Startups on stage: celebrating women's vision and ambition
Dear HEC Alumni & Friends,
We are delighted to invite you to special entrepreneurial evening in partnership with the Innovation and Entrepreneurial Institute at HEC Paris and HERmesa:
Startups on stage: celebrating women's vision and ambition
Pitch night and Champagne reception
Wednesday 3rd July 2024 at 6:30 pm
HEC UK House 43 Parker Street London WC2B 5PS
Join us for an exclusive Pitch Night in London, dedicated to women entrepreneurs taking the stage to share their groundbreaking ideas! Hosted at the UK House, our event will gather Alumni, BA, VC and investors to meet with our startups and champion their vision. You will have the chance to witness the future of entrepreneurship and meeting with inspiring women from the HEC community. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to be part of their entrepreneurial journey and empower women entrepreneurship and expect an evening of ideas, creativity and inspiration!
Discover our startups!
 | Oly founded by Paula Menendez is the B2B platform facilitating connections between fashion resale businesses and leading marketplaces to boost their sales. "We're already collaborating with prominent UK resale businesses such as Luxe Collective and Sign of the Times, facilitating their growth by linking them with platforms like eBay and Vestiaire Collective. The UK holds strategic importance for us due to its status as Europe's largest fashion resale market [...] and a significant portion, 60%, of UK consumers have engaged in secondhand fashion purchases within the past year. Additionally, the absence of taxation on second-hand selling has incentivized numerous businesses to establish and test pilot programs within the UK market. For instance, Zara and TikTok have launched resale initiatives in the UK, while Depop gained significant traction. We are particularly excited about the prospect of connecting with HEC alumni to explore potential synergies and opportunities given our current pursuit to expand our network in the UK market. We're actively looking to grow our clients and explore collaborations with established physical retailers that are venturing into the resale space, such as Selfridges and Harvey Nichols." |
 | NomadHer founded by Hyojeong Kim is the #1 app for women who love to travel, connect, share experiences, and support each other. "The UK is a strategic point for NomadHer as currently one of five users are based in London. NomadHer is a community app for female travellers, currently consisting of 300K+ members and we plan to raise 5M by the end of this year for the next step to expand into international market & make our hosting function focusing on female travel programme concretely." |
 | Auxilia Tech founded by Greta Zibetti designs an Artificial Intelligence for the fight against terrorism and illegal trafficking. Their software automatically detects weapons or other threats present on X-ray images of luggage and goods. "The UK is important for us in achieving our Seed funding, which we already started, as well as for market opportunities we have there. We have clients in several EU countries, but not yet in the UK, and in terms of airport innovation, they are a step ahead of the rest of Europe." |
 | Smarteem founded by Alice Fortuné is a freelance HR management solution for companies. "The expansion into the UK market of our SaaS startup, which offers a complete solution for freelance talent management, presents significant strategic benefits. The UK has one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic freelance economies in Europe, with strong demand for efficient and effective freelance management tools. By addressing this market, we can tap into a vast network of companies that are increasingly turning to freelancers to meet their operational needs. The UK also boasts a strong technology ecosystem, offering numerous opportunities for partnerships, networking and growth. Entering this market will not only diversify our customer base, but also strengthen our credibility and visibility on an international scale, paving the way for further expansion into other English-speaking regions." |
 | Anya, founded by Dr Chen Mao Davies is an AI parenting and breastfeeding app for 24/7 support with great traction in the NHS and a good pipeline of B2B and insurance clients. Founder: Dr. Chen Mao Davies holds a PhD in Computer Graphics and boasts over 15 years of experience in software R&D. Over the past decade, she has been an integral part of a world-class R&D team dedicated to crafting breathtaking Visual Effects for feature films, including the Oscar & BAFTA award-winning Gravity and Blade Runner 2049. Dr. Davies, a mother of two, draws from her firsthand experience as a once-struggling but ultimately successful breastfeeding mother. Her journey inspired the creation of the Anya app, aimed at providing support to other parents |
 | Martee AI, founded by Lucy Adams is a demand forecasting solution for grab & go food restaurants to reduce food waste and avoid missed revenues due to out of stocks. Co-Founder: Lucy Adams is the Co-founder & COO at Martee AI, leveraging her expertise in startups, commercial strategy, and interdisciplinary problem-solving. Passionate about innovation and sustainability, she has a track record of driving value and building networks in the food and climate tech industries. With a First-Class degree in Human Sciences from the University of Oxford, Lucy combines academic rigor with hands-on experience to make meaningful contributions to the startup ecosystem. |
EVENT SUMMARY:
- Date: Wednesday 3rd July 2024
- Time: 6:30 to 10:00 pm
- Venue: HEC UK House 43 Parker Street London, WC2B 5PS. The HEC UK House has step-free access.
- Format: Pitch and Champagne reception
- Tickets: Infinity Pass and fee-paying members: £30/ Alumni and External: £40
Pictures and videos will be taken during the evening and might be used on social media.
If you need help to register for the event or any information, please contact Marie Normant, our Alumni Relations Manager.
