Overview

HEC Paris Startup Launchpad is an 11-week accelerator for student entrepreneurs. It runs under the HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute and uses a learning-by-doing approach. Participants apply customer development, business model validation, and sales strategies to real projects, covering market research, value proposition development, and fundraising. The program ends with a Demo Day where startups pitch to investors. It takes place in Paris at Station F, giving access to a large startup ecosystem. Participants come from HEC Paris master programs and partner schools, and the program has helped create over 300 startups, with 125 still operating. The Launchpad differentiates itself through strong university support, the Station F ecosystem, international partnerships, and a hands-on path from idea to launch. Its goal is to help student startups become viable businesses and connect them with mentors, resources, and funding.