Startup Launchpad: A Unique Accelerator in Europe
Startup Launchpad: A Unique Accelerator in EuropeRecognized 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 successful. Rémi Rivas, Academic co-director with Mathias Abramovicz, is a key witness to this vibrant program, known for his passion and vision. Discover how the Startup Launchpad prepares students to build the successful startups of tomorrow.
Rémi Rivas is a prominent name in innovation and design thinking. After starting his career at Microsoft France, he established himself as an expert in user experience (UX), innovation, and marketing, with experience in guiding major organizations through their innovation processes.
This expertise led him to HEC Paris Entrepreneurship & Innovation Institute (IEI), where he now plays a central role in the Startup Launchpad. As the program's academic director since 2019, Rémi designs and structures the modules, guides students, and encourages them to explore new paths to succeed with their startups. He is a recognized expert in supporting entrepreneurs in creating and growing their startups.
HEC Paris Startup Launchpad: a comprehensive program for creating and developing innovative startups
Far from being an ordinary entrepreneurship program, the Startup Launchpad is a true accelerator for startup creation. It provides participants with essential resources, including a rich ecosystem, to succeed where many others fail.
"Creating a startup requires a strong will and the ability to learn and adapt quickly. The HEC Paris Startup Launchpad provides the tools and support needed to succeed," says Rémi.
The program includes not only lectures, masterclasses, and coaching sessions but also immersion periods with industry professionals and regular pitch sessions in front of investors Mentorship also plays a significant role. Each startup in the program is mentored by seasoned entrepreneurs who have previously founded companies, ideally in the same sector. These mentors generously open their networks of investors and potential clients to the participants.
As a result, each team receives tailored guidance and personalized advice according to their startup project. These mentors provide invaluable insights to the program by sharing their real-world experiences and guiding the entrepreneurs through the critical early stages of their venture.
« We take young, ambitious individuals with a strong vision but often a poor execution plan. The Startup Launchpad ensures they retain their vision and enthusiasm while completely reshaping their execution strategy. » - Rémi Rivas
Additionally, participants benefit from the support of professors and experts, who provide continuous feedback on project formalization. The involvement of investors ensures a realistic evaluation of each project and offers strategic advice throughout the journey.
The program reaches its peak with the Grand Pitch Night, an annual event in London where finalists present their projects in a theater or cinema before an audience and a panel of experts. This event offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to compete with the best and gain visibility.
Learning by doing : Test, learn, and adapt to succeed
"Our job at the Launchpad is to help young people understand in eleven weeks what others take years to learn," explains Rémi. To achieve this, the co-director emphasizes the importance for young entrepreneurs to constantly test their ideas in the field, confront their visions with reality, and learn from their failures.
One of the fundamental principles at HEC Paris is learning by doing, and the HEC Paris Startup Launchpad is no exception. Participants are immediately immersed in real-world situations where they must apply concepts of customer development, business model validation, and sales strategy.
Rémi particularly values this approach, which seeks to turn students into "logical empiricists" who can transcend mere theoretical concepts to confront the realities of the market.
"We have students who are very strong in theory, and my job is to tell them, 'none of the rules and nothing you’ve learned applies anymore,'" explains Rémi with his usual passion.
This is how participants are encouraged to test their idea directly in the market, gather insightful feedback, and quickly iterate to improve their value proposition and project. This pedagogical approach, deeply rooted in design thinking, allows participants to uncover hidden opportunities and pivot their projects to meet market demands. Ultimately, that’s what truly counts!
"Participants are here to discover that it’s not the best technology or the best idea that wins. It’s the project that best aligns with what a specific customer segment is actively seeking at a given time in the market. And that’s a reality they can’t control! So, it’s up to them to adapt."
A unique startup accelerator in Europe
The HEC Startup Launchpad is often described as unparalleled in Europe. "As far as I know, there is no other program run by an institution comparable to HEC Paris that coordinates with so many external experts," says Rémi.
Indeed, the program fosters an intense immersion of participants into the HEC Paris ecosystem, which includes a network of over 70,000 alumni, 540+ startups supported in 2023, alongside 1,000+ experts and 150 speakers from diverse backgrounds.
Supported by a historically rich and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Startup Launchpad is a true catalyst for networking and business opportunities for entrepreneurs. "The greatest success of this program, in my opinion, is this extraordinary permeability for connections," emphasizes Rémi.
Accessing the right people from the very start of the entrepreneurial journey is crucial for success—especially in the early stages. This is exactly what Rémi Rivas and the entire teaching team of the program strive to support.
As Rémi emphasizes, "Entrepreneurship is, above all, a human dynamic." It is within this context that the HEC Paris ecosystem, supported by the HEC Foundation and strengthened by the HEC Alumni network, reveals its true meaning and importance.
"The main unfair advantage for an HEC Paris student starting out today is the ability to rely on a network of people who are available to support, guide, connect them with the right individuals, accelerate their initial deals, and help them find capital," - Rémi Rivas.
An international vision dedicated to startup success
"In addition to HEC Paris students, we welcome many students from various international institutions," says Rémi. For several years, the Startup Launchpad has maintained numerous partnerships with major institutions like the University of Paris-Saclay and international business schools such as NYU Stern and ESA Business School in Beirut. This international melting pot enriches perspectives.
According to Rémi, the French tend to be both very proud and self-critical, even though there is no reason to be ashamed of what they produce. The international dimension offered by the program allows for its quality to be evaluated through the eyes of those who have experienced other models. Rémi observes:
"According to feedback from international students, the level of support provided by the Startup Launchpad is excellent, even superior to that of other major international institutions."
This cultural diversity broadens the participants' "radar" by introducing new ideas, solutions, and business models tailored to the cultural specifics of different markets. "People from another culture bring different ideas and approach problems and their solutions in unique ways," explains Rémi.
Finally, the internationalization of the program requires that courses and workshops be conducted in English, encouraging students to adopt a global perspective from the outset of their projects. This "English-first" approach prepares entrepreneurs to engage and collaborate with partners worldwide, emphasizing the importance of thinking beyond national borders from the very beginning.
Startup Launchpad: A story of successes
Since its inception, the HEC Startup Launchpad has supported over 961 students and 483 projects, of which 100 are still active. The program is now recognized for its significant impact on the startup ecosystem in Europe and internationally.
"We have a higher percentage of losses than successes, and that's completely normal. However, we still have a much better success rate than the general innovation and venture building market."
Rémi Rivas highlights that for many entrepreneurs, the lessons learned from the Startup Launchpad continue to shape their journeys and successes. "The greatest reward is when former participants come back to us four or five years after the program and say, 'We still use your interview scripts and methodology for our product roadmap and development... We continue to rely on it throughout the entire life of the company,'" Rémi proudly shares.
And the results speak for themselves! Following the program, numerous startups like Reskue, Karmen, and Diabolo have raised significant funds while successfully carving out a strong position in their respective markets.
The team of co-founders of Resilient, one of the winning teams of the HEC Paris Startup Launchpad 2024, from left to right: Matthieu Haguenauer, Louise Éon, and Tom Verheyde during the Demo Day at Station F.