ghari (X2020), produces AI-powered autonomous drones and became the first French defense unicorn in 2026. Dust (3rd), co-founded by Stanislas Polu (X2004), creates AI assistants for businesses and secured €40 million in funding. H Company (5th), co-founded by Laurent Sifre (X2005), develops AI agents capable of autonomously executing tasks on websites and applications.
LinkedIn identified 58 co-founders among the twenty companies listed. The profile of founders has evolved since 2022: 63% are graduates of top engineering schools, compared to a quarter four years ago. École Polytechnique and CentraleSupélec together train nearly one in four founders. This shift is linked to the rise of AI and deeptech, which require advanced scientific expertise.
Bruno Bellier also highlighted the progress needed for better female representation in the sector and the importance of fostering territorial tech ecosystems. The ranking confirms these challenges, with only two women on founding teams and three of the twenty start-ups located outside the Île-de-France region.
