On Thursday, 21 November, the ESCP London Campus and the London Blue Factory celebrated the 15th anniversary of Blue Factory in Europe.

This milestone was marked with an inspiring 'Genius Circle' session.

Held at Huckletree - Oxford Circus, the event celebrated 'Doing Business Differently' in collaboration with the MSc in Digital Transformation Management & Leadership (MDT) and as part of the wider cross-campus ESCP Entrepreneurship Festival 2024.
 

The Genius Circle

The Genius Circle provided a dynamic opportunity for student entrepreneurs to pitch innovative startup ideas and receive actionable feedback. From market validation to customer acquisition and investment strategies, the session encouraged students to refine and strengthen their early-stage ventures with the support of a live audience during the 10-minute "Entrepreneurship Therapy" session that followed the pitch.

Designed to foster a culture where seeking help is celebrated, the Genius Circle is a form of entrepreneur therapy for sharing struggles, gaining perspective, and finding solutions in a safe space. This approach is crucial for maintaining resilience, avoiding burnout, and nurturing growth, empowering entrepreneurs to thrive in their journeys.
 

The Genius Circle is more than just a pitching event—it's a platform for authentic conversations and actionable insights. This is where ideas meet guidance, and challenges turn into opportunities. Together, we’re proving that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.

Harry McDonough, Senior Manager of Blue Factory at ESCP London London CampusHarry McDonough
Senior Manager of Blue Factory at ESCP London London Campus


Student Ventures

Over just four days, eight groups of MSc students prepared their pitches, each delivering a concise three-minute presentation and posing challenges to the audience for further development. Despite the short preparation time, the teams showcased exceptional creativity, presenting high-calibre ideas such as:

  • A platform simplifying healthcare processes for the elderly;
  • An app to transform and personalise higher education teaching experiences;
  • A platform connecting musicians across the globe;
  • An AI-driven therapy tailored to international students;
  • A first-aid device diagnosing unconsciousness causes and guiding emergency responses;
  • A smart earning distribution system to replace taking up loans;
  • A tech-driven ski instructor tracking system offering personalised feedback;
  • and A bio-matching platform to facilitate organ transplantation.

The Blue Factory's 15-Year Anniversary event was a truly memorable evening for me. Being part of the Genius Circle, surrounded by such creative and driven individuals, felt both inspiring and empowering. Watching my peers pitch their ideas with such conviction reminded me why I joined the Blue Factory in the first place—to learn, collaborate, and grow. The feedback from the audience and experts like Francesco Moiraghi was practical yet encouraging, and it gave me new perspectives on how to approach challenges in my own entrepreneurial journey.

Anita Athary Moghaddam, MSc in Digital Transformation Management & Leadership studentAnita Athary Moghaddam
MSc in Digital Transformation Management & Leadership student
Pictured: One of the MDT student teams, presenting their 3-min pitch to the audience

 

Expert Insights

The session featured two distinguished guest speakers: Francesco Moiraghi, a leading VC from Unruly Capital, who provided invaluable insights on venture refinement, and Dr. Alisa Sydow, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Founder of Nampelka, who brought her entrepreneurial expertise to the event.

Their guidance, alongside the event's collaborative spirit, highlighted the Genius Circle's focus on constructive, supportive feedback rather than critiques.
 

It is incredible to see how far our students can get in only three days of working on their business ideas. And the feedback during this event even got them to the next level.

Alisa Sydow, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Academic Director of MDT at ESCP Business School London CampusAlisa Sydow
Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Academic Director of MDT at ESCP Business School London Campus


Following the official launch event for the Blue Factory in London, this event was part of the busy calendar the Blue Factory team planned for the London campus. Supported by the London Blue Factory and the Blue Factory Student Society, students are exposed to a wide range of recourses and opportunities in the form of workshops, masterclasses, networking opportunities, as well as practical advice to leverage government initiatives and grants.

Upcoming events

  • On 10th December, the London Blue Factory will welcome angel investor and expert Sam Simpson for a workshop on the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme for early-stage start-ups, and the Enterprise Investment Scheme for scaleups.
     
  • On 21st January, the London Blue Factory will kick off the new year with a START & LAUNCH Demo day, where this year’s trained participants will pitch their projects to investors.

Discover more:

 

Campuses

London