Seven leading companies challenging MSc students to tackle real-world problems through the power of data analytics

After an intense week of creativity, collaboration, and relentless problem-solving, the annual ESCP MSC in Big Data and Business Analytics Hackathon reached a thrilling conclusion. From 17-21 February, ESCP students in the programme transformed complex challenges into innovative solutions, showcasing their passion and ingenuity in every project.

Organised in partnership with seven leading companies, the hackathon exemplified ESCP’s hands-on approach to learning: bridging theory and practice, and enabling students to work on real-world challenges with real impact.

We extend our warm thanks to our corporate partners — Criteo, Catalina Marketing France, Numberly, SAMSE, Écologie Logistique, Ekimetrics, and Square Management — for providing challenges that pushed boundaries and inspired excellence.

Recognising Outstanding Achievements

After a week of collaboration and intense analysis, seven teams stood out for their originality, rigour, and impact. We are delighted to celebrate the exceptional winning teams:

Criteo – Universal Catalogue Challenge
Team 9: Eliott Barat-Chabeauti, Eugène Delecour, Kanyana Ntagungira, and Treza Bawm Win

Developed a robust semantic embedding that enabled coherent clustering and an intuitive visualisation tool, redefining brand connectivity.

Catalina Marketing France – Personalised Communication & Generative AI
Team 21: Tiago Ornelas Monteiro, Shantanu Joshi, Juliette Bourbonnais, and Ghita Benayad

Devised an innovative strategy featuring a digital twin – a ‘fake workspace’ designed to test and refine marketing strategies in a controlled environment.

Numberly – Data Collaboration & Cleanroom Concept
Team 22: Diane Besnier, Victor Lintermans, Léon Ponet, and Jean de Gruben

Conducted an analytical deep dive into how TV, contextual and retargeting campaigns affect daily sales, exploring the carryover effect of ads through the Adstock concept.

SAMSE – E-commerce Conversion Optimisation
Team 7: Mathilde Rychel, Karl Toto-Same, Benjamin De Girolamo, and Marc Albert

Impressed with their diagnostic acumen and actionable recommendations to boost e-commerce performance.

Écologie Logistique – Road Traffic Optimisation
Team 12: Diana Marroquin, Laura Maspero, Maria Salgado, and Marianna Hofmeier

Created a digital twin of road traffic in Saint-Cyr-l’École, enabling advanced analysis and strategic recommendations to optimise urban mobility.

Ekimetrics – GHG Emissions Reduction
Team 4: Paolina Castany, Rabia Kamran, Syed Hamid, and Afflété Tieha

Delivered measurable and impactful solutions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Square Management – Enhancing Geospatial Data Accuracy
Team 15: WonJeung Choi, Suk Yi Chung, Thanh Ngan Dang, Federico Migliore, and Priyanka Kumar

Set a new standard for geospatial data accuracy, ensuring exceptional data quality and unlocking innovative business applications through refined geoanalysis.

A photo of students presenting their project during the Hackaton 2025

Voices from the Hackathon

The hackathon was not only a contest of technical skill but also a journey of discovery and teamwork. Participants and partners shared reflections that capture the spirit of the event:

“An immersive, intense preview that set the stage for my future consulting journey.”

Benjamin De Girolamo

“ Team experiences highlighted the power of collaboration: “Our team’s synergy and dedication were amazing at this hackathon. Each member brought unique insights and skills, allowing us to tackle challenges creatively and deliver a solid solution within tight deadlines.”

Ghali Tazi

“ Delving into the technical challenges, one participant shared: Working with large datasets was an exciting challenge, and it was very rewarding to crack the insights and see the big impact they could make.”

Léon Ponet

“Another reflected on the learning curve: Hackathon was the perfect opportunity for us to discover and work on topics that we have never done before, and challenged us to find optimal solutions despite the unfamiliar topics and strict schedules.”

Thanh Ngan Dang

“Team dynamics and the value of efficient collaboration were also celebrated: The hackathon was a journey of discovery. The team dynamic was very nice and taught me how efficient teamwork can lead to success, while consistently enhancing each one's knowledge.”

Capucine Bousquet

“Reflecting on a specific challenge: After an intense week at the Numberly x ESCP Hackathon, we explored customer segmentation and ad targeting optimisation, turning complex data into actionable insights. A huge thanks to the organisers, mentors, and teammates for the collaboration, challenges, and learning experience throughout the week!”

Victor Lintermans

A photo of students presenting their project during the Hackaton 2025

Our partners were equally impressed by the talent and fresh perspectives on display:

“It was a pleasure to interact with the students who worked with great seriousness and relevance. Their fresh perspective brought new ideas on several subjects. We leave with interesting avenues for reflection thanks to their contribution.”

Nicolas MAITRE and Katia Simon-Chautemps, SAMSE group


“ Square Management's involvement in this week-long ESCP Hackathon was a great human and professional experience. We were able to share with passionate students a project that is a real challenge for our customers. While offering students the opportunity to work on concrete subjects, this project also enabled Square Management to benefit from rigorous analysis by the students.”

Maxime Trevisani, Square Management


“We believe that today’s challenges require fresh ideas and innovative approaches. That’s why we were thrilled to organise this hackathon on data collaboration, tackling real-life challenges with a use case based on Hills. It was an insightful experience—students were curious, motivated, and hardworking. It has been a great pleasure to follow their journey throughout the hackathon.”

Salma Mezyaoui and Mathieu Josserand, Numberly

A Journey of Innovation and Beyond

The dedication and hard work of ESCP MBD students throughout this hackathon have not only showcased their technical and analytical prowess but have also demonstrated an unwavering commitment to sustainable innovation and business excellence. This event has been an unforgettable experience—a true celebration of creative problem-solving, teamwork, and the spirit of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all participants, organisers, mentors, and partners for making this journey so inspiring. As we celebrate these achievements, we look forward to continuing our mission of innovation and excellence, paving the way toward a brighter and more sustainable future.

Let’s keep the spirit of innovation alive at ESCP and beyond!

Learn more about the programme

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