This was a presentation to celebrate 5 years of a Business Angel Club on EPFL Campus. We gathered 25 entrepreneurs and 250 participants on May 22nd in the Rolex Forum building. My theme was “What have we learned from innovators ? “ At EPFL, 2013 was marked by Henry Marckram’s idea of the Human Brain Project HBP, that became a Flagship European project. So the question became : "what goes in the brain of entrepreneurs ?" Are they Could it be that is "left-brained" logical, analytical and objective, or "rightbrained" - intuitive, thoughtful and subjective ? 60 mentors and investors at A3 Angels has been involved since 5 years with 30 entrepreneurs. We looked into their eyes and found 3 core values to inspires ourselves : 1. Trust (left) 2. Seriousness (left) 3. Fun (right) - AND surprising characters !

1. 5years
The brains of
>>innovators >>

2. 5years
What
have we
learned
from
them?
30Entrepreneurs
5Years

3. 5years
The real face of
entrepreneurs

4. 5years
The real face of
entrepreneurs

5. 5years
1. Building
Trust

6. 5years
Mentoring program
Guiding people in challenging situations
29mentors
• 50% with an EPFL
background
• 25% with startup
experience
• Broad range of
backgrounds,
expertise, motivations
16 startups
• 14 active, various
financing stages
• Every field imaginable

7. 5years
Samuel Sonderegger Nicolas Durand
Mentoring cases
Les mentors m'ont aidé à prendre du
recul lors de décisions critiques

8. 5years
2. Seriousness
and commitment
5years

9. 5years
Seed funding ideas
= Guiding through deserts and climbing mountains
Grants
FFF
Angels
BA
networks Banks,
Customers
Revenue/EBITDA
> CHF 50M
15 investors, 1MCHF seed
Venture
Capital
Public-
Private

10. 5years
Lead investors
20 lecturers, 8 BA clubs
Business Angels
Sharing experience in Switzerland
Investor education program launched at Seed Night 2012
200 participants

11. 5years
Investments cases
We liked : team, market, products to transform the world!
Startup: Sophia Genetics Startup: Lemoptix

12. 5years
3. Having Fun
together
5years

13. 5years
Events you should not miss
Networking for entrepreneurs and friends
65events
• Pitching sessions
• Mentoring sessions
• Conferences
• Trainings
• Start-up corners
700 participants
• Business Angels
• Entrepreneurs
• Industry and economy
• Alumni EPFL and
business schools
• Scientists and
academics

14. 5years
To the audience :
Join and Enjoy !
5years

15. 5years
Start-ups :
have a good flight !