Franco-Belgian startup studio Hexa has announced a significant international expansion with the launch of Hexa House San Francisco. This new residence and workspace, located in the city's Cole Valley, is designed to immerse European entrepreneurs directly into the heart of the global AI revolution. Scheduled to welcome its first occupants in January 2026, the initiative aims to provide a critical bridge between Europe's emerging talent and Silicon Valley's dynamic ecosystem.
A Strategic Bridge to Silicon Valley
The new eight-bedroom property will serve as a dedicated hub for founders participating in Hexa's 12-month "Start" program. Entrepreneurs will be invited for three-month immersion periods, intended as a final, intensive sprint to accelerate their ventures. The concept is to create a focused environment free from outside distractions, allowing teams to fully leverage the unique, late-afternoon work window when both Europe and the U.S. East Coast are offline.
Tapping into the AI Epicenter
The decision is a direct response to San Francisco's re-emergence as the undisputed epicenter of artificial intelligence. Hexa CEO Matthieu Gombeaud noted that a recent trend of European founders moving to the Bay Area has become a "broader migration." He emphasized that the city offers an unparalleled density of talent, creativity, and execution speed that is impossible to replicate remotely, providing a crucial accelerator for any founder's trajectory.
Hexa's connection to the city is not new, as the studio has a long history of its portfolio companies engaging with the local ecosystem. Over a dozen startups born within Hexa, including the prominent SaaS company Front, have successfully graduated from the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator. More recently, a new wave of AI-native companies like Basalt, Tandem, and Dialog have adopted a dual-hub model, operating between Paris and San Francisco.
An Alternative to the Accelerator Mold
Co-founder Thibaud Elzière articulated a vision for Hexa House as more than just a satellite office, positioning it as a potential alternative to established accelerators. He stressed the desire to offer a warm, collaborative environment that combines lodging and workspace, contrasting it with impersonal and costly short-term rentals. The initiative aims to build a supportive community hub for its founders while they are in the United States.
Elzière draws a compelling parallel between the current AI boom and the previous SaaS "gold rush" that defined Silicon Valley, noting the new wave is of an even greater magnitude. He observed a strong desire among Hexa's teams to be physically present where the industry's future is being shaped. This new base provides the essential physical foothold for its companies to avoid feeling like they are missing out on the AI revolution.
A Calculated First Step with Global Ambitions
For now, Hexa House is described as "planting a flag" in San Francisco through a long-term lease, but the studio is open to making it a more permanent fixture. The immediate plan is to fill the residence with a rotating cast of partners and founders from the Hexa ecosystem, establishing a continuous presence. This initial phase will serve as a proof of concept for the studio's new international immersion model.
The success of the San Francisco house will determine the project's future, with Elzière not ruling out opening similar hubs in other key locations if the model proves effective. This move significantly enhances the value proposition of Hexa's Start program, offering a unique advantage to attract top-tier entrepreneurs focused on AI. It represents a foundational step in potentially building a European-led alternative to dominant Silicon Valley incubators.
Ultimately, the launch of Hexa House San Francisco represents a strategic and timely investment in the future of Hexa's portfolio companies. By providing a direct and structured pathway into the world's leading AI ecosystem, the startup studio is equipping its founders with the proximity and resources needed to build globally competitive ventures. This initiative solidifies Hexa's commitment to fostering innovation that transcends geographical boundaries and competes on the world stage.