The Business Creation Project

The Business Creation Project (BCP), integrated into the Master in Management - Grande École Program at emlyon business school, is a flagship initiative that combines entrepreneurial learning with direct interaction with the business world. Each year, it engages over 1,200 students organized into teams of six.

Since its inception in 1996, the Business Creation Project has stood out as a unique educational experience, with more than 3,500 projects completed to date, some of which have led to the creation of real businesses.

An innovative approach to developing key skills

Over three months, students participate in interactive and methodological workshops, with weekly classes designed to train them in entrepreneurship. This structure allows them to explore the inner workings of a business: workflows, decision-making, and promoting innovative ideas. Participants have two options:

Design a business creation project, simulating all the steps necessary to transform an idea into a structured plan, from the business model to the business plan.
Work on a real-world challenge proposed by a partner company as part of the BCP Grand Competition.

The goal of the Business Creation Project is to foster an entrepreneurial mindset, whether participants choose to launch their own businesses or work on company projects.

The central role of partner companies

Companies play a pivotal role in this program by proposing topics or challenges related to their industry, enriching students' learning experience. For the 2024 edition, four partner companies have contributed to this unique framework:

Groupe APICIL: A leader in social protection (health, retirement, savings, etc.) and a long-standing emlyon partner, involved in various school initiatives, such as the Health and Wellness Center.
Groupe SEB: A major player in designing and manufacturing household and kitchen equipment in France and a strategic partner of emlyon.
IFPEN: A public research and innovation institute focused on energy, transportation, and environmental technologies.
Terres Inovia: An agricultural research organization promoting sustainable development in agri-food sectors.

These companies actively participate in the program, tracking students' progress and engaging at key moments, including interim milestones and the Grand Competition finale.

For businesses, the Business Creation Project offers a unique opportunity: by submitting innovation projects or practical challenges, they gain fresh ideas and solutions from students while boosting their visibility among future talent and building strong ties with emlyon's student community.

"Our goal in participating in the Business Project Grand Competition is to gain fresh, youthful perspectives. Three words to describe this program: openness, pace, and support," highlights Isabelle Harter, Deputy Director of Industrial Development at IFPEN.

The BCP Grand Competition: a key event

Among the 100 projects undertaken during the term, approximately thirty teams worked directly on challenges proposed by the four partner companies.

Following weeks of work, these projects underwent rigorous evaluation by the academic team, which selects the 8 best projects for the Business Project Grand Competition finale. Finalist projects included innovations like a smart pill dispenser, lentil-based madeleines, legume flakes, dietary supplements for pregnant women, a medical device for male perineal rehabilitation, home decluttering services, vegan raclette cheese, and a connected insect habitat.

Held on December 4th in the Lyon campus auditorium, the finale marked the culmination of the program. Finalist teams presented their innovative solutions to a jury of company representatives, emlyon professors, and the Dean of Programs. Projects were assessed based on strict criteria, including solution relevance (business model, feasibility, positioning) and presentation quality.

Six awards were presented:

Three Jury Awards: recognizing the top three teams based on project content, pitch quality, and presentation impact—awarded to Biosmose, Econest, and La Perle teams.
Audience Favorite Award – given to the Dailymed team.
Best Video Pitch Award – earned by team Rigolino.
Best Oral Presentation Award – presented to the Tranchette team.

The awards ceremony was followed by a networking cocktail, providing a friendly space for exchanges between students, companies, and school members.

"What sets Master in Management students apart is their affinity for entrepreneurship and curiosity. What struck me most about the Business Project Grand Competition participants was their ability to propose innovative projects, their motivation, seriousness, and commitment," notes Maria Malkoun, Entrepreneurship and Development Project Manager at Terres Inovia.

A win-win experience for students and companies

The BCP provides students with a hands-on, practical experience, connecting them with professionals and real-world challenges. It strengthens their project management skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and creativity, all while fostering teamwork. The Grand Competition also serves as a showcase for participants to demonstrate their skills to potential future employers.

"This course inspired me to pursue entrepreneurship. Before, I knew what entrepreneurship was, but I had never truly experienced it. It seemed like a mountain. The BCP experience in one word: pride. We gained confidence and realized what we were capable of. No matter the outcome, we are proud of our work," says Inès, a Master in Management - Grande École student and BCP Grand Competition finalist.

For businesses, it is a chance to gain fresh ideas and strengthen connections with a generation of talented, ambitious students. "Participating in these business creation projects is genuinely enriching and offers valuable insights into the educational world," explains Véronique Giubergia, Health and Welfare Offer Director at Groupe APICIL.

A program built to last

The BCP and its Business Project Grand Competition exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of emlyon's DNA. With its "we are makers" educational philosophy, the school emphasizes experiential learning through collaboration and hands-on experimentation. Constantly evolving, the Business Creation Project represents a long-term commitment: this year, the competition saw a reinvigoration with stronger partnerships and increased participation.

"This year, we had the best edition of the Business Creation Project yet—the students were engaged, enthusiastic, and present. Everyone is thrilled," concludes Régis Goujet, Business Creation Project Academic Director and emlyon professor.

The BCP and its Grand Competition go beyond academic exercises, providing a unique space for collaboration and idea exchange between students and companies.