News
SKEMA Entrepreneurs: three new programmes to support our alumni in their entrepreneurial adventures
In September, SKEMA Entrepreneurs launched some new support programmes designed for student and alumni entrepreneurs. Since 2 September, SKEMA’s alumni have been able to apply for support programmes backed by a team of experts, mentors and investors, available both in France and internationally, on the Belo Horizonte, Raleigh and Suzhou campuses.
Adrien Vansteelant (SKEMA 2022), the head of SKEMA Entrepreneurs, was the driving force behind this transformation. After working for Investir&+ and Microsoft, including at Station F, Adrien noticed SKEMA's absence from the major entrepreneurial ecosystems. Determined to change this, he returned to the school to create an incubator that could meet the ambitions of its alumni and students.
Three programmes for all stages of maturity
The incubator now offers three programmes, tailored to each phase of the entrepreneurial journey:
🌱 START PROGRAMME
"I have an idea"
For those looking to turn an idea into a concrete project and embark on their first entrepreneurial adventure.
🌿 LAUNCH PROGRAMME
“I'm going for it”
For entrepreneurs who already have a solid idea and want to develop a minimum viable product (MVP) and find their first customers.
🌳 BUILD PROGRAMME
"I’ve launched"
To accelerate growing startups. For 9 to 12 months, hand-picked projects will have access to dedicated resources to achieve their ambitious goals.
Find out more about the programmes and apply >> https://bit.ly/3Tw3goo
An incubator with a collective approach
“Entrepreneurship is not just an individual journey; it’s a collective dynamic," says Adrien Vansteelant, and it is this collaborative spirit that is at the heart of the SKEMA Entrepreneurs transformation. The incubator has already attracted 110+ projects in just 12 days.
It is now organised around three major collectives:
💡 Entrepreneurs collective: bringing together alumni and students who are fledgling or budding entrepreneurs.
💪 Experts & Mentors collective: comprising 50+ growth-driven experts and mentors.
💰 Investor collective: a group of 20 VC funds and business angels ready to support the incubated projects.
This approach offers a unique framework where alumni can find support, advice and an extensive network to achieve their entrepreneurial ambitions. "I often compare this structuring work to the world of rugby: the importance of the rules of the game and of complementarity between team members. We all have a role to play in this ecosystem," adds Adrien.
A call to alumni: “Come home!”
SKEMA Entrepreneurs invites its alumni to reconnect with the community. Whether you want to launch a project or support one, our alumni have a key role to play in this burgeoning ecosystem. 55% of applicants to the new programmes are SKEMA alumni — a statistic that reflects the attractiveness of this new offering and the need it addresses.
For those still on the fence, Adrien has a clear message: "Come home. Together, we'll make SKEMA a school for entrepreneurs."
Curious to discover the top 100 startups incubated by SKEMA Entrepreneurs?
