From October 17 to 19, 2024, New York hosted the Alumni Days, bringing together over 110 participants to celebrate entrepreneurship around the final of the Startup Challenge, where 3 teams, selected from 16, competed for funding. The event offered the opportunity to hear from experts and thought leaders on several topic relevant to the audience without missing any opportunity to network and reconnect with fellow alumni.
The Deans of Centrale Lilly and Lyon were present, as well as the Director of the CentraleSupélec Foundation.
The high level program of the event was as follows:
| Thursday Oct. 17 | Friday Oct. 18 | Saturday Oct. 19 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Dtech Lab @ Fashion Institute of Technology Newlab incubator / accelerator | News from 5 Centrale schools Final round of Startup Challenge and prizes award | Governor Island Brunch |
| Afternoon | United Nations visit | Panels and fireside chats on thought provoking topics: – IA and longevity – IA x Higher Education and professional development – Scaling in the US: Do’s and Don’t’s – Innovation at the IMF | Tenement Museum |
| Evening | Social hour | Cocktail hour |
The detailed program is available here.
Day 1: Journey Through Innovation
Alumni explored how technology is transforming the fashion industry by visiting the D-Tech Lab at the Fashion Institute of Technology. The visit to the Newlab incubator allowed interaction with innovative startups, and a tour of the United Nations wrapped up the afternoon. The day concluded at the Wheeltapper Pub, fostering informal exchanges. Meanwhile, 8 American investors evaluated the competitors’ pitches, followed by a lunch with fruitful discussions.
Day 2: Conversations and Startup Challenge Final
Representatives from the Schools shared their strategic directions, followed by an inspiring talk from Henry Gazay (ECL 91) about the lessons learned from his sailing trip around the world. The Startup Challenge final then took place, where the teams presented their projects, followed by a networking lunch. Congratulations to Astora for their victory! Kudos also to Opack and Histia for their 2nd and 3rd place finishes.
Discussions then focused on the impact of AI in life sciences and education, followed by a session on neurodiversity, contrasting entrepreneurship in the United States and Europe, and concluding with an exploration of innovation at the IMF. The day ended with an informal 5-to-7 gathering.
Day 3: Cultural Exploration
Alumni visited Governors Island, followed by a brunch, and finally toured the Tenement Museum, offering an immersive experience of 19th-century New York.
The Alumni Days 2024 aimed to serve as a springboard for strengthening the community in North America. The 2025 session is already planned to take place again in New York to build on the momentum generated this year. We are calling for sponsors and volunteers to assist with the organization!
