Doers to Doers | How corporates become growth platforms for startups

Funding can help a startup grow. The right corporate partnership can help it scale.🚀

How can startups use corporate venture funds, acceleration programs and strategic partnerships to move from pilot to scale?

Join Capgemini Ventures, SNCF Connect & Tech, and Incubateur HEC Paris for a practical conversation on what makes startups partnership-ready, and how corporates can become powerful growth platforms.

Event details

Date: 29 September
Time: From 6:30 p.m.
Panel discussion: 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Location: Station F, Paris

The discussion will be followed by networking cocktail with speakers, founders and members of the HEC Paris ecosystem.

Event description

Scaling a startup requires more than funding.

It also requires access to customers, industry expertise, technology, distribution channels and trusted partners. Corporate venture funds, acceleration programs and strategic partnerships can all help startups unlock these opportunities, but each model comes with different expectations, challenges and paths to growth.

This new edition of Doers to Doers will bring together corporate investors, innovation leaders, operators and entrepreneurs for an honest discussion on how startups can successfully collaborate with large organizations.

Unlike traditional conferences or theoretical masterclasses, Doers to Doers is built around direct and practical exchanges with people who have already faced similar challenges.

Expect concrete lessons, candid feedback and real-life examples, without the usual academic or commercial filters.

What we will explore

Why do corporates build venture funds and startup acceleration programs?

What makes a startup attractive to a corporate investor or accelerator?

When should a startup seek investment, acceleration or a commercial partnership?

What do founders often misunderstand about working with large organizations?

What does real traction mean from a corporate perspective?

How can a startup move successfully from pilot to deployment?

How can founders turn a first corporate collaboration into a long-term growth opportunity?

Speakers

Capgemini Ventures representative

A perspective on how corporate venture capital can connect startups with capital, enterprise clients and strategic growth opportunities.

Julia Mason

Strategy & Transformation Director, SNCF Connect & Tech

Julia will share insights from SNCF Tech & Connect’s work with startups through corporate innovation and acceleration initiatives, including collaborations with Station F, Meta, Hugging Face and HEC Paris.

Mathias Abramovicz

Pedagogic Director and Head of Corporate Programs, HEC Paris Incubation & Acceleration Center

Mathias will bring the operator’s perspective, drawing on HEC Paris’ experience designing and leading corporate entrepreneurship and startup acceleration programs.

HEC Paris Startup

A founder from one of HEC Paris’ corporate programs will share a practical perspective on working with a major company—from selection and pilot development to collaboration and scale.

Who should attend?

This event is designed for:

Startup founders and leadership teams

Corporate innovation and venture professionals

Investors and business angels

Accelerator and incubator managers

Entrepreneurs preparing for corporate partnerships

Members of the HEC Paris innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and HEC Alumni

Why attend?

You will leave with a clearer understanding of:

the differences between corporate venture capital and corporate acceleration;

how corporates assess startup readiness;

how to prepare for a successful collaboration;

how to avoid common mistakes during pilots;

and how to build partnerships capable of generating sustainable growth.

About Doers to Doers

Doers to Doers is an HEC Paris event series designed around peer-to-peer learning.

Rather than offering theoretical advice, each session brings together entrepreneurs, investors, operators and experts who share practical lessons from challenges they have faced themselves.

The goal is simple: create meaningful conversations between people building, investing in and supporting ambitious ventures.