Roxane Etemad

The programme in Entrepreneurship, Technology & Startup Management at SKEMA offers a genuine immersion into the world of startups and innovation. My journey has been shaped by two complementary experiences.

At UC Berkeley, I had the opportunity to delve into the dynamic ecosystem of Silicon Valley, engaging with seasoned and inspiring entrepreneurs, investors, and passionate experts. The diversity of student profiles enabled us to form teams with complementary skills, blending technical and business expertise.

The course programme was equally rich: it combined modules in growth marketing and strategic development, while also offering the chance to take more technical courses, notably in food science and food technology. This allowed me to better understand the technical challenges linked to our product and to enhance the added value of Flourish, the startup I co-founded at Berkeley.

Back in France, the Master’s programme at Sophia Antipolis became a real springboard for advancing my project. The support of the teaching team, particularly Nicolas Servel, gave me access to a valuable network: exchanges with alumni, visits to incubators such as VillaBlu and Le Village by CA, and participation in startup competitions. These concrete opportunities helped structure and accelerate the development of Flourish.

I am delighted to have chosen this international master’s, which alternates between the vibrancy of Silicon Valley and the innovation hub of the Sophia Antipolis technopole. This dual perspective on the tech ecosystem played a key role in the development of my startup and allowed me to enjoy an experience that was as enriching as it was diverse.