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On March 27, 2025, IÉSEG’s campus in Lille was filled with entrepreneurial energy during the IÉSEG Entrepreneurship Day. This annual event brings together the entire entrepreneurial community of the school—students, alumni, incubated startups, partners, and key players in the local ecosystem. The goal is to provide a platform for networking, sharing expertise, and inspiring the growth of high-potential projects.

The day’s program featured a forum gathering IÉSEG’s main entrepreneurship stakeholders, expert-led mini-conferences, and networking sessions. It was an opportunity for entrepreneurs to connect, exchange ideas, and find inspiration. This event reflects the school’s commitment to supporting its entrepreneurs throughout their journey—from creation to expansion.

Beyond discussions and experience sharing, one of the event’s highlights was the IÉSEG Entrepreneur Award, which annually recognizes the most innovative projects and promising startups founded by the school’s students or alumni.

For its 9th edition, six startup finalists competed in a pitch contest before a jury composed of professionals, graduates, and Tristan FERTÉ (winner of the 2024 edition)

The IÉSEG Entrepreneur Award, with a prize of €8,000, was awarded to Virvolt, represented by Yvan DE LA BAUME (IÉSEG graduate, 2018). This startup specializes in motorizing bicycles, making electric bikes more accessible to a wider audience and reducing the environmental impact of transportation.

The Jury’s Favorite Award, with a prize of €3,000, was granted to Izalgue, a project led by Andrea TASSARD (IÉSEG Master’s in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Class of 2022). This startup is committed to the energy transition and aims to redefine the future of insulation using washed-up seaweed.

New this year, the public also had the opportunity to participate by voting for the Public’s Favorite: Virvolt also won this award.

By supporting high-potential projects, IÉSEG Network and the IÉSEG Incubator play a key role in fostering the emergence of impactful, sustainable, and innovative startups.

This year’s winning projects highlight the diversity and richness of entrepreneurial initiatives emerging from IÉSEG. These projects not only address societal and environmental challenges but also aim to reinvent traditional industries—an inspiring example of the impact entrepreneurship can have within the IÉSEG community and beyond.