The 14th promotion “United by Tech” dedicated to AI patroned by Philippe Aghion, Nobel Prize in Economics.
JFD and its Grand Jury reveal the finalists for the 14th promotion of the 2026 Margaret Awards, dedicated to female entrepreneurs and business leaders who share the same ambition: to foster the development of world-class AI capable of combining performance, ethics and strategic autonomy.
This award is a direct response to the challenges highlighted by the European AI Barometer: moving beyond the start-up mindset to build a genuine European Mittelstand of innovation. To achieve this, JFD has set a target for the private sector: to create a surge in demand with a goal of 9% of procurement going to innovative European start-ups within two years.
Through its €1 million acceleration programme, the Margaret Awards identify and propel the technological gems capable of winning these contracts and scaling up.
“Equipping Europe with sovereign AI does not depend solely on our computing power or algorithmic intelligence. Above all, it rests upon the women and men committed and determined to forge a European force capable of asserting itself against future global standards. Diversity is the indispensable fuel for this mission; in this regard, I am very proud to patronise this 14th promotion of the Margaret Awards by JFD. These AI champions and the projects they lead have the capacity to strengthen the very foundations of our strategic autonomy and our future industrial power. The future of our technological sovereignty is being written by these exceptional women—this new generation of leaders capable of changing the world.” — Philippe Aghion, Nobel Prize in Economics, Patron of the Margaret Awards 2026
The 2026 finalists demonstrate the diversity and excellence of the new AI generation
At a time when AI is redefining geopolitical, economic and industrial balances, the Margaret Awards shine a spotlight on a generation of leaders who have already embraced these major changes and are proposing concrete solutions for shaping the future.
Entrepreneur Category: Pioneers of the new AI economy
- Delphine Groll, co-founder & COO of Nabla: Medical AI that gives healthcare professionals back control over the time they spend on patient care, within a framework based on trust, safety and ethics.
- Roxane Laigle, co-founder & CEO of Lemrock: AI that is revolutionising agentic commerce by defining new ways of interacting for consumers and retailers.
Intrapreneur Category: The architects of Sovereign European AI
- Aude Durand, Deputy CEO iliad Group : AI supported by European digital infrastructure as a credible alternative for businesses, offering high performance, competitiveness and sovereignty.
- Juliette Mattioli, Thales AI Fellow, VP for the project Confiance.ai: Trusted AI that equips players in Europe’s strategic industries with certifiable systems and a methodology of excellence, thereby guaranteeing the autonomy of our critical sectors.
Junior Category: The young prodigies who are using AI as a shield against the crises of tomorrow
- Aaraadhana Radhakrishnan, 16 years old, for the project SustainAI: AI that anticipates the challenges of nuclear and chemical waste management to ensure safer, more efficient and more sustainable treatment.
- Koralie Theresine, 22 years old, for the project DigiTwin: AI that detects the early signs of sepsis, a life-threatening post-operative infection. A digital twin-based technology that saves lives.
“Europe’s AI sector is not short of talent, but of clients to enable it to scale up. Sovereignty cannot be built in isolation. That is the whole point of this 14th “United by Tech” promotion. At JFD, our mission is to transform our tech start-ups into industrial giants through the strategic and commercial alliances we forge. The finalists of the 2026 Margaret Awards are not content merely to innovate; they are building the highly competitive industry that Europe needs to establish itself as a global technological powerhouse.” — Delphine Remy-Boutang, Founder & CEO of JFD
An exceptional jury championing European AI
JFD ensures that the Margaret Awards jury is much more than just a selection panel: it is a collective of economic decision-makers and influencers committed to identifying the women who will shape the technology economy of tomorrow.
The Jury, chaired by Delphine Remy-Boutang, met on 19 March at LVMH, a JFD partner, and brought together the expertise of: Pascale Assémat (Chief Data Officer, La Poste Group), Julie Huguet (Director Mission French Tech), Sophie Iborra (Journalist & Director of Engagement, La Tribune), Julien Khaski (Editor-in-Chief, Maddyness), Dan Kohn (Head of Ecosystem Development, Septeo), Valérie Laugier (Director of Brand, Advertising and Sponsorship, TotalEnergies), Charlie Perreau (Head of Media-Tech-Startups, Les Echos), Johanna Ponté (Group VP HR for Tech & Digital, LVMH), Anne-Marie Rocco (Grand reporter, Challenges), Barbara Sessa (France Managing Director, Mastercard), Paulo Sol (Chief Information Officer France, Carrefour), Ariane Thomas (Global Tech Director of Sustainability, L’Oréal Group) and Stéphanie Zolesio (President Casino Real Estate & Fintechs, Casino Group).
9 April: 14th Margaret Awards Ceremony 2026
The three 2026 winners will be announced at the official ceremony on 9 April, in the presence of Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly, at Hôtel de Lassay. They will join the JFD acceleration programme, valued at €1 million, which will give them access to support tailored to “scale-up”.
Co-developed with JFD’s partners, this acceleration programme—which has become a benchmark for the ecosystem—includes: international visibility, elite mentoring, access to the most advanced R&D laboratories, speaking engagements at major tech events, introductions to investors and business angels, and direct commercial opportunities with major groups and CAC 40 companies.
Find out more about the finalists and the jury for the 2026 Margaret Awards: https://www.joinjfd.com/en/margaret-awards/
