Entrepreneurship in a Digital Age Certificate Entrepreneurship in a Digital Age Certificate

The Digital Entrepreneurship Certificate forms a vital part of HEC's growing stance in e-business, along with 1st and 2nd year elective courses, the Digital Specialization, the MSc Data Science for Business X-HEC with Ecole Polytechnique and the HEC Paris start-up Incubator.

The Certificate provides HEC students (either Major, MSc or MBA) with the opportunity to embrace e-business through an entrepreneurial approach. Entrepreneurship can mean start-ups and the creation of new ventures, as well as the development of innovative projects within large companies. That is why the Certificate will explore the various ways digital technologies enhance innovation through new business models, e-commerce, digital communication, collaborative marketing, the funding of new ventures, etc.

The program will alternate various pedagogical methods so as to make this two-month period both exciting and memorable for participants. Courses will be taught partly by professors from HEC or from North American or Indian universities, and partly by professional experts with teaching experience. Digital managers and entrepreneurs will share their knowledge of the business through conferences and testimonials in addition to regular courses. These conferences and courses will run alongside case studies, a consulting mission and also an entrepreneurial project.

The Certificate was under the direction of the HEC Chair in E-Business, that was funded in 2011. The Chair and Certificate were created thanks to sponsorship from a group of 5 French digital entrepreneurs who have between them been responsible for the creation and management of some of the top digital companies in Europe : Free, PriceMinister, Pixmania, Vente-privee.com and Meetic.

The program is structured around three main principles:

1. Concepts

These are taught through 100 hours of courses, delivered by both Professors and experts. These courses mix lessons, cases and group works.

2. Real-life lessons and experience sharing

In a field that is constantly developing, where innovation remains key, conferences and testimonials from entrepreneurs and digital managers are a fundamental part of the training.

Students will have the opportunity to interact with the top 5 entrepreneurs in France, as well as with other entrepreneurs and digital managers from large companies.

3. Practice

Students will have the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge and skills they will develop in the program through:

• A Digital Entrepreneurship Track. Students, in groups, will conceive, develop and defend a new venture project before a jury of professionals. They will have to write an executive summary and pitch their project and will be trained and coached for that purpose.
• A Consulting Mission. This is a one-week intensive competition where students, in groups, will work on a real consulting mission dealing with an e-business submitted by a company. At the end of the week, they will have 20 minutes to present their recommendations (and 10 additional minutes for discussion) to the company.