IE University’s students learn technology within the context of ventures and breakthroughs in an immersive Tech Venture Bootcamp

IE University held its Tech Venture Bootcamp with Generative AI Applications, an immersive 6-day workshop hosted by IE School of Science and Technology in collaboration with the IE Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, aimed at equipping participants with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of tech ventures.

The program, which is built upon the Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship co-developed by Ikhlaq Sidhu, Dean of IE School of Science and Technology, brought together IE University students, executives, and researchers who share a passion for innovation and a keen interest in the startup and venture ecosystem. During the workshop, they engaged in design thinking activities and discussions, coding and data analysis, incorporating generative artificial intelligence into the development of startup ideas.

First-place winning team with SunShip, a ERP that will streamline the entire solar development process for utility scale developers

SunShip, the first-place winning team, developed an AI enhanced project management tool for utility scale solar developers. “I believe that to be successful today you need to be both a visionary and builder,” highlighted Daniel Kumlin, second year student of the Bachelor in Computer Science and AI.

Tuki, a groundbreaking app to transform financial literacy through gamification, won the second-place prize. “The bootcamp was an amazing experience. The mentors, the staff, the resources were all incredibly helpful and were crucial for our success. Not only that, but I got to meet people from vastly different backgrounds and experiences which changed this idea into a reality,” said Jaskaran Singh Ghai, student of the Bachelor in Computer Science and AI.

The third prize was handed to Media Forecast, an AI powered predictive media model revolutionizing how entities shape their image in real-time. “Sleeping was overrated for this project. We worked hard and it paid off in the end”, said Trinity Wildenstein Shigetomi, Business Administration bachelor student.

As Dean Ikhlaq Sidhu explained, this Tech Venture Bootcamp in Generative AI is a unique opportunity to join an emerging tech hub of Madrid and EU- entrepreneurs and connectors who can work on projects with each other, to mix with tech students, business students and industry experts and to learn technology in context of ventures and breakthroughs.

All this is happening in “an entrepreneurial driven but also rigorous polytechnic,” he said. 

“This might be the first institution that is created this way, that is not an entrepreneurship school, it’s not a narrow tech school, it is at the intersection of these two types.”
Ikhlaq Sidhu, Dean of the IE School of Science and Technology

During these days, Sci-Tech students were led by mentors and industry experts through a dynamic blend of hands-on activities and interactive sessions. This immersive experience not only provided practical insights but also offered actionable strategies for building successful ventures using AI as a key component.

Serial entrepreneur and investor Christopher Lynch, CEO and Executive Chairman at AtScale, who participated throughout the program by engaging with the groups and their mentors, and who also served as a member of the jury, praised the spirit and quality of the projects. "I love what you are doing here with the process of combining practitioners with students. I think it is innovative," he remarked.

“Find a problem to solve and solve it uniquely. And build a moat around your business”, Lynch added. “Part of the price of admission to the business world is you have to think of the business context with a business model."

The jury was formed by AtScale CEO and Executive Chairman Christopher Lynch, renewable energy, biotech and innovation entrepreneur David Yeregui, CEOs of the media group specialized in connecting with digital audiences 2btube Bastian Manintveld and Fabienne Fourquet, and Isabel Sánchez Emmerich, Executive Director at the IE Impact Xcelerator.

The event organized by IE School of Science and Technology in collaboration with IE Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center and Impact Xcelerator was held for the second time. The criteria for selecting participants included strong performance in previous Tech Venture Bootcamps, possession of key technical and business skills, and the presentation of compelling venture concepts. All participants received diplomas and the three winning teams won cash prizes.