The Startup Launchpad 2026: An Immersive London Experience
Each year, the HEC UK Office brings together over 120 aspiring entrepreneurs in London for a flagship Learning Expedition as part of the HEC Startup Launchpad. Led by the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute, this intensive 11-week accelerator is built around a “learning by doing” philosophy, empowering students to turn ideas into tangible ventures. The program gathers participants from across HEC Paris degrees—including X-HEC Entrepreneurs, Data Science & AI for Business, Sustainability & Social Innovation, and Digital Innovation & Acceleration—as well as partner institutions such as Paris-Saclay University, NYU Stern, ESA Business School, and the Imagin Launchpad. Beyond its academic structure, the Startup Launchpad stands out as a vibrant ecosystem, connecting students with a community of over 170 mentors, experts, investors, and entrepreneurs.
This year’s London Week once again delivered a rich and memorable experience, combining inspiration, hands-on learning, and high-stakes competition.
Setting the Tone: Insights from the French Tech Ecosystem
The week opened at the Cinéma Lumière of the French Institute in London with a conversation that immediately set an ambitious tone. Interviewed by students Coralie Diab and Tom Voire, Mathilde Bacholle and Matthieu Ruatti, board members of La French Tech London, shared their perspectives on scaling startups internationally and navigating today’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Their insights offered students both strategic vision and practical guidance—an ideal starting point for a week dedicated to growth and experimentation.
The evening continued with an early-stage pitch session, where Mathilde Bacholle and Matthieu Ruatti were joined by Marie Guyot and Michael Da Costa to form the jury, which selected the sixth and final startup to join the Grand Pitch Night lineup—adding an extra layer of anticipation to the days ahead.
Learning by Doing: Workshops
Through interactive workshops, students were invited to deepen their understanding of both the technical and human dimensions of entrepreneurship. Joelle Deroy led a session on entrepreneurship and personality, encouraging participants to reflect on team dynamics, leadership styles, and decision-making processes. In parallel, Stewart Bewley guided students through storytelling techniques, helping them refine the way they present their ventures to investors and stakeholders.
Talking with Those Who’ve Been There
A defining feature of the London Week was the opportunity for students to engage directly with experienced founders. Over the course of the program, 11 HEC alumni entrepreneurs and UK-based founders generously took the time to meet participants in small, informal groups.
These conversations stood out for their authenticity. Far from polished success stories, speakers shared the full reality of their entrepreneurial journeys—discussing setbacks, difficult decisions, unexpected pivots, as well as key milestones and achievements. For many students, these exchanges provided not only practical advice but also a clearer, more grounded vision of what it truly means to build and grow a company.
The Grand Pitch Night: A Defining Moment
The highlight of the week came with the much-anticipated Grand Pitch Night, hosted at Curzon Soho.
In front of an audience of more than 300 guests and a live online broadcast, six finalist teams took to the stage to present their ventures. After days of preparation, workshops, and mentoring, this was their moment to bring their ideas to life in a high-pressure, high-visibility setting.
They pitched before a distinguished jury composed of Sebastien Breteau (Founder & CEO at QIMA), Emma Davies (CIO at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation), Harsha Shah (Managing Director at Bank of America), and Tugba Unkan (Founder of Spice Brands and Flipside Advisors).
At the end of the evening, two standout startups were recognised:
Prize of the Jury: Fleuret AI (Yanis Grigy, Augustin Ponsin, Macky Dabo) All in one offensive cybersecurity at scale. To learn more about Fleuret AI, follow this link.
Prize of the Audience: Artenas (Diane Vitry Meyer, Louis Leibovici, Adèle Rolin, Solal Zana) We are building a full AI Native App Studio and Publisher specialized in the everyday skills and abilities apps. To learn more about Artenas, follow this link.
As part of their award, both teams will benefit from an exclusive one-hour coaching session with Petra Freddi, winner of the 2025 UK Trajectoire Prize.
Missed the live event? Catch the replay on YouTube!
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