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Entrepreneurship: SKEMA students in Berkeley meet Silicon Valley SKEMA alumni
During their semester at UC Berkeley, students from SKEMA Business School’s MSc Entrepreneurship & Innovation organised a series of meetings with graduates based in the San Francisco Bay Area and fellow alumni of the programme. Their goal: to gain first-hand insight into the global tech and venture capital ecosystem.
Turning an academic exchange into a professional springboard: SKEMA students in Berkeley meet influential Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors. For several SKEMA Business School students spending their semester at UC Berkeley, what began as an academic exchange became a true professional opportunity. While in the United States, they met with alumni who have become key figures in Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial and investment scene.
In October, the first meeting took place at the San Francisco offices of Florent Breton (SKEMA 2006, Master in Management), co-founder and CEO of Paren, a B Corp-certified start-up specialising in the visualisation and optimisation of electric vehicle charging infrastructures. With over fifteen years’ experience in management and operations, Florent has previously served as CEO of Acquire App, Head of Business Operations at Tesla Energy Americas, and Director of Operations at Zumper.
The alumnus recently raised €3 million in funding for Paren. “Florent is an incredibly genuine and talented person. His presence made a real impact on everyone,” said François Pineau, Master in Management student and co-organiser of the event, together with several students from UC Berkeley’s Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (SCET). More than an academic hub, SCET acts as a gateway to the broader innovation ecosystem of Silicon Valley.
A second inspiring encounter
A few days later, the same students attended another session led by Arnaud Bonzom (SKEMA 2011), founder and CEO of Black Mangroves, a consultancy helping corporations and investors navigate global start-up ecosystems. A recognised investor and mentor, Arnaud now advises entrepreneurs and organisations on innovation strategies and international development.
During the discussion, students Erwan Gardelle, François Pineau, Roxane Lambert, Benjamin Kratiroff, Helwan Le Luhandre-Merah and Adam Bellet explored key topics such as entrepreneurial mindset, innovation funding, common pitfalls for start-up founders, and the culture of ambition that defines Silicon Valley.
Students mentoring students
Beyond these in-person exchanges, the group also received advice from four alumni currently launching their own start-ups after completing the programme. Among them are Baptiste Vanpoperinghe and Amaury Grange, founders of Pilea, currently accelerating with Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator in New York, and Roxane Etemad, who is developing her start-up within Villa Blu by Robertet.
“These meetings perfectly embody the SKEMA spirit: learning through connection, and drawing inspiration from those who have already paved the way,” said Nicolas Servel, Director of the MSc Entrepreneurship, Technology & Startup Management, MSc Entrepreneurship & Innovation and MSc Entrepreneurship & Design for Sustainability programmes.
