Skip to main content
About HEC About HEC
Summer School Summer School
Faculty & Research Faculty & Research
Master’s programs Master’s programs
Bachelor Programs Bachelor Programs
MBA Programs MBA Programs
PhD Program PhD Program
Executive Education Executive Education
HEC Online HEC Online
About HEC
Overview Overview
Who
We Are
Who
We Are
Egalité des chances Egalité des chances
HEC Talents HEC Talents
International International
Sustainability Sustainability
Diversity
& Inclusion
Diversity
& Inclusion
The HEC
Foundation
The HEC
Foundation
Campus life Campus life
Activity Reports Activity Reports
Summer School
Youth Programs Youth Programs
Summer programs Summer programs
Online Programs Online Programs
Faculty & Research
Overview Overview
Faculty Directory Faculty Directory
Departments Departments
Centers Centers
Chairs Chairs
Grants Grants
Knowledge@HEC Knowledge@HEC
Master’s programs
Master in
Management
Master in
Management
Master's
Programs
Master's
Programs
Double Degree
Programs
Double Degree
Programs
Bachelor
Programs
Bachelor
Programs
Summer
Programs
Summer
Programs
Exchange
students
Exchange
students
Student
Life
Student
Life
Our
Difference
Our
Difference
Bachelor Programs
Overview Overview
Course content Course content
Admissions Admissions
Fees and Financing Fees and Financing
MBA Programs
MBA MBA
Executive MBA Executive MBA
TRIUM EMBA TRIUM EMBA
PhD Program
Overview Overview
HEC Difference HEC Difference
Program details Program details
Research areas Research areas
HEC Community HEC Community
Placement Placement
Job Market Job Market
Admissions Admissions
Financing Financing
FAQ FAQ
Executive Education
Home Home
About us About us
Management topics Management topics
Open Programs Open Programs
Custom Programs Custom Programs
Events/News Events/News
Contacts Contacts
HEC Online
Overview Overview
Executive programs Executive programs
MOOCs MOOCs
Summer Programs Summer Programs
Youth programs Youth programs
Executive MBA

Why engaging with other entrepreneurs is crucial for your own startup journey

From financing to talent sourcing to profit margins, HEC Paris Executive MBA students visit Station F to hear from three CEOs about what it takes to launch a successful startup. 

“Sell before you’re ready.”

Tom Pullen, EMBA 20, Executive MBA Alumni and CEO and Founder of Innovinco completed the Innovate Like An Entrepreneur Specialization.

This was one of the key takeaways HEC Paris Executive MBA Alumni and CEO of Innovinco, Tom Pullen, wanted to leave current EMBA students with, during a recent field visit to Station F in Paris for their Test Your Startup Project Specialization.

As part of the excursion to the world’s largest startup campus, the executive heard from three CEOs, including Tom Pullen, about their journey into entrepreneurship, giving the students a chance to hear about what to expect when building a business from scratch.

The Innovinco founder said he relished the opportunity to share his experience with the EMBA participants, who are in the same position he was three years ago before embarking on his own entrepreneurial endeavor.

“When you're creating a business for the first time, there are certain stages that everyone goes through, and it's great to be able to capitalize on the real-life experiences of someone who's already been there. Not only to capitalize on what they did right, but also to avoid making their mistakes!” said Tom.

Having been through the Specialization himself, Tom knew exactly the kind of information that would be applicable for the visiting cohort.

"This specialization is an amazing opportunity to absorb a huge quantity of knowledge and expertise about entrepreneurship in just a few days. You leave the program feeling much more confident in your ability to become a successful entrepreneur," he added.

“When you're creating a business for the first time, there are certain stages that everyone goes through, and it's great to be able to capitalize on the real-life experiences of someone who's already been there." Tom Pullen - Founder & CEO, Innovinco

The group also heard from two more CEOs from HEC’s Incubator Program, including Valérian Giesz, founder and CEO of Quandela, whose mission is to turn quantum mechanics into the business of tomorrow; and Anaïs Barut, founder and CEO of Damae Medical, whose technology has revolutionized non-invasive skin cancer detection.

This Specialization is aimed at executives and senior managers who are seriously thinking about committing themselves to new business ventures as either entrepreneurs, investors or consultants. To successfully launch a startup, or take over an existing one, it is vital to master key areas of management such as marketing, strategy, HR and finance. Giving EMBA participants the opportunity to listen to real-life experiences from entrepreneurs who have been through the intricacies of starting a business, and ask them questions, is an important part of the learning experience.

“This Specialization gives me the opportunity to put my project in front of real investors and presentation professionals, as well as successful entrepreneurs, to benefit both from their insight and feedback,” Florent Millecam, Executive MBA participant. 

HEC Paris Executive MBA student Florent Millecam, EMBA '20, a business developer and journalist, joined the innovation focused Specialization because he has his own entrepreneurial project, which he wants to bring into the next stage of the development.

“This Specialization gives me the opportunity to put my project in front of real investors and presentation professionals, as well as successful entrepreneurs, to benefit both from their insight and feedback,” the Executive MBA participant said.

“During the first day of the Specialization, I found the visit to the startup incubator Station F, along with the presentation of HEC's entrepreneurs' companies, to be really inspiring!” he added.