Lift-France is brilliant

Really enjoying LIFT France. These guys have managed to find a different group of speakers to the main circuit who pop up everywhere, and its a healthy mix of international and French participants. Add to this the spectacular setting of Marseille (hot but dry) and this is making for a great visit.

Heading out to Marseilles

I confess I don't know enough about how entrepreneurs and social media specialists operate in the Francophone world. My work in Benin has been with people who speak local languages - can't really describe it as Francophone. Time to explore - and capture on video. LIFT-France kicks off Monday night and promises to be really hot property. It's 32 C in Marseille, but it is dry. It is great to see where the successes are happening in South Europe, Africa and the US (in Austin and SFO particularly). So sad to see some great ideas collapsing in Northern Europe because of peoples' unwillingness to share instead of shout. On the other hand, congrats to my colleague Soule Issiaka for the success in bidding for training contracts in West Africa.