Entrepreneurship
Student Entrepreneurship at ICN
At ICN Business School, entrepreneurship is a top priority. Turning your studies into an opportunity to launch your business? Yes, itâs possible! Throughout your journey, the school supports you in developing your entrepreneurial project. From the very beginning, you benefit from dedicated guidance.
So, how does it work in practice? ICN gives student entrepreneurs the time and space they need. You also receive mentorship and personalized support. The goal? To help you bring your project to lifeâstep by step.
From your very first year, you can get tailored supportâno matter which program youâre in. If you have an idea or a project, donât wait. Reach out to David GEGONNE, ICN affiliate professor and Director of Grand Nancy Innovation. Ready to start your entrepreneurial journey with ICN?
Entrepreneur and student at ICN
Fostering Entrepreneurship Through a Bold Ecosystem
At ICN Business School, the entire team is committed to supporting student entrepreneurship. The goal? To create the ideal environment for developing concrete, sustainable, and innovative projects. As David GEGONNE, ICN affiliate professor and President of Grand Nancy Innovation, explains:"We support students throughout their entrepreneurial journeyâeven during school holidays. Every project is unique, which is why our support is always personalized."
A key figure in this initiative, David GEGONNE closely follows the most promising student projects. Thanks to his dedication, many ICN students benefit from tailored support that aligns with their goals. This year, for instance, two Bachelor in Management students, Nicolas MARTIN and Maël BROCKER, joined Grand Nancy Innovation. They shared their experience:
âWe reached out to David at the very start of the academic year to present our project.
He found it promising and invited us to pitch it to the Grand Nancy Innovation committee.
This committee decides whether or not to incubate a project. We were accepted!
We're truly grateful to David for creating that bridge with ICN, which gave us the time we needed to grow and move forward faster.â
Our Partners
ICNâs Internal Ecosystem
The Academic and Professional Department // ARTEM Projects
Customized Learning Path // ICN Student Support Advisor
ICN Entrepreneurs Student Association // ICN Endowment Fund
The External Ecosystem
Alexis // Entreprenariat au féminin 54 // Grand Nancy Innovation
France Active // Google Ateliers Numériques // Incubateur Lorrain
French Tech East // BLIIIDA Metz-The Pool // Le Village by Crédit Agricole
Le PĂŽle entrepreneuriat Ă©tudiant de lorraine // FIDAL
Spotlight on PEEL, Franceâs First University Student Entrepreneurship Hub
The Lorraine Student Entrepreneurship Hub (PEEL) supports you throughout your entrepreneurial journey. No matter your project, year of study, campus, or time of year, PEEL adapts to your needs.
This program is highly flexible. At every stage, you benefit from personalized support tailored to your specific requirements. But thatâs not all. PEEL also allows you to obtain the National Student Entrepreneur Status (SNEE), which comes with many advantages.
For example, you can work in co-working spaces suited to your needs. Additionally, you gain access to a broad network of professional and institutional partners, essential for developing your project. Thanks to PEEL, your entrepreneurship project gains structure, visibility, and efficiency.
The Entrepreneurship Award
Each year, the ICN Endowment Fund hosts a major event dedicated to student entrepreneurship. This celebration takes place on the Paris La DĂ©fense campus, at the heart of Europeâs largest economic hub. Itâs a symbolic venue to honor the boldness and entrepreneurial commitment of our students.
In 2024, four student entrepreneurs were recognized. Among them, LĂ©o BRICE, a first-year student in the Grande Ăcole Program (PGE). He is currently on a gap year to focus fully on developing his project.
And the project is progressing quickly. It already employs two staff members and generates revenue! Léo shares his journey with honesty:
âSince I was 15, I have launched several entrepreneurial projects. Not all were successful.
These failures never held me back. On the contrary, they strengthened my resilience. For me, itâs all about learning. By entering ICNâs Entrepreneurship Award, I wanted to show that these lessons lead to success. They did. I am very happy because beyond the project, itâs my perseverance and self-confidence that were rewarded.â
His testimony perfectly embodies the values of entrepreneurship at ICN: commitment, resilience, and ambition.
