Pitch&Hire: When HEC Paris startups recruit their next talents directly at Station F

On March 5, 44 students from HEC Paris’s Grande École and Master’s programs gathered at Station F, the world’s largest startup campus, for the first-ever edition of Pitch & Hire, an event designed to directly connect startup founders seeking talent with HEC students looking for their first, or next, entrepreneurial experience. Here’s a look back at this inaugural edition.

No more wasting hours scrolling through LinkedIn in search of the perfect internship or full-time job at a startup. The student society Start'HEC, in partnership with the Incubateur HEC Paris and HEC Talents, launched a radically different approach. A genuine gateway and ramp for HEC Paris students to take a true step into the startup world.

A FORMAT DESIGNED FOR (INTER)ACTION

The idea behind the concept is as simple as it is effective: rather than a traditional forum where students wander from booth to booth, the founders take the stage to pitch their projects, ambitions, and needs. Then, if a student is interested, there’s a direct exchange with the team, and potentially an interview right on the spot.

The evening’s program reflects this focus on efficiency:

Arrival and check-in starting at 4:15 PM,

A Station F tour guide from 4:30 to 5:00 PM,

Startup pitches from 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM,

Networking in corner booths from 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM

Then, the famous “Jeudi Interdit”, the iconic after-work event organized by Incubateur HEC Paris.

TEN STARTUPS AND MORE THAN FIFTY PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

The startups participating in the event were pre-selected by the organizing teams, ensuring the quality and diversity of the projects: legal tech to proptech, including healthcare, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and media.

Ten startups and their founders participated in the event: Céline Bertrix (Buddy), Philippe Greco (DutyAdvisor), Léopold Servais (Histia), Julien Laurent and Raphaël Marechal (Andy Legal), Emma Freyd (Optimmo), Eugénie Beauchesne (Elsee.Care), Geoffrey Guilly (Aitenders), Axel Cateland (Kulipa), Julien Hébrard (abstrakt.news), and Louis Greverie (CROWN Procurement).

All in all, this inaugural edition opened the door to more than fifty opportunities, from summer internships and gap years to full-time roles.

A LIVE TOUR OF STATION F

The Pitch & Hire event was also the opportunity for students to step inside the biggest startup campus of the world. A select group of HEC Paris students toured Station F alongside members of the Start'HEC team, moving through the campus to see what entrepreneurship looks like when it leaves the classroom and becomes a daily reality.

Along the way, they met two founders with firsthand experience navigating that transition: Paul Barbotin, co-founder of Helean, andStéphane Richard, founder of GreenLeaze and former president of Start'HEC — who shared the unfiltered lessons of early-stage company building.

“My biggest takeaways? First is that the most critical skill for a founder is the ability to sell. Second, is that the student status greatly facilitates initial interactions, and it shouldn’t be overlooked when starting out.”

- Alban H.M. Poutier, student at HEC Paris

A SUCCESS THAT PAVES THE WAY FOR FUTURE EDITIONS

Learn to dare, HEC Paris's most cherished motto, is also an invitation to entrepreneurship in its truest sense: starting from nothing, building something, taking risks, failing, and ultimately succeeding. Startups are one of the most powerful arenas for that: small teams, big ambitions, real stakes. Pitch & Hire event simply makes it easier for our students to find their place in that story.

Feedback from participants, both students and founders, was overwhelmingly positive. At its core, Pitch & Hire is a direct expression of what HEC Paris is about: training leaders who don't just step into the world as it is, but help shape what it becomes. Startups are one of the most powerful arenas for that: small teams, big ambitions, and real impact. This event simply makes it easier for our students to find their place in that story.

Our congratulations go to the students who took the leap, the founders who opened their doors, and the organising teams at Start'HEC, the Incubateur HEC Paris and HEC Talents who brought this vision to life.

And this is just the beginning! The next Pitch & Hire is already on the calendar: April 8th, this time welcoming HEC Paris MBA students.

See you for the next edition!

ABOUT START’HEC

Start'HEC is HEC Paris's entrepreneurship association connecting students with the founders and ecosystems that define the startup world. Its flagship event, HEC Seed, is an annual entrepreneurship summit that brings together VCs, founders, and students. Whether you have a project in mind or simply want to explore the world of entrepreneurship and venture capital, Start'HEC is your gateway.

Learn more

ABOUT HEC PARIS INCUBATEUR

Incubateur HEC Paris is the incubation program of the HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute, based at Station F in Paris. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs build and scale their startups, with the mission to enable you to achieve in 4 months what would normally take a year.

Learn more

ABOUT HEC TALENTS

HEC Talents is the careers and recruitment division of HEC Paris. It bridges students and graduates with top employers and companies through dedicated job boards, career events, and personalised placement support.

Learn more

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