The 1st student-led Venture Capital at HEC Lausanne.

After talking to the co-founder of the association, I will try to answer all the potential questions that any student may have, before closing the loop with a short and enjoyable Q&A.

A short while ago, four students in their 3rd year of Bachelor at HEC Lausanne, mavericks who are highly forward-looking, realized that in the number 1 country in the world in innovation, the Swiss universities must well represent this title, and their students have a duty to keep the position on top of the leaderboard. One way of doing that is to promote entrepreneurship and encourage students to participate in workshops and competitions on startups. But the co-founders of VheC looked at this matter from outside of the box.

HEC Lausanne is home to many reputable associations that host start-up events, some of these associations also have teams and participants from outside the faculty. However, the yearly events that happen are mostly contests, where there is usually one big winner, and even if the runners-up receive recognition, they will not receive enough to give birth to their ideas. Therefore, VheC is founded on the belief that everyone with a viable idea deserves a shot at success, provided they have a clear business plan or concrete activity. As students in the 21st century and in regard to all the innovation around us, we come up with countless creative ideas. However, let us face it, as broke university students, it is tough to gather an initial investment. And that is one core value of VheC: to provide initial capital to students with a concrete idea.

Structure & Activities

With the vision of launching and recruiting by the end of the academic year (May-June 2023), the association plans on coming in hot in September 2023, with 3 workshops starring Venture Capital firms based in Lausanne and Geneva. The workshops, led by industry experts and which will of course be followed by drinks and an aperitif, will tackle these three topics: “Procedures to become an entrepreneur”, “How to make a pitch”, and “Is your idea viable or not?”.

The other event in their agenda is a Shark Tank-style event, with 3 seats occupied by Venture Capital, and one last seat occupied by VheC. For those who do not know, Shark Tank is a TV show hosted by investors (Sharks) who hear pitches from business owners that are looking for funding. In exchange for their money, the sharks usually require a stake in the business and a share of the profits.

Considering the structure, the association for students by students, co-founded by Gregory Kull (President), Pierre-Olivier Mémeint (Vice-President), Charles Geffard, and Arthur Pagin, will be composed of a Sponsoring team, who will be directly in contact with different Venture Capital firms, an Events team, and a Pitch team, whom would be the sharks (or investors). All teams would have an activity that is spread out throughout the year, for events will be recurrent, and business owners can walk in at any time to pitch an idea and ask for investment. In addition to the financial support, students with a business idea will benefit from services in some cases, such as website creation or social-media and Marketing advice, as the relationship between the investors and the business owners is based on mutual benefits. So really any type of start-up is welcome to pitch, as long as the investors see a potential for returns and a future in the start-up. It goes without saying that investors providing capital for the new businesses will expect to receive a percentage of the company in return. As a result, they will be highly motivated to work with the business and help ensure its success, which is also why VheC is looking for people with actions, not simply an idea. With their support and guidance, the venture will have access to the resources and expertise necessary to grow.

 

Career Development opportunities

In addition to students having the possibility to apply even if they are not enrolled in HEC (i.e. IMD, EPFL or other), students from any faculty will be able to pitch at any time at the open desk. So, there is an opportunity to meet like-minded people at the same stage in life as you, and maybe also make long-term friendships, which is also by the way one perk of being in a student association or doing something else besides studies. Moreover, as the sponsors will be Private Banks and Venture Capital firms that are eager to meet with students; joining the association or pitching an idea will get you the chance to network with industry experts from various financial entities in Geneva and Lausanne, in addition to the gain of visibility to your business. Thanks to being directly in contact with specialists, members and pitchers will be exposed to hands-on experiences in choosing investments, learning to valorize enterprises, and learning things one may not learn in a classroom. One other core value of the association is that it is a new way of funding. To help people launch, the stress of the 1st investment will be taken away, as VheC will help boost the initiation of start-ups.

As described by Co-founder and President Gregory, in the Family, Friends, and Fools eco-system, VheC will serve as the Fools that believe in most of the projects, again to the extent that there is a viable idea.

Long-Term goals & impact on the broader Community

For now, the association will embrace its limitations in the activities they propose, but the board is open to innovation in the structure as future members are welcome to propose new plans for making the most in motivating students to develop their ideas, and not be afraid to do something. In an attempt to motivate people to join, the president highlights the fact that as the newest student association in HEC Lausanne, members will benefit from the exciting opportunity to make what they want from the association, and not follow an already set-up system where you have to conform to the existing norms.

The association will start between Lausanne and Geneva, but ideally, they aim to reach and have pitches from all around Switzerland. With a long-term goal of providing reliable funding to entrepreneurs, VheC aims to make around 20 investments a year, with a consequent portfolio of the association in the coming years.

Before I leave you with you to your creativity and adventurousness, let us enjoy together these questions answered by President and Co-founder of VheC, Gregory Kull.

Q: If the student association was a fictional character, who would it be and why?

A: Deadpool, a superhero not like the others for an association not like the others.

Q: What’s the funniest or most memorable moment you’ve had while working on the association?

A: As I thought about the idea under the shower, I met the next morning with the others, and as we didn’t have any pen, Pierre-Olivier took his spoon out of his coffee to draw the logo on a paper we got from a stand.

Q: If the association could invest in any startup from history, which one would it be?

A: Berkshire Hathaway

Q: What’s the weirdest startup idea you’ve ever had?

A: As a meet lover living in Switzerland, I thought about a Ferry that would take people to France to buy meat and bring them back to the harbor at Vidy. Of course, it was impossible due to regulations.

Q: If the association had a mascot, what would it be?

A: Capibara

Q: If you could only use one word to describe the association, what would it be?

A: Disruptive

Q: If the association could take a group trip anywhere in the world, where would it go and what would it do?

A: Climbing Mount Everest

Q: If the association could have a celebrity spokesperson, who would it be?

A: Michael Jordan

Q: If the association could travel back in time to any era or historical event, where and when would it go?

A: After World War II

Khalil Elaouani
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