Frequently Asked Questions
Wondering how our selection process unfolds? If you’re eligible? Who are the mentors you’ll have access to once admitted? We’ve got you covered! In this section we’ve put together some commonly asked questions ranging from eligibility requirements and selection process to program details.
Can’t find the answers you’re looking for? Feel free to use the “leave a comment” button below to have all your questions answered!
Calendar
When is the next intake of the Incubateur HEC Paris?
The Incubateur HEC Paris welcomes a new batch every three months. We have an intake in January, April, July and October.
Where can I apply for the Incubateur HEC Paris?
Here is the link to our call for application. The application is in 2 rounds.
How long is the first round ?
From the start of each process, you have 6 weeks to complete your application, we will then come back to you within 2 weeks to let you know whether you have been accepted for the jury.
Eligibility
What do I need to be eligible for the Incubateur HEC Paris?
To be eligible for the Incubateur HEC Paris, you need to:
justify a link with HEC
be 100% on your project and live in the paris region for the first three months of the program.
What is a link with HEC?
You need to be an alumni or certified by HEC Paris. This means that you need to have completed one academic program or a MOOC on Coursera offered by HEC Paris.
What if I am not a HEC alumni?
You will need to complete a MOOC offered by HEC Paris on entrepreneurship.
What is a MOOC on Coursera.org offered by HEC Paris?
A MOOC is a certifying online course. Opened to anybody, the HEC Paris’ MOOCs on the Coursera platform are designed to offer a stimulating introduction to Entrepreneurship.
Each MOOC costs between $39 and $79.
What if I am not 100% on my project ?
We highly recommend that you are 100% on your project in order to maximize the development of your startup within the Incubateur HEC Paris community.
What if I do not live in the Paris area ?
We highly recommend that you stay within Paris or "Ile de France" in order to benefit from the program. The more you will be present at the incubator, the more you will benefit and be active in the community. Once accepted in the program, Station F offers a an access to housing from 300€/months.
Do you help with French Tech visa applications ?
We are a partner incubator of the French Tech Visa. For us to help you in this process, you need to get formally admitted through our regular selection process. We cannot, unfortunately, help you beforehand.
How many times can I apply to the Incubateur HEC Paris?
You can apply as many times as you wish to the Incubateur HEC Paris. It is common for us to encourage young projects to renew their application in the future once they have matured their projects. Re-applying after being rejected is a sign of resilience and we like that ! However if after several application we still haven't accepted your startup at the incubator, maybe we're just not the right match for you !
At what maturity stage do I need to be to apply at the Incubateur HEC Paris?
The Incubateur HEC Paris is a program designed for early stage startups, for dedicated and committed entrepreneurs. You need to have proven initial interest and potential in your project, by having interviewed customers, designed a prototype of your solution. We need to see that you are a "hands-on entrepreneur" and that you already have put some consequent work into your startup. We will look at your achievements prior to joining the incubator. For example if all you have is an idea and a power-point, you are probably too early to join the Incubateur HEC Paris. On the other hand, we also incubate more advanced companies who have specific objectives that we can achieve together.
The Jury
How do I know if I have been accepted for the jury?
The Incubateur HEC Paris will come back to you within the agenda communicated with your eligibility result for the jury. Please check your spam inbox.
How does jury day play out?
You will have 8 minutes to pitch your project, followed by 12 minutes of questions and answers.
How should I prepare for the jury?
To prepare for the jury, we highly recommend that you practice your pitch to be within the 8 minutes. We also recommend that you think about what you will bring to the Incubateur HEC Paris, as a startup and as entrepreneurs. Lastly, please make sure that you submit your slides on time to the Incubateur HEC Paris team.
Who is part of the jury?
Entrepreneurs, mentors, experts, VCs, the Région IDF and the Incubateur HEC Paris team compose the jury. You will have a variety of profiles from the startup ecosystem in front of you that are here to challenge and bring an added value to you.
What do I need to bring on jury day?
You need to only bring a valid ID to enter the building and the invitation (QR code) that you have received in the days before your jury.
Do I have to use a support to present ?
Yes, we highly recommend that you use a deck to articulate your pitch. You will have to submit your deck the Friday before your jury. Everything will be ready once you enter the jury room in order to have you in the best conditions.
Do I have to bring my computer ?
No. We will have your deck ready for you to present once you enter the room.
Is there wifi?
Yes, you will be able to connect to a guest wifi.
Where is the Jury ?
The Jury will happen at Station F in Paris. There is of course the possibility to participate in the jury online. Nevertheless, we highly recommend for you to come meet us for the jury. Once you are accepted to the second round, we will share with you all details regarding the jury.
Program
How long is the incubation ?
It is a three months programme, renewable. These renewal are not limited in time, in theory you can stay at the incubator for as long as you want!
The first 3 months are equal to the onboarding, where we work on your roadmap, get to know each other and define longer term objectives for our startups. Then, the startups have an intense access to all the resources of the incubator. At the end of these 3 months the incubator and the startup decide if they wish to renew the incubation for another 3 month....
On what criteria do you decide to renew a startup ?
The decision to renew a startup at the incubator is usually taken jointly between the startup and the incubator team.
The first criteria is the "fit" between the startup and the incubator : do we both feel like working together? Are we truly helping each other?
We also look at the road-map and objectives of the startup: are your objective within our expertise, are we the best place for your to grow to your next stage?
An important criteria is the size of the team. Once your team grows, we might not be the best place for you to stay, since our incubator is a big 700m2 open-space with little privacy, and a lot of other entrepreneurs.
How many startups are currently incubated ?
The Incubateur HEC Paris hosts around 60 to 70 startups in our 700 square meter floor at Station F. We have a capacity of 225 desks, and the number of startups incubated varies according to the number of desks that our startups need. Usually our startups leave the incubator once their team has reached 9 to 10 people. The Incubateur HEC Paris has a startup-alumni network of more than 300 startups, most of them growing outside the incubator but who are still available within our community to share their experience.
Who are your mentors ?
We have three types of mentors :
Tutors: tutors are HEC academic professors who follow our startups over time on a long-term basis. Their role is to bind a relationship with our entrepreneurs and provide a strategic mentorship by overviewing all aspects of an entrepreneur's life. Some of our tutors include Frédéric Iselin, Etienne Krieger, Jean-Pierre Detrie, Michel Santi, Hervé Dechêne and Adeline Leroy.
Industry & Business Experts : Through the HEC alumni network, we have access to a range of more than 200 experts who provide sharp insight into their industry and business field to our entrepreneurs. Our experts are solicited punctually when the need arises and intervene trough our "Office Hour" format: these office hours are held at the incubator and our experts are available for personalized "one on one" meetings with our entrepreneurs. During these meetings, you can discuss in depth with the experts and try to solve your stakes with an exclusive support.
Operational mentors : The Incubateur HEC Paris has bound strong relationships with a set of operational mentors who provide regular support to our entrepreneurs on operational matters. We have UX-UI designers, artistic directors, business developers, design-thinking coaches, business angels and former entrepreneurs who are present at the incubator every week or month according to their expertise.