Roxanne Varza

Varza was born in 1985 in Palo Alto, California, in a Zoroastrian Family. Her parents emigrated from Iran in 1979 during the Islamic Revolution.[1] Varza obtained a bachelor's degree in French literature from UCLA.[2] In 2007, she joined Business France, then known as the French International Investment Agency. Later, Varza decided to move to France for further studies. From 2009 to 2011, she pursued a dual degree between Sciences Po Paris and the London School of Economics, obtaining a master's degree in International Business and a degree in International Economic Policy.[1]

Varza was previously the head of French Microsoft start-up activities, including Bizspark and Microsoft Ventures and currently serves as Director of Station F, a large startup incubator facility in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. Prior to working with Microsoft, she was part of multiple European start-up companies and was the editor for TechCrunch France, which she received a job offer from after writing the blog TechBaguette.[1] Her activities also include advising Silicon Valley corporations about opening in France.[2] She co-founded Girls in Tech Paris, Girls in Tech London, and was the founder of the website Tech.eu.[3] Girls In Tech organizes training courses in computer code writing for women.[4]

In April 2013, Business Insider ranked Roxanne Varza among the 30 most influential women under 30 in the technology sector.