The EWOR Advantage: 5 Reasons Institut Polytechnique de Paris Students Should Look Beyond Local Incubators

As a student at Institut Polytechnique de Paris, you may be familiar with the local incubators and entrepreneurial programmes offered on campus. While these initiatives provide valuable support, expanding your horizons could significantly increase your odds of long-term success. In fact, one study found that 87% of startups that went through top-tier programmes were still active after five years, compared to just 44% of those that went it alone. That’s the kind of difference the right programme can make.

But how do you know if an incubator programme is right for you? With so many rigid, one-size-fits-all options out there, finding the right fit can be tough. That’s where EWOR comes in: a uniquely flexible platform combining global mentorship, funding opportunities, and a prestigious network – designed specifically to help ambitious founders thrive.

In this article, we’ll explore five key reasons why Institut Polytechnique de Paris students should look beyond their local incubators and consider EWOR to accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.

1. Access to Global Mentorship

Many university incubators and local programmes offer mentorship from faculty, alumni, or nearby founders. While helpful, these perspectives are often limited to regional markets and conventional startup paths.

EWOR operates borderless, on a global scale. Fellows are paired with mentors who have founded and scaled companies across continents and industries – including unicorns like SumUp, Adjust, and ProGlove. Rather than sporadic office hours, mentorship is built into the fabric of the programme – modular, consistent, and personal.

Institut Polytechnique de Paris's local incubators, such as X-UP at École Polytechnique, Télécom Paris Incubator, and IMT Starter, offer significant mentorship opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs. These incubators provide individualized support from dedicated mentors, including alumni and experienced entrepreneurs-in-residence. Local mentors are valuable because they offer guidance on strategy, provide contacts within the target market, and give specific advice on areas like intellectual property. They help startups transition from proof of concept to market-ready products with initial commercial traction. This support is crucial for navigating the challenges of business creation, including legal, accounting, financial, marketing, and communication issues. The mentors share their expertise and network to challenge projects and open doors to opportunities.

With EWOR, you’ll have the chance to work with mentors who have scaled their businesses across different countries and industries, providing invaluable insights that can help your startup succeed in the global marketplace.

2. Larger Funding Opportunities

While local incubators may provide grants or limited seed funding, securing substantial capital is often a challenge for early-stage entrepreneurs. EWOR offers up to €500,000 in initial funding for selected startups, which can significantly boost your ability to develop your business. Moreover, EWOR provides access to a global network of investors, venture capital firms, and angel investors, ensuring that you have the opportunity to secure further rounds of funding as your startup grows.

Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris) fosters entrepreneurship through its local incubators and a supportive ecosystem. The Drahi-X Novation Center at École Polytechnique and the Telecom Paris Novation Center are key facilities offering incubation programs for startups at various stages. These incubators provide tailored support, including access to prototyping spaces like the X-FAB, networking opportunities with investors and industry professionals, and dedicated programs for students, such as an entrepreneurial Summer School. While specific details on seed funding amounts or dedicated grant programs for student startups are not explicitly detailed, the ecosystem connects entrepreneurs with potential funding sources like Polytechnique Ventures and provides assistance in accessing initiatives like the Paris-Saclay French Tech Seed program, which offers Bpifrance funding in the form of convertible bonds. The focus is on supporting deep tech startups and facilitating technology transfer from the institute's laboratories.

By choosing EWOR, Institut Polytechnique de Paris students can tap into larger funding sources, giving them the financial support needed to scale their businesses more effectively.

3. A Highly Selective and Prestigious Network

One of the main advantages of EWOR is the highly selective nature of its community. EWOR accepts only the top 0.1% of applicants, bringing together some of the world’s most talented and ambitious entrepreneurs. 

This exclusivity doesn’t just elevate the quality of each cohort — it also unlocks access to an extraordinary network of investors, mentors, and industry leaders. Just to name a few: Fabrice Grinda, one of the world’s leading angel investors and founder of OLX; Christian Kroll, founder of Ecosia, Europe’s largest search engine after Google; and Vaitea Cowan, co-founder of Enapter, (€640M IPO) and a Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Energy. 

Institut Polytechnique de Paris fosters a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem through its network of incubators, including the Drahi-X Novation Center and Telecom Paris Novation Center. These centers provide a multi-faceted environment with incubators, accelerators, and FabLabs, encouraging synergy and innovation. Students benefit from entrepreneurship training and can adapt coursework for their startup projects. The incubators connect students with faculty, researchers, entrepreneurs, and companies, facilitating collaboration and providing access to expertise and resources like prototyping spaces and laboratories. This network, part of the larger Paris-Saclay innovation cluster, helps students build crucial connections and accelerate their projects.

While local incubators at Institut Polytechnique de Paris may provide valuable networking within the campus or regional ecosystem, EWOR’s global network opens doors to entirely new levels of collaboration. Fellows work alongside peers from dozens of countries and industries, connecting with elite investors, unicorn founders, and seasoned operators.

As many fellows have said, the community is one of the most unexpected – and most valuable – parts of the experience. “The real magic lies in the community: the kind of conversations, insights, and connections that lead not only to breakthroughs – but to lasting friendships with some of the most fascinating people they’ve ever met”.

4. Flexibility and Remote Access

Many local incubators require in-person participation, which can be limiting for students balancing coursework, part-time jobs, or other commitments. 

Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris) has a network of local incubators across its member schools, including on the Saclay campus, at Station F, and on the Evry campus. These incubators support innovative projects at various stages, with a focus on DeepTech and other key areas. The programs offer a mix of support, including individualized coaching, expert-led workshops, and access to prototyping facilities. While physical space is available, some programs, like those at IMT Starter, offer a 100% remote support option, and workshops may be accessed remotely. This hybrid approach enhances accessibility for students, allowing participation regardless of location and facilitating a wider range of entrepreneurial initiatives.

EWOR’s fully remote programmes are built for modern entrepreneurs – offering the flexibility to participate from anywhere, on your terms. Institut Polytechnique de Paris students can access top-tier mentorship, founder-led education, and global resources without needing to relocate or follow a rigid schedule. Whether you’re validating an idea or scaling your first product, you’ll have the freedom to build around your life, not the other way around.

And if you're worried about missing out on in-person connection – don’t be. EWOR hosts real-world gatherings like the EWOR Connect and EWOR House, a multi-day retreat where fellows, alumni, and investors connect in person. We also organise city-based meetups and our flagship Grand Pitch event, which brings hundreds of top-tier investors together twice a year. So while the programme is remote-first, it’s far from remote-only.

5. Comprehensive Entrepreneurial Education

Local incubators often provide valuable workshops and learning modules, but they may be limited in scope and depth. EWOR offers over 200 exclusive videos, workshops, and educational modules designed by top entrepreneurs and industry experts. This comprehensive entrepreneurial education covers everything from refining your business idea to scaling and securing funding, ensuring that you develop both as an entrepreneur and a leader.

Institut Polytechnique de Paris's local incubators, such as the Drahi-X Novation Center and Telecom Paris Novation Center, provide comprehensive support for aspiring student entrepreneurs. This includes access to FabLabs, studios, and workshops to help develop projects. Students can benefit from entrepreneurship training, tools, and can even adapt their coursework to support their startup endeavors. Specific programs and events like the X-Up incubation program, the Business Creation Challenge, and an entrepreneurial summer school offer hands-on experience and guidance. Workshops cover essential entrepreneurial skills like marketing, communication, and business plan development. The institute also fosters an ecosystem connecting students with researchers, entrepreneurs, and companies.

With EWOR, you’ll gain access to a more extensive and detailed entrepreneurial education, giving you the tools needed to overcome challenges and succeed in today’s competitive startup landscape.

That’s a Wrap

While Institut Polytechnique de Paris's local incubators offer great resources for students starting their entrepreneurial journey, EWOR provides an unmatched opportunity for those looking to take their startup to the next level. With access to global mentorship, larger funding opportunities, a highly selective network, flexible remote programmes, and comprehensive entrepreneurial education, EWOR offers Institut Polytechnique de Paris students the chance to build and scale their startups on a global stage. If you’re ready to look beyond local incubators and accelerate your entrepreneurial success, EWOR could be the ideal platform for you.

Image credits: Andrew Stutesman on Unsplash