<human>:  When did the French East India Company start?
<bot>: The French East India Company was founded in 1664 by King Louis XIV. It was an early example of a joint stock company, which is a type of business that is owned by many investors. It was the first company in the world to use stockholders to finance its operations. The company was a trading company, which traded in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It had its own fleet of ships and employed thousands of people. It was also the first company to make a profit.