Adrien and Eloïse, students at CESI, are taking part in the European Innovation Academy
In this page :
- Meet Eloïse and Adrien: their inspiring journey at CESI
- How CESI supports its students for international events such as the EIA
- Discover CESI students’ first impressions at the EIA
- The connections and learnings of CESI students
The European Innovation Academy is an event that brings students together to prepare them for entrepreneurship within the digital innovation sector. Adrien and Eloïse, students at CESI, spent three weeks in Portugal, immersing themselves in the world of innovation thanks to our engineering school. In this article, they share their impressions of the event with us!
Meet Eloïse and Adrien: their inspiring journey at CESI
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your experience at CESI?
Eloïse:
My name is Eloïse Tilmant, I’m 22 years old, and I’m currently in my final year of the engineering training specializing in building and public works at CESI’s Arras campus. After completing my BTS in building envelope, I entered directly into the first year of the building and public works engineering program at CESI Arras. I’m currently doing an apprenticeship with Groupe Stoops, an engineering firm in the electrical and plumbing sector.
Adrien:
My name is Adrien Havart. I’m 27 years old and currently studying in the construction program at CESI’s Nanterre campus. I joined CESI in 2020, but due to difficulties finding a company during the Covid period, I had to repeat the first year of the three-year engineering program.
What motivated you to participate in the European Innovation Academy (EIA) in Porto and how did you hear about this event?
Eloïse:
The opportunity to meet and collaborate with participants from around the world, including entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts. Additionally, the EIA offers a chance to acquire skills and learn extensively about entrepreneurship, startup creation, and the management of innovative projects.
CESI sent an email outlining the key features of the program offered by the EIA, which I found very interesting. I then looked for more detailed information on their website and social media, and from there I submitted my application. What attracted me the most was the international aspect and the opportunity to learn about startup creation and the management of innovative projects.
Adrien:
I was primarily motivated by the fact that this training represented a unique opportunity for me to immerse myself in an environment dedicated to innovation and startup creation, which combines two of my areas of interest.
It was the instructor of the A5 construction program at CESI in Nanterre who suggested I participate in this program. I was attracted by the fact that it took place abroad, in a country I had never visited, and the program seemed serious and well-structured.
How CESI supports its students for international events such as the EIA
How did you prepare for this event? Did you follow any specific training or readings?
Eloïse:
To prepare for this type of event, we received several documents, including reading lists and videos covering various topics addressed by the program (ideation, marketing, prototyping, etc) in the weeks following our registration.
Adrien:
The program organizers gave me access to the event’s website, where I received weekly updates regarding accommodations, travel, courses, the program schedule and more. I prepared by consulting the resources available there.
What were your personal and professional goals for participating in this event?
Eloïse:
I had several personal objectives. I wanted to develop practical skills in entrepreneurship, enhance my ability to work in a team in international and multicultural contexts, and improve my communication and presentation skills. On the professional side, I aimed to gain in-depth knowledge of the startup creation and management process, build a network of professional contacts in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship and explore collaboration opportunities for future projects.
Adrien:
My professional goals were to acquire knowledge and skills in creating innovative startups, expand my professional network and improve my English. CESI has supported me by offering me the opportunity to immerse myself in an international environment, which has also provided a valuable boost to my project.
My personal goals were to meet new people and explore the city of Porto and its surroundings.
How do you think this experience will complement your engineering training at CESI?
Eloïse:
By choosing the entrepreneurship track in my fifth year, the experience at the EIA will complement my training by developing skills in project management, business strategy and innovation. Participating in an international event like the EIA will also provide me with a global perspective and teach me how to work in multicultural teams, which is essential in today’s professional world.
Adrien:
I believe this experience will help me improve my English and will be useful if I decide to start my own business in France one day.
Discover CESI students’ first impressions at the EIA
What were your first impressions when you arrived and discovered the event?
Eloïse:
As soon as I arrived in Porto, I was immediately captivated by the city’s architecture: its cobblestone streets, historic buildings with colorful facades and warm atmosphere.. From the moment I entered the event, I could feel the creative and enthusiastic energy. Participants were eager to share their ideas and collaborate on innovative projects with people from all over the world. The organization was impeccable and the welcome was exceptionally warm.
From the moment you step into the event venue, you are surrounded by young people like us, eager to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys, guided by enthusiastic experts and mentors.
The environment is both friendly and professional. The discussions are lively, as the mix of cultures and diverse perspectives enriches the exchanges. The participants seem motivated and passionate and are open to collaboration.
Adrien:
While arriving in Porto, I was surprised by the large crowd at the event. The atmosphere is definitely entrepreneurial. Participants from all nationalities and backgrounds come together here to learn how to launch their startups. You can feel a dynamic and stimulating energy, with many schools represented. The city also impressed me with its beauty.
What workshops or conferences did you attend and which ones left the biggest impression on you?
Eloïse:
I had the opportunity to attend various workshops and conferences covering topics from problem discovery to designing marketing strategies and creating prototypes. The customer-focused workshops, especially ‘Customer Discovery’ and ‘Customer Validation,’ along with the prototype creation sessions, particularly captured my attention.
Adrien:
I attended all the conferences offered, covering everything from validating a startup idea to pitch presentations, along with customer validation, prototyping, business model development, financing and marketing strategies. Each session was enriching and filled with valuable insights.
The connections and learnings of CESI students
Can you share an experience or activity that particularly inspired you or taught you something new?
Eloïse:
One very interesting activity was the cross-group interviews. Each group had to choose a representative to go and interview members of other groups about their projects. The main goal was to gather outside perspectives and constructive feedback. We had to create open-ended questions to encourage thoughtful discussions.
Adrien:
On the very first day, I had to present my startup idea, just like many other participants. I had already noticed that my idea was generating interest thanks to the intranet set up by EIA before the event. So, I prepared an A1 poster to showcase my project to those interested. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me a lot about discussing my project with people I didn’t know.
Did you have the chance to meet other participants? Can you tell us about some of these interactions ?
Eloïse:
Yes, I had the chance to meet many participants from various nationalities. For example,
Kishen is a final-year marketing student at the Social Sciences University in Singapore. He has some experience, with two years in e-commerce and one year in business development in the energy sector, particularly with electric vehicles. Veronica is a production and operations engineer with expertise in negotiation, process and project management. Passionate about entrepreneurship and business, she pursued a Master’s degree in Business Administration
Adrien:
Yes, I met the members of my team, with whom I worked for three weeks. Among them were a physics student from California, a PhD candidate in human rights from Brazil, a geographer from Lisbon and a computer science student from the University of Compiègne in France.
What types of projects did you work on at EIA?
Eloïse:
We worked on an application designed to make it easier for farmers to access and understand new agricultural technologies and equipment. The app allows farmers to search for product references in a search bar or simply take a photo of the product. This provides them with a simplified version of the user manual, including videos to guide them in using, troubleshooting and maintaining their equipment effectively. This helps boost productivity and reduces resource waste.
Adrien:
I worked on a project focused on predicting wildfires in the Amazon. The goal was to develop an AI program using satellite data, weather information and image analysis to forecast fires, whether natural or human-caused.
What challenges did you confront and how did you overcome them?
Eloïse:
Creating an entrepreneurial concept, addressing a specific need and solving a problem is a challenge in itself. We overcame these obstacles by applying the knowledge we gained from EIA’s keynotes and workshops, as well as through effective teamwork.Creating an entrepreneurial concept, addressing a specific need, and solving a problem is a challenge in itself.
Adrien:
Starting a startup is a challenge in itself. Although the EIA provides valuable knowledge through its lectures, every new piece of information was a learning experience for me, coming from a civil engineering background where much of this was new.
What new skills or knowledge have you gained since the start of the event?
Eloïse:
Since the start of the event, I have gained skills in identifying market segments and creating personas to better target products. I also learned how to craft marketing strategies to reach and engage target audiences through social media, content marketing and advertising campaigns. Additionally, I developed skills in app design and prototyping using Figma, as well as economic modeling to ensure project viability and I gained an understanding of various revenue sources and monetization strategies. Finally, I deepened my knowledge of idea and brand protection, as well as impactful presentation techniques for persuading investors, including creating compelling pitch decks and preparing for investor questions.
Adrien:
I learned how to develop a solid business model, design a technology solution, prepare and launch a marketing campaign, work on a prototype and coordinate all these skills within a team to successfully pitch the idea to investors.
How has this experience changed your perspective on entrepreneurship and innovation?
Eloïse:
This experience has allowed me to view entrepreneurship from a much more pragmatic angle. I have realized the importance of adaptability and resilience, the value of experimentation and the necessity of having a cohesive and motivated team. It also highlighted how essential it is to continually listen to market and user feedback in order to adjust and improve a product or service.
Adrien:
Coming from a civil engineering background, which is more scientific compared to the other students at EIA, this experience taught me that being good with numbers and sciences isn’t enough. An extraordinary idea holds no value unless it is effectively sold and communicated.
How do you plan to apply what you learned at the European Innovation Academy in your studies or future professional projects?
Eloïse:
I have future plans to start my own business, and all the knowledge I acquired during the EIA, will help me to realize that project.
Adrien:
I plan to launch my own business someday and I believe that all the knowledge I gained during the EIA will prepare me well for that. Thanks to the EIA, I can now apply to the Porto entrepreneur event “Cityxperiment” which aims to propose sustainable improvements for the city of Porto.