23-09-2025

MEETING WITH FREDERIC PLAIS, CO-FOUNDER & CEO OF UPSUN (ex‑Platform.sh) & FRENCH TECH SF AMBASSADOR

by French Tech SF

Discreet yet essential, Frédéric Plais is the co-founder and CEO of Platform.sh — now Upsun — a French cloud scale-up certified B Corp, with over 7,000 clients worldwide, an ARR exceeding $50M, and a team of 300 people across 25 countries, fully remote since 2015. A long-time Ambassador and partner of French Tech SF, he is now also involved in developing French Tech in Los Angeles. We spoke with him about the levers of success, the rebranding to “Upsun,” and the role of AI.

“Trust comes with responsibility: kindness and high standards. Being well surrounded is the key to success.”

French Tech SF — Platform.sh today counts over 7,000 clients, an ARR exceeding $50M, solid profitability, and 300 employees across 25 countries. Looking back, what were the key levers that made the difference?

Frédéric Plais — Ten years ago, we made a few decisions that were correct: positioning ourselves on the fast growing cloud adoption market, with a pretty differentiated value proposition: making cloud simpler for software engineers while maintaining the fundamentals required by IT: security, performance, speed, and compliance. And we’ve been lucky that over time, even though we started in 2015, cloud has not become simpler but actually, complexity kept increasing. 

And in 2025, things have continued to increase in complexity: with most applications now being coded with the help of AI and LLM powered IDEs, the stakes are actually even higher: the complexity has been pushed downstream from coding to testing, maintaining, safely deploying and maintaining security across the board around the applications. Cloud Application platforms have never been as useful since the world started adopting vibe coding!

FTSF — What are the major upcoming evolutions? Why the name change?

FP — We have announced today that we are renaming the company from Platform.sh to Upsun. And it’s a very exciting moment for us. A year ago, Upsun was a product line; today, it’s our identity. The message is simple: our scope is expanding. We’ve largely increased the type of applications that are a great fit for the Upsun platform: software engineering teams now  deploy all sorts of apps, ranging from CMS and eCommerce apps which were our bread and butter 10 years ago to SaaS applications, internal systems, or data-intensive apps. But even more importantly, AI is now at the heart of the platform: an AI Assistant can write the configuration file for our customers (even if that config file is pretty short, it was taking on average an hour for a software engineer to understand the logic and write it up). With our MCP server, we now have native integrations with IDEs and code editors (e.g. VS Code) plus compatibility with major LLMs to accelerate setup and workflows. With Upsun, we anticipate a future where developers and agents collaborate actively together, hence our new mantra: “the platform that humans and robots love”.  

FTSF — You chose B Corp certification around four years ago. Why, and what does it change for your users?

FP — B Corp formalizes our commitment: responsible governance, measurable impact, transparency. Concretely, we’re committed to helping our customers reduce their carbon footprint while running applications. For instance, we give our customers a financial discount when they  select a low carbon cloud region (we consider a region green when its electricity grid is generating less than 100 gCO2 per kWh), we’re also giving our customers dashboards where they can track the carbon emissions of their applications. We see ourselves as a mission-driven company: helping users deliver faster, safely, with tools that simplify and empower.

FTSF — You’ve already raised $187M. What advice would you give to founders raising today, and how do you see the current climate?

FP — The financial markets are tough for software businesses right now, except in AI where there are a lot of opportunities. If you are not a pure play AI company, it’s still possible to raise money but only if investors feel that AI will be adding tailwinds. Currently, all software companies are working on incorporating AI as part of their core products, and the key is to understand how to really  add true customer value. 

The market is currently very favorable if you are raising money for a pure play AI company (even though investors are a bit less naive today than a year ago: I think they have a much better idea of what should and should not work). It’s definitely less favorable if you are raising money for a more traditional software company, but it’s essential to build a credible story where AI adds value and shows that AI will be more of an opportunity than a threat. 

Even though I find it really sad, it’s become exceptionally hard to raise money for a company that has nothing to do with AI. It will probably change, but that’s where the market is right now.

FTSF — You’ve been fully remote since 2015. While many are pushing for return to office, how does this model work for you?

FP — It was a bold bet from the start when we made the decision to be fully remote in 2015. We wanted to be truly an international organization from day 1. It worked very well for us:  we hire experienced, autonomous profiles capable of ownership and asynchronous collaboration. We rely on a solid internal infrastructure, explicit communication, and carefully designed onboarding and training. Culture can be summed up in two words: kindness and high standards. Trust comes with responsibility. We also hold in-person seminars every 18 months, highly anticipated moments for the teams. Our average age is around 37, a bit older than industry norms, because this model requires maturity and experience. We also have a strong and present HR/Talent team. This framework gives us focus, speed, and execution quality; we still meet in person when it makes sense.

FTSF — What advice would you give French entrepreneurs who want to scale internationally and enter the U.S. market?

FP — First, cross the ocean. The US is a very demanding market, it’s really hard to crack if you are not living and breathing it every day. Then, secure your product-market fit, adapt your message, pricing, and support. And surround yourself well: community makes a big difference. French Tech, peers, mentors, partners, they provide mutual help, knowledge sharing, and introductions that save time. Stay ready to question yourself and pivot if needed: the U.S. market demands clarity and speed.

FTSF — Leading an international scale-up is demanding: how do you find balance in your daily life?

FP — I wake up early, it’s essential when working across time zones. I try to maintain a good lifestyle, and sports help: I practice many sports: running, cycling, kite-surfing, triathlon, padel. I also travel a lot. But what really makes the difference are the teams: when they’re strong and aligned, everything is smoother and more exciting. And with the Upsun adventure starting, motivation is even stronger.

FTSF — Looking back, what errors or lessons have taught you the most?

FP — Product-market fit is never reached for good: you must stay vigilant, renew, and be ready to pivot extremely fast. That’s a lesson I’ve learned over time. One might think product and market meet once and for all, but it’s actually a continuous process. And being well surrounded remains key: teams are essential. There are also painful moments, like parting ways with collaborators, it’s always very painful for me, but it can also be done in very respectful ways, which we’re always aiming for. It’s unfortunately part of the job when your company is scaling.

FTSF — A recent encounter that stood out to you?

FP — I am very impressed with a company named Beyond Aero. Three very young co-founders, based between Los Angeles and Toulouse, working on light hydrogen-electric aircraft. They’re only 26 but already have a clear, ambitious vision for decarbonized aviation. What struck me is their rare combination: impressive technical rigor and a strong vision of use. It’s a real favorite, and a great illustration of what the new generation of French entrepreneurs can bring.

FTSF — You’re a long-time Ambassador of French Tech SF, now also involved in LA. Why this commitment?

FP — French Tech SF is a dynamic community, one of the first along with New York almost ten years ago. France has built a strong brand: the word “French” matters, just like with other powerful communities (for example, Indians in tech). It has become a marker, a source of trust, and an accelerator. What I value most is the give back spirit: we share, open doors, and pass on our learnings. I’m proud to contribute, in SF and LA alike. My advice: get involved, because the more you give, the stronger the community becomes.

Note: EVOLVE // Upsun Partner Summit
For IT services firms and web agencies: EVOLVE is coming to Paris and New York — two must-attend gatherings to discuss digital platforms, cloud, and AI, connect with peers, and discover what’s next.
• Paris: October 8 & 9, 2025 · Cloud Business Center & La Perruche
• New York: October 29 & 30, 2025 · YOTEL Times Square & The Skylark
Limited spots — contact your Agency Partner Manager to book.

We’re hiring in California!

Check out our open positions here: https://platform.sh/company/careers/

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