Five Student Startups Showcase Undergrads’ Knack to Spot a Niche

At IE University, entrepreneurship isn’t an add-on, it’s a core pillar of the student experience. The result? A new generation of bold, globally minded innovators who don’t wait for permission, they act, build, and lead from day one. 

IE offers one of the most comprehensive entrepreneurship ecosystems in higher education. Students have access to a full range of resources, from the hands-on Venture Lab, where over 2,000 startup teams have been launched since 2011, to Venture Days, where more than 1,400 teams have pitched in front of real investors across 31 global cities. These platforms, along with mentorship, funding opportunities, and an internationally diverse environment, provide a launchpad for real-world impact.

This commitment to entrepreneurship has earned IE University global recognition. IE was ranked 5th in Europe for Entrepreneurial Studies by Bloomberg Businessweek (2024), 4th worldwide for entrepreneurship-focused MBA programs by Poets & Quants (2025), and 1st in Europe for Entrepreneurial Teaching by the Financial Times (2022). PitchBook also places IE 15th globally and 3rd in Europe among MBA programs that produce startup founders.

A remarkable 30% of IE alumni become entrepreneurs, with startups emerging across technology (20%), finance (7%), and consulting (5%).  Some 85% of students report choosing IE because of its strong focus on entrepreneurship. 

The message is clear: students come to IE not just to study, they come to build. And they start right away, using class curricula as launchpads for their ideas. 

As they develop new skills and sharpen their entrepreneurial mindset, they learn to scan their surroundings with a trained eye—spotting unmet needs, overlooked problems, and untapped opportunities in their own communities. This ability to identify niches where others see routine fuels a constant stream of student-led ventures that reflect both innovation and relevance.

Check these five standout startups founded by undergraduate students, each one a powerful reflection of IE’s commitment to innovation, resilience, and real-world action.

Calin Bolentineanu and Maxim Khodzhaev — LENDE

Madrid | Peer-to-Peer Lending Platform for Student Residences

Inspired by a simple inconvenience in their student residence, Romanian student Calin Bolintineanu and Russian student Maxim Khodzhaev launched Lende, a platform that enables students to borrow and share everyday items such as vacuum cleaners, tools, or chargers within their building communities. 

After surveying over 100 first-year students, they found that 70% reported needing items they didn’t own but believed others nearby had, validating a real gap in accessibility. Initially operating as a peer-to-peer rental app, Lende has since evolved into a B2B model, offering the platform as a subscription service to student residences while keeping access free for students. 

Currently active in one Madrid residence, the startup is in the early stages of scaling its footprint. Fully self-funded, Lende reflects IE’s emphasis on agile problem-solving, experimentation, and student-led innovation. 

As Bolintineanu notes, "Success doesn’t come from the perfect idea, it comes from listening, adapting, and building what people truly need."

"Even if you don’t want to start your own company, thinking like an entrepreneur helps in every part of life, from careers to relationships," said Bolintineanu. 

"The university gave us the environment to launch early, test quickly, and actually get in front of decision-makers. Without that, Lende might have stayed just an idea," said Khodzhaev. "Being part of the IE Entrepreneurship Club also played a key role,  it connected us with like-minded peers and gave us access to valuable feedback and opportunities early on."

Kevin Fleischman — SABIO Edu

Madrid | AI-Driven Grading Platform for Educators

Launched in 2024 by three IE University students, Peruvians Kevin Fleischman and Axel Zapler joined Venezuelan Andrés Shamis to found SABIO Edu, an AI-powered platform that helps educators streamline grading, deliver consistent, personalized feedback, and gain actionable insights to enhance teaching.

"The rise of ChatGPT sparked the idea for us," explains co-founder Fleischman. "We saw AI as an opportunity to solve real problems in education, rather than a threat. So, we started talking to students, teachers, and school administrators, and quickly realized that one of the most pressing challenges wasn’t on the student side, it was for the teachers, especially around grading and evaluation."

That insight led to the creation of SABIO Edu, a platform designed to combine AI assistance with human oversight, allowing teachers to speed up the grading process while preserving their individual teaching style. The result: faster corrections, fairer assessments, and deeper learning insights for students.

SABIO Edu is currently running pilot programs with educational institutions across Spain and Latin America. The project recently won first place at La Nave’s EdTech Demo Day in Madrid and was also awarded the Startup Perú grant, reinforcing both its credibility in Latin America and its global potential.

"One of the hardest things as a founder is knowing when to let go of your first idea," Fleischman said, reflecting on lessons he’s learned from the journey. "Pivoting isn’t failure. It’s often the beginning of building something that truly matters."

The founders say that IE University played a key role in SABIO’s evolution, from bringing the founding team together to providing the resources to refine their concept.

"IE didn’t just teach us to think like entrepreneurs, it gave us the ecosystem to actually build, test, and grow," adds Kevin. "I met my co-founders here, our first user interviews were with IE professors, and our startup really took shape through the Venture Lab."

Mateo Fiz — Hola Boba! & Hola Empas!

Segovia | International Food Ventures Serving the IE Community

IE undergraduate Mateo Fiz, originally from Argentina, identified a clear gap in Segovia’s food scene: limited international and student-friendly options. In response, he launched two brick-and-mortar ventures: Hola Boba!, offering bubble tea and matcha, and Hola Empas!, serving Argentinian empanadas. 

"I had to travel to Madrid for good boba," Mateo Fiz recalls. "Then I realized many students felt the same and that’s when it became a business opportunity."

Opening two stores within his first two years at IE came with challenges, from navigating Spanish bureaucracy to managing time during exams. 

"There are days when I have an exam in the afternoon and I’m up at 7 a.m. receiving deliveries," he says. "But at the end of the day, it’s doable."

Although he hasn’t fully engaged with IE’s startup ecosystem yet, Mateo credits the school’s international culture with shaping his confidence to launch. "IE classrooms are full of people from everywhere it gives you the freedom to innovate without fear of being "too different.""

With plans to expand in Madrid and a third startup in development, Mateo is focused on scalability: "A business can’t depend on the owner to function. Processes make it sustainable and scalable."

Rebecca Nolan — Lync

Madrid | Social Platform for Women’s Community & Connection

Launched in January 2025 by American IE University student Rebecca Nolan and co-founder Cordelia Draw, Lync is a fast-growing community-based platform that helps women build connections through curated events and shared experiences. The concept was born from a personal need: "When we first moved to Madrid, we felt so alone and isolated. We craved community, so we created one for ourselves," says Rebecca Nolan. 

In just six months, Lync has grown to a network of over 3,000 members, offering regular events that foster friendship, belonging, and emotional well-being.

The team identified a major market gap in Madrid, a city with over 40,000 international students and thousands of solo female professionals and travelers. By focusing on a shared emotional challenge, loneliness, Lync offers something universally valuable: "Feeling like you have your people, like you’re at home, that’s what we give our members," Rebecca explains.

Since launching, Lync has hosted over ten events and received widespread recognition, including features in El País, MYCAMERAYYO, and an LA-based magazine. "We’re not trying to build a company, we’re trying to build a community," Rebecca emphasizes.

IE University played a key role in shaping her mindset. 

"Being in such an international environment has given me all the resources and network I need to succeed," she says. "If you truly want to build a startup, IE is the place to do it."

Ary Abecassis & Michael Link— JOMO

Madrid | Experience-Driven Community & Lifestyle Platform

Founded in 2023 by French IE University student Ary Abecassis and German co-founder Michael Link, JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) is a members-based platform that fosters in-person connection through curated experiences, physical venues, and a growing digital ecosystem. Built in response to the increasing emotional fatigue caused by constant connectivity and superficial interactions, JOMO provides its members with an alternative: structured, high-quality spaces designed to prioritize depth, presence, and human engagement.

The venture began with small pop-ups and dinners across Madrid and has since expanded to include permanent locations such as Jade Matcha Gallery, Jasper’s Boiler Room, and June Rooftop. JOMO has hosted over hundreds of curated events and grown into a multi-layered offering, combining hospitality, community, and digital access through a subscription-based model.

"Our goal is to create spaces where people don’t want to be anywhere else," says Ary. "We’re designing environments that replace fear of missing out with real connection."

In 2025, the team introduced a new digital platform to support scalability, and is currently preparing for international expansion starting with Paris. JOMO is also developing a B2B service, enabling brands and physical venues to adopt its community and experience framework.

IE University played a significant role in shaping the venture. "The Venture Lab gave me the structure and accountability I needed," Ary explains. "The rigor of the startup ecosystem helped us validate assumptions and make real-world decisions early on." He also credits IE’s international environment for its impact on JOMO’s inclusive approach: "Being exposed to different cultures taught me to build solutions that resonate across diverse audiences."