Sci-Tech Students Develop Startup Ideas in Generative AI Bootcamp
Students from IE School of Science and Technology integrated generative artificial intelligence into developing startup pitches in the school’s first-ever AI Bootcamp, a three-day event in which top teams won cash prizes.
The bootcamp preps students to merge entrepreneurial spirit with tech know-how, using AI as a key component for potential ventures.
Parrot, the first-place winning team developed a language learning Google Chrome extension that uses generative AI to integrate language quizzes while users are reading articles and emails.
“We are for busy professionals and learners who seek an efficient and context-rich method to improve their foreign language,” Gabriel de Olaguibel said, a student in the Bachelor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence.
Adrian Con, a member of the winning team and a student in the dual degree of Business Administration and Data and Business Analytics said the team found it tough to develop the idea in a single weekend.
“One of the greatest challenges was managing the time constraints,” Con explained. “Task distribution demanded strategic thinking, as it was crucial to devote almost equal attention to both the technical aspects and business strategy of our MVP. Striking the right balance was key.”
Ikhlaq Sidhu, Dean of IE School of Science and Technology, along with Academic Directors Robert Polding and Frederico Castenado, provided technical coaching during the three-day bootcamp. Paris de l’Etraz, Managing Director of the IE Venture Lab, and Annick Janssens, Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center coached the participants from a business perspective.
“It hasn’t been a very long time, and collectively, you all learned the open-AI interface. You actually did the tech part, the business part, and you actually integrated these things together. It’s really amazing,” Sidhu told the participants before the jury announced the winners.
Vice Deans of IE Sci-Tech, Rafif Srour and Guillermo de Haro Rodríguez formed the jury along with Joe Haslam, Executive Director of the IE Owners Scaleup Program.
Manage AI won the second-place prize, while the third was handed to Smart Lawyer and Opendoor as the jury struggled to decide given the groups’ similar performance.
“It was really hard that we couldn’t reach a decision, so that’s why we’ve decided that for the last position, we’re going to give it to two groups,” Srour told the participants.
Students applauded the initiative and said it helped them apply tech-know-how to potential startup idea, but also highlighted the importance of people skills.
“The most valuable takeaway for me wasn’t just the technical skills, but the incredible power of teamwork. This experience taught me that the key to success in any venture, like starting a business, lies in the strength of the team you’re with,” Con said.