Victor Hours
Summer Student Story
Attending this summer program before my internship period was outstanding as it provided both theoretical foundations and practical skills needed in today's digital landscape.
The HECxTUM Summer Program delivered a great mix of theoretical frameworks and practical applications. Our professors’ and guest start-up founders’ real-world insights shared unique frameworks of reflection about complex concepts that will help us navigate the increasingly competitive innovation landscape. While the fast pace of the program was challenging, it pushed us to excel and to develop strong bonds with amazing individuals.
A third-year undergraduate student studying a dual degree in Business and International Relations at IE University, my passion for the start-up financing ecosystem, developed by personal ventures and private-equity internships, along with a passion for innovation led me to seek out the HECxTUM Summer Program. The combination of academic excellence and practical application, along with my curiosity to discover more about those concepts in an international context, made it the perfect choice to explore new paths and advance my career.
I found myself surrounded by passionate individuals, each bringing their unique perspective and background to the table, from young start-up founders to event managers. During our group projects and simulations, I witnessed how the diversity of backgrounds and experiences could transform theoretical concepts into innovative and practical solutions.
What started as a summer program to enhance my global understanding of digital innovation and start-up development became a profound changing experience. I left the program not only with improved skills in start-up structural understanding and digital innovation but with a deeply transformed mindset about the power of international collaboration in fostering a better business landscape for tomorrow’s society. Beyond the technical knowledge gained, I developed lasting connections with truly inspiring innovators, coming from different continents, backgrounds and culture.
This experience has reinforced my goal of understanding and being an actor in the start-up funding environment and helped me with both the technical knowledge and global perspective necessary for success.