Entrepreneurship in Schools: Talent at Every Level
From first-year students to research laboratories, and including alumni entrepreneurs, the entrepreneurial spirit is evident at every level at the École nationale des ponts et chaussées. Once again this year, several projects led by graduates, students and researchers from the School have been recognised in leading competitions and awards schemes.
Alumni who are among the rising stars of French Tech
The 7th cohort of the French Tech Next40/120, announced in June 2026, includes four companies linked to the School. The Next 40 includes Alan, co-founded by Jean-Charles Samuelian and Charles Gorintin (Class of 2011), as well as Innovafeed, led by Aude Guo (Class of 2011). The Next 120 features Sockly, founded by Eliott Jabès (Class of 2017), and Bump, led by François Paradis (Class of 2011). This recognition illustrates the graduates’ ability to launch and grow innovative businesses.
Students who become entrepreneurs whilst still studying
Entrepreneurship is also fostered at the heart of the curriculum. Three students, holders of the National Student Entrepreneur Status, are among the winners of the ‘Booste ton projet 2026’ competition via Pépite 3EF.
In the Department of Mathematical and Computer Engineering, Edward Bauduin is developing Prokuris, a SaaS platform that automates planning and procurement in construction projects. In her third year of Civil Engineering and Construction, Molka Ghali is leading Supclay, which offers clay-based coatings as a sustainable alternative for new builds and renovations. Finally, Baptiste Hombreux, a second-year student in Economics, Management and Finance, is developing PrépaBridge, a digital platform dedicated to preparing students for entry to science-focused CPGE preparatory classes.
The momentum continues with the Pépite 2026 Prize, which has been won by an ENPC student. His project will be unveiled at the awards ceremony organised by Pépite France in November.
Research at the heart of innovation
Entrepreneurship also draws on the wealth of research. Praedon, a spin-off from CERMICS and the Co-Innovation Lab, is among the ten Grand Prix winners of the iLab 2026 competition, which recognises projects aimed at creating innovative deep-tech start-ups. The Grand Prix category places particular emphasis on projects with a significant impact in terms of sustainable development and societal benefits.
Ouijdane Qacami (Class of 2022), an alumna and entrepreneur from the School, is the winner of the i-PhD 2026 competition for her deep-tech project STRUCMEDICA. This competition is aimed at young researchers wishing to set up a deep-tech start-up based on their research and offers them a year’s support to develop their entrepreneurial project.
Finally, Sarah Souheil Gebai won Bpifrance’s ‘101 Women Entrepreneurs’ award for her Trembless project – a wristband designed to reduce the amplitude of involuntary tremors, developed at the Navier Laboratory – adding further recognition to what has been a particularly fruitful year for entrepreneurship at École des Ponts.
These accolades reflect a common momentum. Entrepreneurship is evident at every level, with projects that combine innovation, research, the ecological transition and a response to society’s needs.