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Start-up Challenge 2021: 8 start-up projects headed for the Silicon Valley!

Entrepreneurship Article published on 15 December 2021 , Updated on 08 June 2022

For the competition’s fourth edition, the Start-Up Challenge 2021-2022 welcomed 15 teams of young entrepreneurs from the University, supported by Université Paris-Saclay and the association Start in Saclay. Their goal: benefit from an intensive acceleration phase for their project and potentially become ambassadors for Université Paris-Saclay during an immersive week in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Silicon Valley.

From 18 to 30 November 2021, the teams competing took part in workshops led by professional experts on a wide range topics, including value proposition, teams, customer acquisition, legal practices, pitching, and more. Entrepreneurs, manufacturers and investors, some 40 mentors shared their experiences and entrepreneurial passion with the students, giving them the opportunity to improve their projects on all fronts. The collective workshops and mentoring sessions were hosted by the Institut d'Optique Graduate School, the Orsay Faculty of Sciences, WAI by BNP Paribas and the Student Entrepreneurship Office at Université Paris-Saclay (Orsay campus).

Several rewards on offer

  • Six months of free support from Creative Valley
  • A Grand Prize awarded by Université Paris-Saclay: an immersive trip to San Francisco

 

On Tuesday 30 November 2021, the competition’s closing evening took place at the Student Entrepreneurship Office, building 330, on the Orsay campus; a key place for entrepreneurship at Université Paris-Saclay. The teams of students pitched their projects in front of a jury of mentors and former winners, and the jury was led by Nathalie Hatton-Asensi, Head of education and success at the University.

 

The jury named eight overall winners, and congratulated the talent of the teams competing and the quality of their pitches. The winning projects Quanteam, 52 Hertz, Cocagne.Art, First Steps in France, VisitForMe, Simbo, Otesa and Light Cycle were chosen to represent Université Paris-Saclay and they will fly to the Silicon Valley in February 2022 to meet with partners and investors.

About the winning teams

Quanteam aims to speed up the application transfer of cutting-edge quantitative approaches in medical imaging globally, by offering optimised algorithmic and scalable solutions, which facilitate their deployment in clinical practice. The goal is to give all medical imaging doctors access to this quantitative data.

52 Hertz is developing an integrated underwater communication device, the Talkie-Divy; a connected regulator mouthpiece with embedded technology which can be directly adapted to diving regulators. The device makes scuba diving safer and more fun and enjoyable.

Cocagne.Art is an urban agriculture start-up that develops autonomous planter containers which solve business model problems for companies selling smart indoor vegetable gardens.

First Steps in France is a mobile application aimed at helping Chinese expats or students who do not speak French when they arrive in France, and which aims to encourage their social inclusion. The application is written entirely in Chinese and is designed for people who are accustomed to Chinese practices and customs.

VisitForMe is a platform which helps students looking for an apartment to find accommodation remotely by putting them in contact with an apartment renter for a virtual visit, located in the chosen area.

Simbo aims to become the reference in support for international students in France, by providing reliable, concrete and effective solutions to their administrative, legal or logistic needs.

Otesa is a digital queue for cafeterias and canteens in secondary schools and universities. Students place their order via the application and receive a notification when it is ready. No need to wait in line! For catering professionals, Otesa provides a more organised and fluid service.

Light Cycle illuminates (quite literally) the distances that should be respected with cyclists or scooters to stay safe.

 

Rediscover the final in photos

Photos © Angélique Gilson
Photos © Angélique Gilson
Photos © Angélique Gilson
Photos © Angélique Gilson
Photos © Angélique Gilson
Photos © Angélique Gilson
Photos © Angélique Gilson
Photos © Angélique Gilson
Photos © Angélique Gilson