In Reflets Mag #151,  Corentin Grenon (BBA 20), head of the ESSEC - ESSEC Alumni incubator at Station F, presents this new scheme for start-ups founded by graduates and takes stock of the first cohort. Here is a free online translation of the article… subscribe to get the next issues (in French)!

Reflets Magazine: What entrepreneurial experience did you have prior to taking up management of the ESSEC incubator at Station F?

Corentin Grenon: During my first year of BBA at ESSEC, I launched a web and mobile development studio. I then created two EdTech start-ups in parallel, with a successful exit in 2022. I also taught entrepreneurship at ESSEC.

RM: What services does the incubator offer?

C. Grenon: Our offer is based on three focus points: launch, commercialisation and possibly capital raising to scale up. The start-ups are supported on a daily basis by a start-up manager who helps them to activate all the resources at hand, and to step back and define their road map. They are also followed by a mentor who offers strategic advice, and voluntary ESSEC ‘experts-in-residence’ who organise discussion sessions on matters such as sales, legal aspects or funding.

RM: How is this service linked to the ESSEC Ventures incubator for students?

C. Grenon: Our offers are designed to form a continuity. Students with start-ups incubated at ESSEC Ventures can join Station F after graduation, a transition which is facilitated by the close relations between our teams.

RM: What is the selection process to join the ESSEC incubator at Station F?

C. Grenon: An initial selection is made on the basis of the application files. Applications must include at least one ESSEC graduate on the founding team, who is devoted full-time to the project, and the latter must be in the launch or customer acquisition phase, with a product or service. Pre-selected start-ups are then called before a committee who assesses the project's aim and execution, ensures the team’s values are in keeping with those of ESSEC, and seeks more broadly to create a coherent cohort.

RM: What happens if a start-up leaves the cohort before the end of the programme?

C. Grenon: We have a waiting list in the event of vacancies resulting from trainees’ or employees’ departure. Our core operation mode is based on cohorts, however, with biannual calls for application. 

RM: How do you foster the spirit of promotion within a cohort?

C. Grenon: We organise after-work and lunch events in a fun and benevolent atmosphere to encourage exchange between incubated start-ups, and we play a part in coordination and networking.

RM: How would you sum up your first months in activity?

C. Grenon: Successful: we reached a complete occupancy rate as of our first cohort, with the number of requests exceeding the places available. Likewise for our remote incubation programme for projects based outside of Paris. I’d like to take this opportunity to commend the good relations between our team and incubated start-ups, who have come up with a host of suggestions enabling us to rapidly iterate and implement new services to provide maximum value.

RM: What aims do you have for the ESSEC incubator at Station F?

C. Grenon: In the short term, we hope to expand our reach in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In the longer term, we want to boost our availability and support to meet the high level of demand.

RM: How can alumni get involved?

C. Grenon: You can become an expert-in-residence, or simply take part in our workshops, masterclasses and round table discussions. Don’t hesitate to contact us at stationf@essec.edu.

Find out more about the ESSEC - ESSEC Alumni incubator at Station F : corentin.grenon@essec.edu

Interview by Louis Armengaud Wurmser (E10), Content Manager at ESSEC Alumni 

Translation of an article published in Reflets Magazine #151. Special offer: read the full issue (in French). Get the next issues (in French).