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Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute

HEC Paris Startup Launchpad HEC Paris Startup Launchpad

Launch your startup in only 11 weeks!


Language: English
 

logo du programme HEC Startup Launchpad

About the program

HEC Paris Startup Launchpad stands as one of the leading accelerators for student startups, empowering you to create and launch your own venture in just 11 weeks!

If you are an entrepreneur student with a startup project, the HEC Paris Startup Launchpad is the perfect fit for you. We offer a unique format that combines a 'learning by doing' approach with an exceptional community of experts in the startup ecosystem. 

Leverage their expertise to validate the early stages of your project and skyrocket your startup!

 

HEC Paris Startup Launchpad

Format: On site
Duration: 3 months
Language(s): English
Place(s): Paris – Jouy-en-Josas Campus

Objectives

The HEC Startup Launchpad program is designed to provide startups with the necessary tools and resources to launch and grow their startup. With direct application to their startup project, students will be able to:

  • Understand the key principles of market research, customer discovery, and business model validation;
  • Develop a clear value proposition and identify target customer segments;
  • Develop sales and marketing strategies to drive customer acquisition and growth;
  • Define a suitable and viable business model;
  • Learn how to pitch and present their startup to investors and other stakeholders;
  • Build a strong team and company culture;
  • Successfully prepare a raise funds from investors and other sources.


The program includes masterclasses & coaching sessions with professionals, mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, coaching or immersive weeks with professionals on dedicated topics, talks & company visits, numerous pitches to investors, a learning expedition week in London to discover the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the UK, and access to HEC's network of investors and partners.

This program grants HEC Paris students 15 ECTS.

Why join the program?

HEC Paris Startup Launchpad is not an ordinary entrepreneurship training programme. It is a start-up creation accelerator that draws on the experience of successful entrepreneurs and customer development methodologies.

In just 11 intense weeks, we equip you with essential methodologies and cutting-edge tools to transform your project into a successful startup. You’ll deepen your understanding of customer development and gain the practical skills needed to elevate your venture.

Beyond the curriculum, HEC Paris Startup Launchpad is a vibrant community. You gain access to the expertise of over 170 professionals, including mentors, experts, coaches, venture capitalists, and successful entrepreneurs. They will guide you through the initial stages of your project and provide invaluable support to launch your startup towards success.
 

“Every entrepreneur goes through the same stages, and we provide the ecosystem. By sharing our methodologies and experiences, we can maximize your chances of success and save you valuable time. Regardless of your project's outcome, the human experience gained will be invaluable. This experience is what drives aspiring entrepreneurs forward in their careers.”

- Guillaume le Dieu de Ville, Executive Director, HEC Startup Launchpad,
co-founder of Lingueo

Who can join?

This program is open to students in their final year from the following HEC Paris Master & MSc programmes + their team members (regardless of whether they are HEC students):


We also welcome students from our partner schools: Université Paris-Saclay as part of their Masters in Law, Entrepreneurship and Digital (M2 LEAD), NYU Stern, and ESA Business School as part of their Master in Entrepreneurship.

Launchpad school partners UPS NYU ESA

The programme is open to HEC Paris or partner schools students but welcomes all the members of the selected teams, including students from other schools and professionals from various backgrounds. Whether you specialize in business, law, engineering, coding, design, or other fields, the Launchpad values and leverages the diversity and complementarity of profiles as one of its key strengths.

KEY FIGURES

961

entrepreneur students since 2016

483

projects accompanied since 2016

100

startups from Launchpad still active

12

successful exits

40

different industries covered

Testimonials

Flore Lestrade
The Launchpad experience was the peak of my years at HEC Paris. That’s where I transitioned from being a student to becoming an entrepreneur. Where I met one of my co-founders. One piece of advice: go for it. Discover Veeton
Nicolò Magnante
The Launchpad was such a fundamental step in the creation process of Bluco. I can't imagine building and scaling the company without the incredible support and expertise of the Launchpad team. For any aspiring entrepreneur in the HEC community, this...
Gabrielle Francey
The HEC Launchpad provided us with a solid methodology for structuring the early stages of our start-up, Ako. Thanks to the team's commitment and availability, we were able to avoid the usual pitfalls and confidently move forward with our project...
Emma Freyd
The HEC Startup Launchpad gave me all the keys to launch my startup during my Master's degree: concrete and pragmatic masterclasses on market discovery, business model or sales, and advice from experienced and inspiring entrepreneurs!
Mamady Djikine
The launchpad is an incredible environment where I learned from mentors, peers, and many industry experts. I got exposed to numerous approaches and pieces of advice that helped us accelerate and launch the right solution to the right audience...
Bruno Heckel
The Launchpad was without doubt the most stimulating experience of my time at HEC, giving me the weapons and confidence I needed to found Eledone. The mentors do their utmost to ensure that students are in the best possible conditions to create their...
Louise Eon
The HEC Startup Launchpad was instrumental in creating Resilient, enabling us to transform a research project into a professional venture. It provided us with the necessary tools to make a meaningful impact in the climate-tech sector, empowering us...
Olivier Croese
This program challenged us with the support of mentors and a network of experts, opening new perspectives that encouraged us to rethink certain aspects of MonCab. Already deeply committed to the MonCab journey, we found in this experience the drive...
Valentin Heuzé
The HEC Launchpad was a game-changer for Revolty. Through structured methodology and pragmatic advices, they knew exactly how to press where it hurt to challenge our biases, helping us launch Revolty under the best possible conditions. A big thank...

OUR ALUMNI STARTUPS

It's happened during the program...

Short talk with Paul Midy about the French entrepreneurial landscape
HEC Paris Startup Launchpad: Design Sprint Session 2024

News

seven smiling women pose together at the Women’s Forum event. They are dressed in professional attire and wear accreditation badges around their necks. Behind them, a purple backdrop features a large screen with the text 'GOOD: Reweaving the Fabric of Society, One Venture at a Time Pitching Contest.' The women are standing close to each other, conveying a sense of camaraderie and positivity

For the fourth consecutive year, the Women Entrepreneurs for Good (WE4G) program finalists took center stage at the 2024 Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society Global Meeting on October 23-24 in Paris...

In collaboration with leading figures from HEC Paris, Guillaume Le Dieu de Ville, the director of Startup Launchpad , has brought fresh innovation to the teaching of entrepreneurship. In an exclusive...

Recognized as one of the most dynamic student startup accelerator in Europe, the HEC Paris Startup Launchpad transforms ideas into startups in just 11 weeks! This effective method has been highly...

Vivatech 2024

Once again, Vivatech has lived up to its name! Europe’s biggest startup and technology event attracted thousands of attendees, including a large part of the HEC Paris community and our partners. For the...

NEXT40/FT120 2024 - vignette

The French Tech Next40/120 laureates were announced during world’s biggest tech event VivaTech! In this 5th edition, HEC Paris stands out as the top business school for producing promising startups, with...

As the curtains draw on another successful edition of the HEC Paris Startup Launchpad, it's time to reflect on the whirlwind of entrepreneurial energy, creativity, and innovation that unfolded over the...

Launchpad - London Grand Pitch Night

Join us on Wednesday, March 20 for the annual HEC Paris Startup Launchpad Grand Pitch Night, live from the Curzon Soho movie theater in London! This special evening will feature 6 finalists who have been...

Doers to Doers Paris Saclay Spring - Vignette

What's happened over the past two months at the HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center? As the academic year draws to a close, the Center offers a retrospective of its flourishing activity. Here's...

HEC UK - Startup Launchap March 23

Every year, the HEC UK Office organises a Learning Expedition in London for over 100 entrepreneur students from the HEC Startup Launchpad. This program, now run by the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center...

The second edition of Demo Day took place on Tuesday, June 7 at Station F. More than 500 people attended to listen to inspiring speakers, discover tomorrow's innovative solutions and meet the major...

After nine weeks of intensive acceleration, the 46 projects of the 7th edition of the HEC Startup Launchpad presented their business plans during the Final Grand Pitch on Friday, March 25 in Paris.

London Grand Pitch Night 2022

Every year, the HEC UK Office organizes a Learning Expedition to London for 100 students entrepreneurs from the HEC Startup Launchpad. This program works like an accelerator, designed to help student...

HEC Paris UK Office - Startup Launchpad 2021

Every year, the HEC UK Office organizes a Learning Expedition to London for 170-200 student-entrepreneurs from the HEC Startup Launchpad. This program works like an accelerator, designed to help student...

The team

Guillaume le Dieu de Ville
Guillaume Le Dieu de Ville
Head of Startup Launchpad
Mathias Abramovicz
Mathias Abramovicz
Head of Pedagogy
Rémi Rivas
Rémi Rivas
Head of Pedagogy
Fabrice Graff - HEC Paris
Fabrice Graff
Program Manager
Sophie Rebouillat-Lesieur
Program Coordinator
Keep up with us!