Every morning, journalists’ inboxes fill up with “exclusive” and “revolutionary” press releases. Most are ignored, few are read, almost none are remembered.
The problem isn’t the idea, it’s how it’s told.
At a workshop at STATION F, Julie Dobiecki, Head of Press Relations at HEC Paris, put it simply: PR isn’t a growth hack, it’s a long-term investment.
A press release won’t bring thousands of users overnight, but it builds something more valuable: credibility. And today, credibility comes from clarity, not noise.
Founders often try to say everything, vision, product, impact, and end up saying nothing clearly. Journalists don’t want hype, they want signals: traction, a clear story, verifiable facts. The key is to make it concrete and easy to tell.
From startups to emerging players, here are a few that got it right:
Too Good To Go focused on a clear problem and solution. “Bakeries throw away unsold bread. Our app lets customers rescue it… 500 meals saved in Paris last week.” Impact, story, and data made it newsworthy.
Swapfiets turned a commuting trend into a story. “2000 students in Amsterdam subscribe… Broken bike? Replaced in 24h.” Concrete numbers, relatable users, clear benefit.
Back Market highlighted user stories and environmental impact. “Emma sold her old laptop and bought a refurbished one, saving 50 kg of CO₂. Last month, 1200 devices were refurbished through our platform in France.” Tangible numbers plus human stories made it easy for journalists to cover.
The takeaway: PR isn’t about hyping your startup, it’s about telling stories journalists can quickly grasp and share. Choose the right journalist, frame the right angle, and back it up with concrete numbers or human examples. What resonates depends on the outlet: metrics for tech media, social impact for lifestyle press, and local roots for regional coverage.
For a step-by-step guide, see Julie Dobiecki’s 10 commandments for press releases that actually get picked up here.
What if entering Europe wasn’t about geography, but about momentum?
The latest JETRO x the Incubateur HEC Paris program challenges the way Japanese founders approach expansion shifting from market entry to rapid European build-up.
A new cohort has just kicked off at Station F.
From AI and deeptech to sustainability and new consumer experiences, these startups share one ambition: turning Japanese innovation into real traction across Europe. 💥Are you a Japanese startup?
Apply Now! (Until April 9)
More than an acceleration program, it’s a gateway to understanding and succeeding in the European market. When equipped with the right network and insights, Japanese founders don’t just enter Europe, they position themselves to lead it.
In March, the Sommet des Fondatrices gathered visionary female founders, investors, and leaders. HEC alumnae Graffi Rathamohan and Nadja Bresous Mehigan shared bold insights on sustainable growth and women’s financial empowerment, proof that the next generation of entrepreneurship is being rewritten.
👉 Discover the ideas and programs shaping women-led ventures at HEC Paris
frog x HEC Paris launch Reinventions, a new podcast series exploring how large organizations reinvent themselves in the age of digital transformation.
The first episode dives into La Fabrique by CA (Crédit Agricole), a startup studio within the group. With insights from Laurent Darmon, Sihem Ben Mahmoud-Jouini, and Julien Giffard (frog France), the conversation unpacks how corporates balance scale and entrepreneurial agility to drive innovation.
👉 Discover the first episode here.
Wednesday, March 25th, marked the Grand Pitch Night of the HEC Paris Startup Launchpad! Out of 25 teams, 6 finalists pitched at Curzon Soho Theatre in London, impressing a panel of founders, investors, and 100 students.
✨ Finalists: Regorus, ELEX, Artenas, TailorLead, Fleuret AI, NC Sapient Care
👏 Awards: Jury Prize → Fleuret AI & Audience Prize → Artenas
At Startups HEC Brussels, six startups: Adstrum, Blue2, Elsee.Care, Korix, muchbetter.ai, and Yolo, demonstrated that the next generation of ventures won’t grow locally, but connect ecosystems across Europe from day one, with support from Beci, Banque Transatlantique - Belgium, HEC Alumni and HEC Paris.
👉 Meet the founders who took the stage here!
Navigating a city without sight? OOrion makes it possible. The Lyon-based startup, part of our AI Startup Program, has raised €1M to scale its app, which uses AI to identify objects and surroundings in real time. Already adopted in 90 countries, OOrion is expanding into shops, hotels, and restaurants, making accessibility the standard.
👏 Congratulations to Thomas Brisson & Stéphanie Robieux!
Veridi Technologies partners with Wageningen University (#1 in agriculture) to tackle harmful nematodes, which cause up to 10% of global crop losses. Using AI and the automated Nemascope™, Veridi now achieves 96% accuracy, enabling fast, sustainable nematode identification, reducing chemical use, and improving yields. The system is being expanded to cover more species and support soil biodiversity monitoring under the new European Soil Monitoring Law.
👉 Discover more about Nematodes now
From mental health support to nutrition and wellness practices, many everyday health expenses remain uncovered by traditional systems. Elsee is tackling this gap with a simple idea: a subscription that reimburses preventive health costs such as psychology sessions, osteopathy, yoga, supplements, or nutrition guidance.
🎥 Interested in learning more? Watch the video here!
Jean de Miramon, founder of Domani, has won the 2026 Social and Environmental Entrepreneur Prize by the Boston Consulting Group. Since 2007, this award recognizes leaders in the social and solidarity economy combining strong impact with innovative, economically viable models, creating value both through their activity and the societal costs they help reduce.
👏 Congratulations to Jean de Miramon on this well-deserved recognition.
👉 Discover the full list of laureates here.
On March 5, Start’HEC, with the Incubateur HEC Paris and HEC Talents, hosted a Pitch & Hire evening at Station F. Ten start-ups pitched their ventures to 50 students, opening 50+ opportunities for internships, gap years, and full-time roles. The evening mixed founder pitches, networking, a tour of Station F, and wrapped up with the incubator’s famous “Jeudi Interdit” afterwork.
💼 More than 50 opportunities are open in this edition. Discover them!
BULL Co., Ltd., part of the International Launchpad Japan program, won the PSW Innovation Challenge in the Satellite Technologies category at Paris Space Week 2026. During the pitch competition on March 10–11 in Paris, CEO Yasuhito Uto presented BULL’s Post-Mission Disposal device, an innovative solution designed to support more sustainable space operations and address the growing challenge of space debris.
👏 Congratulations to Yasuhito Uto
In a recent face-off at Station F, Serge Kinkingnéhun, founder of Le Monde des Cafards, shared why the “cockroach” approach is a game-changer for startups.
Contrary to popular belief, cockroach startups don’t just bootstrap, they combine creative funding methods like boostscaling, seed strapping, RBF, JVs, and comarketing, all while keeping founders firmly in control.
VCs do love these cockroaches, especially in tough times: they deliver revenue, profits, and resilience. Conflicts arise only when overly ambitious business plans clash with reality, but smart cockroach founders know how to navigate them.
💡 A cockroach startup is a nearly unkillable startup: Its founders don’t give up control, and its strategy is built for survival and growth.
Yolo is the first B2E service that supports the careers and well-being of working mothers and caregivers by reducing their mental load.
👉 CEO’s Right-Hand person - Sales & Growth
Buddy is the startup that simplifies the administrative and practical lives of 18-35 year olds.
👉 Social Media Manager - Internship
👉 CEO’s right-hand
Mon Cab is the platform reinventing flexible medical and paramedical space rentals by connecting practice owners and healthcare professionals.
👉 CMO’s right-hand intern
👉 Sales / Business Development intern
Eledone automates the processing of B2B quotes and sales orders.
👉 Business Developer intern
Paradigme is the leading platform for second-hand fashion, partnering with brands, department stores and e-commerce businesses.
👉 Customer Success Manager AI & second hand on permanent contract
Sometimes, great ideas start with a simple everyday gesture. That’s what happened to Léo Le Coguic, a creative director. One evening, he wanted to give his leftover meal to someone in need… but couldn’t find anyone.
His solution: FeedMe, a website that connects people with extra meals to those who need them. Fast, intuitive, and anonymous, it uses geolocation to link donors and recipients, no accounts or personal data required.
To make it real, Léo worked with Claude, an AI, which helped him structure the project and create a first version in minutes. After a few days, FeedMe went live, turning simple leftovers into acts of kindness.
Since launch, around twenty meals have already been shared.
👉 Want to read the full article? Keep reading here!
“Your are what you do, not what you say you will do.
Carl Jung, Psychiatrist
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