Little empirical research has been conducted on competitive intelligence in French SMEs. The influence of SMEs' top decision makers' personal networks on competitive intelligence practices' development remains to be explored. This paper aims at studying and measuring this influence. To do so, a literature review of both competitive intelligence and social capital fields led us to construct a conceptual model based on four hypotheses. Data from 193 questionnaires are analysed through a PLS regression. These ques-tionnaires were filled out by French SME high-tech dedicated to information, telecom and audio-visual technologies. The results provide support for the four hypotheses. The results showed that personal networks of decision makers influence positively the development level of competi-tive intelligence practices in high-tech French SMEs.