AI Startup Program - SNCF Connect & Tech x Meta
AI Startup Accelerator AI Startup AcceleratorJoin the accelerator for smart mobility and open-source AI!
ACCELERATION PROGRAM
Language : French
Program overview
For its 3rd edition, the AI Startup Accelerator at Station F is bringing together Meta, SNCF Connect & Tech, Hugging Face, and the HEC Paris Incubation & Acceleration Center to support French startups building the future of mobility through open-source AI.
For 6 months, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with our partners’ experts, test your solution on real-world use cases, access real datasets, and benefit from strategic and technical mentorship to take your product to the next level.
Call for applications: September 25 - October 31, 2025.
AI Startup Program
Objectives
Supporting startups that use open-source AI to tackle real-world challenges in mobility, accessibility, automation, and the ecological transition.
Partners
SNCF Connect & Tech joins the AI Startup Program
Why join the program ?
Test, experiment, and deploy your solution in real-world conditions. Benefit from a 6-month program to test, iterate, and scale your open-source AI solution, with the support of leading experts, right at Station F.
Expert support
Tailored coaching provided by the HEC Paris Incubation & Acceleration Center, technical guidance from experts at SNCF Connect & Tech and Meta, and 2 hours per month of exchanges with the Hugging Face teams.
Real data and experimentation
Benefit from real data and experimentation through a collaboration with SNCF Connect & Tech, working on high-impact use cases and gaining full access to selected datasets.
Workspace & ecosystem
Offices at Station F and access to private events, connections with over 1,000 experts, mentors, and VCs from the HEC Paris Incubation & Acceleration Center network, and a Demo Day in front of partners, investors, and public stakeholders.
Challenges to tackle
Passenger Services
Provide travelers with unified information and digital services tailored to their needs.
Operational efficiency
Optimize operational performance and knowledge management through automation and AI.
Concrete use cases for real impact!
The selected startups will work on concrete use cases proposed by SNCF Connect & Tech, with one objective: deploying impactful open-source AI solutions that serve mobility, inclusivity, and operational performance.
🚉 Local Mobility & Intermodality
How can we connect transport services with players who are still not very digitalized? Example solutions (non-exhaustive): An API to integrate small transport operators, facilitate train-to-bike/taxi connections, and send proactive alerts in case of...
🌱 Sustainable Mobility
How can we encourage the adoption of more eco-friendly modes of transport? Example solutions (non-exhaustive): An integrated carbon calculator to optimize mobility budgets, offer multimodal subscriptions, and promote sustainable choices.
🧭 Accessibility & Wayfinding
How can we enhance service accessibility for all audiences? Example solutions (non-exhaustive): Voice- or vibration-based GPS for visually impaired users, crowding maps, and routes presented in video or image format.
🤖 Sales Automation
How can we automate prospecting and lead management? Example solutions (non-exhaustive): AI agents for appointment scheduling, self-updating databases, and intelligent lead prioritization.
📊 Business Goal Management
How can we unify and analyze heterogeneous data to better manage business activities? Example solutions (non-exhaustive): Real-time aggregation of internal (ERP, CRM) and external data, with AI-driven automated goal setting.
⏱️ Disruption Prediction
How can we anticipate transport delays? Example solutions (non-exhaustive): A real-time AI engine integrating weather, strikes, and historical data, with dashboards for operational teams.
🧑💻 Developer Productivity
How can we improve documentation and the sharing of technical knowledge? Example solutions (non-exhaustive): Automatic documentation generation, AI agents linking commits to documents, and compliance validation.
🥽 Traveler Education AR/VR
How can we leverage immersive technologies for awareness and training? Example solutions (non-exhaustive): VR/AR modules for children and people with reduced mobility, gamified assistants, and crowd simulators.
Eligibility criteria
From Vision to Impact: Join Us
We’re looking for ambitious startups with strong technical expertise and a tangible product.
Here are the criteria you need to meet:
✔️ A product built on open-source AI (or a willingness to migrate)
✔️ A dedicated technical lead for the program (CTO, Data Engineer)
✔️ A co-founder directly involved in the program
✔️ A French company or a subsidiary established in France
Program Timeline
- September 25 → October 31, 2025 — Call for applications 📨
- November 1 → November 14, 2025 — Selection of startups for the Pitch stage
- November 17, 2025 — Pitch in front of SNCF × Meta × Hugging Face × HEC Paris incubator 🎤
- January 8, 2026 — Program launch at Station F 🚀
- January → June 2026 — Acceleration, mentoring, experimentation
- End of June 2026 — Demo Day ⭐
How to join?
Step 1 | Application Form
From September 25 to October 31, 2025
→ Fill out the form and upload your pitch deck
⚠️ How to prepare your Pitch Deck?
Step 2 | Pre-selection
From November 1 to November 14, 2025
→ Applications reviewed by a jury of experts (Meta, SNCF Connect & Tech, Hugging Face, HEC Paris)
Step 3 | Final Pitch at Station F
November 17, 2025
→ Pitch + Q&A session with the jury
→ Selection of the 5 winners (program begins: January 2026)
STATION F: a unique campus and community
Huge investor community, 150+ perks and offers, 35 public services, 600+ events and workshops per year - STATION F offers everything entrepreneurs need to launch and grow their businesses.
Learn moreNews
HEC TEAM
META FRANCE TEAM
