CEMS Start-Up Challenge 2022

The CEMS Start-Up Challenge is an annual event, organized by CEMS Entrepreneurs. It is held in November during the CEMS Career Forum. Building on the success of the previous years, and finally held in presence, this event offered students and alumni the opportunity to showcase their startups after having worked closely with experienced mentors.
CEMS Start Up Challenge 2022

The program started during the summer with the selection of six teams out of more than 30 applicants, followed by mentoring sessions and networking events to get together many CEMSies working in entrepreneurship (investors, entrepreneurs, professors, corporate partners). The mentoring was centered on a match between the startup and our mentors based on the stage and needs of the startup. This allowed mentors and participants to receive appropriate feedback, with elevated discussions.

Start ups

"I believe that the rather focused and compact mentorship format works perfectly well. I personally like it and is inspirational for the programmes we have here at Wageningen University in this domain” - Sebastiaan Berendse, Corporate Director at Wageningen University

Following these mentoring sessions, the startups were invited to come on the ESADE Sant Cugat campus to participate in the pitching contest on November 5, during the CEMS Career Forum. During this event, one representative of The Oater, TeamFeedback, Eliann, Ingarden, epicbrief and Cartha pitched their projects in front of a jury, a panel of possible investors, corporate partners, and an audience of +120 fellow CEMSies. 

For this occasion, the jury was composed of a heterogeneous group of 4 people with diverse backgrounds but with a common passion for startups. The team was composed of Ariadna Masó (Founder & CEO at Sanno), Alexander Pinter (Innovation Strategy and Growth Lead at Accenture), Alberto Giammattei (Jr. Venture Creator at KI Challengers), and Francesco Spolaor (Consultant at Capgemini Invent).

 

Start Up Challenge jury

Participants had the opportunity to hear from Accenture and Capgemini Invent with the support of Equinor, showing how entrepreneurship works within the boundaries of multinational companies. The jury awarded Eoliann as the winner of the pitching competition, while the audience had the chance to vote its favourite, thus appointing a second winning team, The Oater

The winning teams will receive prizes, such as additional mentoring and coaching sessions, and access to discounted services. The CEMS Entrepreneurs would like to thank Capgemini Invent, PACK, Accenture, and KI Challengers for the prizes provided and their support throughout the entire process.

Moreover, the team would like to thank all the applicants, the mentors and jurors, the audience, and, last but not least, the CEMS Global Alliance for their invaluable help. 

If you want to learn more about the event and the opportunity within CEMS Entrepreneurs, feel free to visit https://cemsentrepreneurs.webflow.io/ and send inquiries.