ESCP’s Blue Factory Launches in London to Empower UK Start-Ups
London, October 2024 – ESCP Business School proudly hosted the inaugural event of the Blue Factory in London, marking the official launch of its European start-up incubator in the UK. Held in collaboration with The Startup Events and Northeastern University, the evening welcomed over 150 attendees from across London’s vibrant start-up ecosystem, including founders, investors, and industry professionals.
The Blue Factory, known for its innovative and inclusive approach, aims to foster collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, and the broader business community. This event offered many networking opportunities, open-mic pitching sessions, and a dynamic fireside chat that explored critical topics in entrepreneurship.
Organising this event has been an incredible opportunity to showcase the talent and ambition of our entrepreneurial community. Tonight, we witnessed some truly inspiring pitches, and it's a testament to the creativity and drive of our students and startups. At the Blue Factory, we're committed to creating an ecosystem that supports founders at every stage of their journey, and this event is just one of the many ways we’re helping to break down barriers and build confidence.
Harry McDonoughSenior Manager of the Blue Factory London
The event began with a high-energy open-mic pitching session, where entrepreneurs had a one-minute slot to present their business ideas, products and services. With innovative solutions ranging from tax support, global medical access, nutrition apps, and reproductive healthcare, to international relocation support, transparent philanthropy, and neuroscience-specific employment services, and community-building, over 15 participants bravely took the stage to share their business ideas with the audience.
The journey of my start-up started with open pitching events, and I always advise aspiring founders to start from there. In that sense, the ESCP event provided a great environment for young entrepreneurs to seek feedback, and for more experienced ones to share it. I particularly enjoyed starring on the panel with more senior industry experts and providing some brutally honest feedback about my journey as a founder so far, and judging by the consequent reaction, it was perceived as fresh and unconventional. Very reassuring for someone who's trying to actively grow as a speaker!
Jane FisherFounder at imii
Following the pitches, the evening continued with a fireside chat brought together a distinguished panel of experts to dive into critical topics in entrepreneurship and offer valuable insights to the start-up community.
The Fireside Chat Highlights
From raising capital and scaling challenges to personal advice and the importance of building strong networks, the lively discussion covered a range of questions, both from the moderator, Dean Williams, and the audience.
The conversation highlighted networking as crucial for feedback, sales channels, and growth, and offered practical tips to raising money through angel investment and crowdfunding as alternatives to traditional venture capital. Founders lacking technical skills were encouraged to seek technical partners and share their ideas broadly, stressing that execution and the steps they take to launch the business is more important than having a novel idea. For those just beginning their entrepreneurial journey, the panel emphasised the need to focus on research, building resilience, and understanding systems and people.
A big thank you to the expert panelists for their valuable contributions
- Sam Simpson – Co-Founder & CEO, FounderCatalyst
- Emily Centeno – Director of Marketing, Admissions, Communications, Events and Student Experience, ESCP Business School
- Richard Corps – Director of Entrepreneurship, Northeastern University London
- Alexander Emeh-Gapo – Founder, Black Owned London
- Jane Fisher – Founder, imii
The event moved into a relaxed networking session, where connections were formed, ideas were shared, and new partnerships emerged.
The Blue Factory’s London launch is a first in many planned events in London’s entrepreneurial calendar, continuing to provide a platform for startups to flourish through collaboration and resource-sharing. With events like these, the Blue Factory reinforces ESCP Business School’s mission of empowering entrepreneurs to drive impactful projects within the European and global startup ecosystem.
About the Blue Factory
The Blue Factory is a cornerstone of ESCP Business School’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. By providing a dedicated space and comprehensive support system for our students and alumni to develop their ideas, the Blue Factory not only nurtures entrepreneurial spirit but also drives real-world impact. It embodies our values of excellence, creativity, and responsibility, preparing our community to become the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow. The success of the Blue Factory is a testament to the importance of integrating entrepreneurial education with practical, hands-on experience, and it significantly enhances the value we offer to our students and society at large.
For more information on upcoming Blue Factory events and how to get involved, visit: Blue Factory
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