Raphael Certain
Master of Science X - HEC Entrepreneurs
The program gives you valuable skills that many companies are looking for and helps you know if you really want to start a business or not. There is no pressure to start a business after the MSc, and not everyone should. I think it's priceless to have that freedom.
Why did you decide to join the MSc X-HEC Entrepreneur at HEC Paris?
I joined the MSc X-HEC Entrepreneur because I wanted to start a company in the neurotechnology industry. I had a scientific background with industry knowledge and some entrepreneurial experience, but I wanted to raise my standards and move faster. I couldn't think of a better place to be supported, coached and challenged in this process than in this program. Friends of mine had also done the program and highly recommended that I apply, mentioning that it was a very unique master's program that could accelerate my entrepreneurial development. So, I decided I wanted to be a part of it!
What are your biggest takeaways from the program?
One of the main reasons I decided to do this program was to go to UC Berkeley for 3 months to have an international experience in Silicon Valley, and I have to say that I was not disappointed. It was truly a transformative journey where I discovered the unique entrepreneurial spirit of the Bay Area, met early partners for my company and most of my initial investors. The value of this program is not only in the classes you take, but in the people you meet and the transformation you experience as you immerse yourself in your own project. I would, without a doubt, recommend Berkeley to any new student in the program - it will raise their standards, their ambitions, and their belief in their ability to build something great!
What is your current role? What types of responsibilities do you have?
I am the founder and CEO of Clarity, a French-American healthcare company developing a therapeutic platform to slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. In about 12 months and at the age of 24, I have raised more than $1.3 million in funding, built an international team of 20+ people and established partnerships with leading universities in the US and UK.
My day-to-day role is to keep the company on track towards its ultimate vision and goals. This includes running R&D efforts including clinical trials, developing our product ecosystem, building partnerships, driving sales, hiring, securing IP, raising funds and managing investor relations, among many other activities. As a solo founder, I am juggling all the topics that a company can encompass in a single day. Having the right people leading the different teams and keeping them on track is one of the most important aspects of potential success.
How did you find your job?
I didn't really think of it as a job. It was more a role that I knew I had to support if I wanted my vision to come to life. What was and still is important to me is to develop new healthcare solutions to improve people's quality of life, and I was ready to take on the role needed to do that. Fortunately, I can call it my job! But it feels more like an adventure.
How did the program help define your career path and secure your job?
The program doesn't help you "secure" a job, it helps you know if you really want to start a business or not. Then, of course, it gives you valuable skills that many companies are looking for. At the end of the day, we all went through the same program, but ended up with different experiences and different "jobs". This program is not orthodox and puts you in situations that can help you get to know yourself better. And that is how you find the right "job" for you. There is no pressure to start a business after the MSc, and not everyone should. Some will benefit greatly from being high value employees, working closely with other founders, learning from them and maybe one day deciding to take the plunge! I think it's priceless to have that freedom.
What are your long-term career aspirations, and how will the MSc X-HEC Entrepreneur help you achieve them?
I strive to be a lifelong entrepreneur, creative, an inventor, and contribute to improving various aspects of human life. This program has given me a certain legitimacy to believe that this is possible and whatever I decide to do is achievable as long as I really go for it and don't let other people's opinions tell me what is right or not!
Any advice for students considering joining the MSc X-HEC Entrepreneur and wishing to follow the same career path?
Don't only go for the classes and the content, go for the people and the experience. If you want to do something that really matters, use this program as a way to build your confidence, broaden your perspective and sharpen your entrepreneurial mind. But also remember that entrepreneurship is hard, and it takes a lot to build a business, not everyone is cut out for it. But if you're serious and really want to know if it's for you, the moment you join the program, stop being a student and give 200% to your most ambitious project. Then let life do the rest!