START-UP

lab

Study the needs of your business idea. Develop a feasible business plan in order to pitch it to possible investors.

DESCRIPTION

Do you have a business idea burning in your mind — or simply the drive to build something that matters? The Startup Lab is your launchpad. This is where IE students transform raw ideas into real ventures, working side by side with other ambitious founders from across disciplines.

Forget lectures — this is not a class. It’s a fast-paced, collaborative environment where you’ll test, build, and iterate your way toward a viable business. With the guidance of Professor Leticia Ponce Hernandez, you’ll learn to validate your concept, design your minimum viable product, and craft a powerful pitch that captures the attention of real investors by the end of the semester.

By the end of the Lab, you won’t just think like an entrepreneur — you’ll have experienced first-hand what an entrepreneur feels.

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Objetives

Validate your business idea by doing primary and secondary research.

Create a minimum viable product.

Develop a business pitch to present to investors.

EXAMPLES OF CONSULTANCIES & CLIENTS

VOLTA POWER

Vending machines with charged mobile phone batteries.

LINAJE

NGO website that sells Colombian mochilas while helping indigenous communities through their foundation.

ALIVE

Narrative therapy website for teenagers with depression.

Finanzas Ed

Website with focused videos, chats and events to teach teenagers about personal finances.

Startups

LAB DIRECTORS

LETICIA PONCE

Responsible for creating and supervising IE University’s Startup Lab since 2010. Also teaches at IE University: Business Management, Build Your Startup, Entrepreneurial Mindset and Producing Happiness in Yourself and in the Workplace.

Founder and CEO of LyL de Ultramar, the Master Franchise for Mexico of KA International, a leader in interior decoration franchises with more then 400 shops in five continents, from 1996-2005. During this time, she opened seven stores and managed a small team to service client and franchise needs.

Co-founder of the Happiness Seminar, which teaches companies and families how to increase their happiness baseline while improving communication, empathy, creativity and productivity.

Holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. BA in Graphic Design from Universidad Anahuac.

lab gallery

CONSULTANCYLABS

SOCIALIMPACTLABS

ENTREPRENEURSHIPLABS