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Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute

HEC Challenge +

HEC Challenge + HEC Challenge +

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Language: French

Logos Challenge + Afrique

About the program

The HEC Challenge+ program helps creators of innovative projects with high growth potential to develop their business plans and supports them in their development. Its educational formula combines training, consulting, and personalized follow-up.

The diversity of the HEC Challenge+ network, as well as the breadth and quality of its experts, make it a unique initiative. A pioneer in training for innovative entrepreneurs, HEC Challenge+ is clearly established as the undisputed leader in its market.

HEC Challenge +

Format: On site & Online
Duration: 9 months
Language(s): French
Next start(s):
Place(s): Paris – Jouy-en-Josas Campus

Objectives

Rely on a methodological framework to design, write, and present a business plan.

 

Implement the innovative/entrepreneurial project with partners/pilots to test its viability


Design a comprehensive, viable business plan based on key metrics, founded on market analysis, a clear competitive advantage, and an economic model to convince stakeholders


Communicate the project to investors, partners, or decision-makers to persuade them of the project's relevance and attractiveness

 

The Spirit of the Program

The HEC Challenge experience also cultivates a mindset because management cannot be improvised! It entails:

  • Providing you with benchmarks, reflexes, and inspiration
  • Allowing you to exchange with your peers, develop a real cohort spirit, and benefit from it
  • Testing the team (1 to 3 co-founders per project)

 

Evaluation Modalities

  • Individual assessment through a quiz on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship
  • Project evaluation through an oral and written pitch presentation

 

Certification

RNCP*: 39423BC04 - Design, Write, and Present a Business Plan for an Innovative or Entrepreneurial Project

*Répertoire national des certifications professionnelles

Program & Benefits


  • 2 cohorts per year
  • 24 days spread over one year (February to November or October to June)
  • 8 monthly action-learning seminars
  • 5 sessions on the HEC campus, 3 online sessions
  • Foundational contributions (HEC professors) and practical insights (coaching + testimonials)
  • Diagnostic seminars
  • Management: strategy, marketing, finance, HR, etc.
  • Intellectual property, investor relations, business development, negotiation, etc.
  • Benefit from the teaching of HEC Paris professors
  • Create a new operational network, through exchanges between participants, alumni of the CHALLENGE+ club, associated partners, and HEC Paris students
  • Validate the concept of your business creation project
  • Develop a solid business plan that will enable you to seek funding
  • Step out of your daily routine to reflect on and work on your project
  • Obtain a label recognized by many stakeholders in business creation: financiers, public organizations, etc.

Join the HEC Challenge+ adventure!

Key Figures

+1,000

startups supported

7

IPOs

1B €

raised from investors

97%

Success rate upon certification

4,7/5

Satisfaction rate

25 - 40

Participants per cohort, approximately 20 projects

 

Dive into the heart of the HEC Forum

The HEC Forum is the culmination of the 9-month Challenge+ program. Participants pitch their projects to experts and investors. A memorable experience that concludes the program...

Who can join?

The program is aimed at entrepreneurs with innovative and high-tech projects, specifically those who meet the following criteria:

  • Being the initiator of a project (or an already established company) that is innovative in technology or services
  • Being a scientist, engineer, self-taught individual, etc.
  • Possessing an entrepreneurial spirit
  • Leading a business project with high development potential

The program is also accessible to non-project initiators. To be eligible:

  • Being a project supporter within an incubation structure
  • Being employed by a company whose founders have previously participated in the program

The program is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Please contact us to discuss any additional needs or to obtain the Public Accessibility Register.

Program Fees

The market price for the Challenge+ program is €30,000.
However, HEC Paris is committed to supporting the entrepreneurship of tomorrow and deep tech. For this reason, the HEC Foundation and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute offer excellence scholarships to participants who meet the quality criteria, covering most of the training cost with the support of our associated partners. The training prices for these profiles are as follows:

  • If you are a project initiator: €6,500 (incl. VAT)

  • Price reduction based on the number of initiators:

    • 2 initiators: €5,000 (incl. VAT) per initiator
    • 3 initiators: €4,500 (incl. VAT) per initiator
  • If you are a non-project participant: €6,500 (incl. VAT)

 

  mon compte formation logo  

Training eligible for OPCO and the Personal Training Account (CPF)

Selection process

The selection process consists of four steps and is entirely online.


Please note that the time between the Grand Jury decision and the start of classes is approximately 3 weeks.

Dialogue

Phone interview

Application

April - June 2024

Selection committee

July 2024

stars-picto

Grand Jury

Our partners

Logo Groupe Afigec
Logo Tazé-Bernard & Associés
Logo CEA
logo Dassault Systemes
Schlumberger logo TM

Pedagogical team

The academic team is composed of HEC Paris professors, subject matter experts, and Challenge+ alumni.

The HEC Challenge+ rising stars to watch

Among the 120 French startups that will shape the economy of tomorrow, according to Les Echos Start, nearly 25% have gone through HEC CHALLENGE+:

Genepred, Avalun, Millidrop, VitaDx, Inotrem, Poietis, Bodycap, Kinestesia, InSimo, MesDépanneurs.fr, 2Spark, Sublimed, Airinnov, Trustinsoft, Ethera, Qucit, Thrustme, Stiral, Greencreative, Lactips, Accelad, Novae, Apix, 3deau, Sirfull, Nawatechnology, Greenerwave, Fysiki.

 

The flagship companies of HEC CHALLENGE+

Logos Startups Challenge +

 

THE SUPPORT TEAM

Aymeric Penven
Aymeric Penven
Executive Director
Etienne Krieger
Affiliate Professor & Scientific Director
Frédéric Iselin
Frédéric Iselin
Affiliate Professor

NEWS

Challenge + Dakar 2023

Some programs need no introduction. HEC Challenge + is certainly one of them. Specially designed by HEC Paris to help innovators, scientists, and engineers develop their business plans and guide their...

Forum Challenge + 2023 Vignette

HEC Challenge + has established itself as the leading program for innovators with high-growth potential projects. Through high-level teaching, quality support, and an extensive network, innovative...

forum hec challenge plus 2021-1

This year, the HEC Challenge+ forum was part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week program, the week that celebrates entrepreneurship around the world. It was an opportunity to showcase the most talented...

La promotion 2019-1

On November 14th, the FORUM HEC CHALLENGE + took place on the HEC Paris campus. This event marked the closing of the 2019-1 promotion

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