More than 25 people from 15 different nationalities gathered last week from the 16th until the 20th of October at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg – Research Campus Waischenfeld for a transformative learning experience focused on entrepreneurship.
From Customer Centric Innovation to diving into the depths of Business Design Processes and mastering the Elevator Pitch, students, PhDs and employees from different backgrounds and countries within EELISA came up together with new startup ideas that could provide answers to some of the current social challenges we experience nowadays.
From an insider’s point of view, Martina shares with us her experience during this unforgettable few days in Germany.
There are experiences that leave a lasting mark and, even when strictly professional, can bring about personal growth that can change you completely. Martina Sáenz de Miera Espinosa, a future environmental engineer and UPM representative at the Student Council of EELISA since May, knew this from the very beginning and understood that carrying out her project would require effort, dedication, and some guidance along the way. For this reason, last week she participated in the 1st EELISA Entrepreneurship School, an event organized by FAU with the aim of catalyzing and implementing innovative ideas in an environment of international and interdisciplinary collaboration. In this article, she shares her impressions and encourages the entire university community, especially students, to explore the powerful opportunities offered by EELISA.
The School began last Monday at FAU’s Waischenfeld Research Campus in northern Bavaria, Germany, with a program of varied and exciting activities. After an initial theoretical introduction to business models and value proposition design, the teams learned how to prototype companies using the Lego Serious Play methodology and did elevator pitchs with the help of personalized mentorship. “One of the most valuable experiences,” Martina points out, “was working on projects with local companies, as it allowed us to apply our skills in real-world situations and build meaningful connections with the business world.”
The School had a dual objective: to help entrepreneurs better understand their own proposals and to create teams with the potential to develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Martina is clear about it: “If I had to highlight any aspect of the School, it would be learning the crucial steps for launching a project.”
“Every day was full of opportunities to learn, collaborate, and grow in a unique environment open to creativity and collaboration among 25 people from 15 countries.” Martina, who is currently working on her Bachelor’s Thesis, focused on a business idea that applies innovation in rural areas to design sustainable events or habits, undoubtedly took full advantage of this School. “The entrepreneur’s journey is marked by resilience and adaptability, and EELISA has given me a deep understanding of the importance of iteration and adaptation. These are lessons I will carry with me always,” concludes this young entrepreneur.
Martina Sáenz de Miera
Martina is a student of Environmental Engineering at UPM, currently working on her Bachelor’s. Thesis in the field of entrepreneurship, with a focus on a business idea (the Emecé project) that applies innovation in rural areas, such as the Sierra del Guadarrama National Park, to design sustainable events or habits. Since May, she is on the two UPM representatives in the Student Council of EELISA.
