Agense Stracquadanio
8 min read
09 November 2025
Originally from a small town not far from Lyon, France, Lucas Di Franco studied business management and marketing across France, Czech Republic and China. During an internship, he realized he wanted to start his own business and began pursuing an entrepreneurial path. He noticed that it was becoming increasingly essential for people to be able to charge their phone batteries anywhere, which led to cofounding One Flash with a close friend in 2020. The company implemented a new way for users to recharge their devices: scan the QR code at a One Flash station, collect a power bank to charge their device on the go, and then drop it off at any other station. One Flash now operates in 10 countries with over 1,000 stations across Europe.
What brought you to found the company?
Running out of smartphone battery is a problem almost everyone faces daily. We've all seen people scrambling for the last available outlet or sitting on the floor in a train station just to charge their phones. When their phone battery dies, people can feel stuck in the city. In some cases, they can't even access public transport like the metro. As we rely on more devices, staying charged has become more important than ever. That’s why we're building the largest network of shared power banks, available to rent on the go.
What inspired you?
When I was in Beijing during my master’s degree, I noticed that many restaurant tables had cables to charge devices. You scanned a QR code and paid a small fee to unlock the power. I brought this idea back to Paris and pitched it to local restaurants, but restaurant tables in Paris are much smaller than in China, leaving no room for built-in chargers. So, the best alternative was something portable.
What’s your mission?
Our mission is to make it possible for anyone to charge any device, anywhere. By building a large, accessible network, we aim to reduce the need for people to constantly buy cheap cables, chargers and power banks, and help extend the life of their smartphones by preventing battery damage that often leads to early replacements.
What help made the progress possible?
Station F had a major impact on our journey. It’s a well-known hub among investors and clients, and it’s been incredibly helpful for networking and recruiting talent.
What were some of the biggest challenges?
Every part of the journey has been a challenge, from developing the hardware early on, succeeding in sales, making sure that people can easily unlock the power bank they need, and finding the right people to build the best team. Since it’s my first company, every task feels like a new learning curve. Fundraising has been another big challenge, especially managing a large amount of money after a funding round – something I wasn’t used to. One of the toughest moments was having to change the sales team. It’s hard because it means letting people go and speeding up the hiring process to bring in new talent while also keeping the rest of the team motivated. People can start to worry that the company is in trouble when they see the sales team gone, so managing that fear and maintaining trust becomes just as important as rebuilding the team.
“Align your ambitions with your willingness to work and make sacrifices.”
What has been the most rewarding part of the journey so far?
I’m a salesperson – it’s part of my DNA – so every time I sign a new contract, it feels like the most rewarding moment, because it means our solution works, it’s appreciated by others and there’s a real need for it.
Why choose Paris to found a company?
The ecosystem in Paris is stimulating, with all the companies and investors based in the city. I think it’s harder to build a company elsewhere, while Paris makes you feel like it’s possible. It’s an amazing city to start and grow a business.
What's next for your company?
We’re a team of 25 and recently closed our third round of fundraising, raising a total of €7 million. After each funding round, there’s always a phase of hiring and onboarding before hitting the targets we’ve promised investors. We’ve already tripled our revenue. Our goal now is to hire 25 more people and reach €10 million in annual recurring revenue by tripling the current network of over 1,000 stations within the next two years. Now, it’s time to execute.
What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs?
Work hard. I believe that’s the one rule in entrepreneurship – the only truly universal advice. Many people have big ambitions but aren’t willing to put in the effort. You have to accept that in order to reach a big goal, you might not be able to take a vacation for three or four years or go out every weekend. If you have ambition but aren’t ready to make those sacrifices, you’ll never feel truly satisfied.
What do you think of the startup landscape in Europe?
The past few years have seen tremendous growth in startup funding. In the past, there wasn’t much knowledge about how to fund a startup, but now there are many more resources available and the overall level of understanding is improving. The most frustrating part is that many beginners jump in for the wrong reasons without realizing how many hours of hard work it actually takes. Some people like the idea of being an entrepreneur but don’t commit to doing the real work behind the scenes.
From an investor’s perspective, the ecosystem is also growing. That might not be the case in other parts of the world. We’re lucky, as Europe offers one of the biggest markets for consumers and one of the best ecosystems for building a company, and it’s the largest consumer market.
“The founding process really comes down to you: your energy, your metrics, and your ability to convince others.”