Could be that you were meeting with the wrong people - those with the time on their hands to meet over what is frankly a very unlikely opportunity for them (if you're based in France, and they do Realty in SF/SV etc) or are having to be so opportunistic are probably not the people who are going to be the best placed to help you. Those that can make that golden connection, have they key knowledge or can make something happen may be simply too busy to meet someone without a strong endorsement within their network.

I wouldn't tarnish all of SV as being "not tech savvy" simply from the bench of folks who would take a meeting like this.