FAQ Blue Factory START
Berlin & London
Many of you write to us “I’m thinking of applying to the Blue Factory Start Berlin program and I would like to ask you some questions …” So we thought we’d share your questions and answers here!
👉 Start by reading this site ;)
Here is the list of your questions answered:
0. On which campuses can I attend the Blue Factory Start program?
1. What does the Blue Factory Start Paris support really look like?
2. What are the conditions to participate in the program?
3. Is it possible to participate in the program even if I am looking for a business idea or just want to test my entrepreneurial spirit?
4. What is the maturity of participating ideas?
5. Do you have a sectoral focus in your coaching?
6. Is the program available all year round? When should I be available for workshops?
7. How can I sign up for the program?
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0. On which campuses can I attend the Blue Factory Start program?
The Blue Factory Start program is organized on the Paris, Berlin and London campus every semester.
- What does the Blue Factory Start Paris support really look like?
The Blue Factory Start program runs over 4 months with a workshop of 3 hours per month. Throughout the program participants will have the opportunity to: define their business idea, learn how to pitch, receive expert advice (fundraising, growth marketing, strategy, etc.) and ask questions.
The purpose of the Start program is to enable participants, depending on their level, to initiate or deepen their entrepreneurial idea if they have already started it.
2. What are the conditions to participate in the program?
To be part of the Start program:
_ at least one founder of the business idea has to be linked to ESCP Europe (student or alumni) or linked to a partner school (ENSI, Strate colleague Design, School 42, Epitech, Epita, Polytechnic, Telecom ParisTech, Sorbonne & HEC Montreal,…)
_ you have to have a specific idea to work on which you are determined to make concrete progress on, in particular by committing yourself to follow the 4 workshops.
_ the program is offered free of charge to students. For alumni a fee per team is required.
3. Is it possible to participate in the program even if I am looking for a business idea or just want to test my entrepreneurial spirit?
No, the Start program is for those who have a concrete business idea to work on, to either further develop that idea or already start their venture. However if you want to know more about the entrepreneurial ecosystem and be oriented in your exploration you can contact Valentine d’Hoffschmidt by email vdhoffschmidt@escpeurope.eu
4. What is the maturity of participating ideas?
We have business ideas of different maturities but overall they are rather early stage. In Paris, from the (maximum) 25 business teams participating each semester, on average, we have 50% who are at the idea stage, 30% who are at the creation of the prototype and 20% who have already had their first customers.
5. Do you have a sectoral focus in your coaching?
No, we do not limit ourselves to any sector. Each year we have business ideas that are very different from each other. This year, for example, we had: ideas in tech, e-commerce, health, sustainable development, etc.
6. Is the program available all year round? When should I be available for workshops?
There are 2 sessions of the Blue Factory Start program per year. The first session runs from January to April and the second session from September to December. In order for a maximum of people to be available, we organize the workshops at the end of the day from 18h to 21h.
A project can start by participating in one session (from January for example) and then move on at the next session (in September) — thus performing the program over a year.
7. How can I sign up for the program?
Just fill in the form HERE for London
Just fill in the form HERE for Berlin
