Heetch v. The French Government

European Straits #7

Dear all,

Heetch, one of the fastest-growing companies in TheFamily’s portfolio, has just been brought to a halt by the judicial system. Last week, a French court sentenced the company and its founders to pay hundreds of thousands of euros to both the state and taxi drivers who sought compensation for the damage allegedly inflicted by Heetch’s activity. We don’t know yet if Heetch will proceed in appealing the decision. What we know for sure is that we’ve just witnessed a spectacular failure from the French ecosystem when it comes to supporting local entrepreneurs.

Heetch’s mission is to make it possible for young people living in the relegated “banlieues” to go and party in Paris at night. Amateur drivers share their own car to enable them to safely travel back to their home. Before Heetch existed, young people going to nearby Paris for drinks, parties or simply meeting friends had but two options for getting back home late at night: wait until the early hours of the morning, when the …