Innovation Bootcamp – putting MSc in Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship students through their business-creation paces

With each participating entrepreneur pitching before the assembled students, the learning experience provided was just as insightful for themselves as the budding business creators just starting out on the emlyon program. Benoît Baudart, alumnus and now head of his own venture providing an online platform for second-hand and reconditioned IT products called Upsavy, certainly shared this impression: “taking part in the bootcamp was highly rewarding as it was the first time that I had talked openly about my project Upsavy in front of an audience. It was a pleasure to talk with the students, all of whom all shared feedback, and meet fellow entrepreneurs, as they all shared tips and advice. I’ll remember that a company needs to be client-centric to succeed!”

This two-way street was also of great benefit to the students hanging on every word of the various entrepreneurs sharing their in-the-field experience of convincing others of the value of a new business project. Tasked with setting up their own start-up over the course of the bootcamp, the students went through a learning curve that was understandably steep and all the better for it, as confirmed by Lucie Charlat: “the bootcamp stimulated our creativity, agility, and rapid decision-making, reflecting the dynamic environment of start-ups. This immersive experience not only strengthened our entrepreneurial skills but also created a sense of mutual support, laying a solid foundation for our studies and future career.”

Beyond the learning opportunities provided by the week-long initiative, more concrete ones were also on offer for all participants. For Kaiyue Zhao, a Chinese student who had already started to dip her toes into film production and metaverse product marketing but felt the need to become more “business savvy”, the bootcamp ticked the latter box: “it surpassed my expectations, providing pragmatic experience through simulated business operations, insightful field trips, and engaging sessions where seasoned entrepreneurs shared their stories. This immersive week catapulted me into real-life scenarios, instilling in me the belief that I can actualize my entrepreneurial aspirations in the future.”

For emlyon business school MSc in Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship alumna and participating entrepreneur Fatima-Zohra Chikh-Bled (co-founder of Swire, an online platform that matches students with internship placements), one of the key takeaways of the exercise was self-evident: “I know now as a graduate of the school and program that learning about an entrepreneurial experience can be inspirational. The students were attentive and asked relevant questions. The bootcamp had real value because I had the opportunity to reach out to those who will soon need an internship, not forgetting that helping students to find internships has now become my core business activity.”

Necessarily disruptive by nature, the bootcamp was carefully designed to expose students to situations and improve their knowledge in so doing. For Rickie Moore, the visit to the Lyon H7 incubator was a key part of this: “we actively opted for a “washing machine” approach where everything would be put into the mix. Entrepreneurs were testing their own ideas by presenting before students avid for inside knowledge but, by the same token, we wanted to make it patently aware to our latest intake that cutting your teeth in the world of innovation and entrepreneurship also means learning as you go along, including by our own mistakes.”

These sentiments are echoed by current student Giulia Antigiovanni, who saw the entire initiative as a driver for potential change that went beyond initial exposure to the realities of creating a new business venture: “undoubtedly, our journey within the program began with a bang. We had the privilege to meet young talents and entrepreneurial minds who shared their experiences and ideas with us, making us part of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The culmination of it all was an afternoon at H7 in Lyon, where ideas flourish on a constant basis. This experience and ongoing exchange have inspired and encouraged me to be a force for change and leave a mark.”