What is HSE Fest

In St. Petersburg, the All -Russian festival of university technological projects HSE Fest was held for the third time, which organizes the campus of the Higher School of Economics. This is an annual event at which novice entrepreneurs can present their project and discuss its development with specialists. The authors of the best ideas receive cash prizes.

Together with the Technopark of St. Petersburg , one of the festival operators- “Paper” tells who can take part in HSE Fest and how to apply.

What is it?

The All -Russian festival of university technological projects HSE Fest is a competition for novice entrepreneurs at which they can attract the attention of potential investors and win a monetary prize to develop their project.

The final of the last festival was held on November 11 at the site of the St. Petersburg International Innovation Forum. Three projects came to the final stage: the application and smart costume with sensors to increase the efficiency of Myofit sports training, created in the Moscow State University, the Sirin Syrin Service Service, developed at the Ural University, and the Arcfusion 3D-printer, the creators of which represented the Voronezh State University.

This year, the General Partner of the Festival was PJSC Rostelecom. And the operators were the Technopark of St. Petersburg and the Association of Industrial Tourism of the North-West.

Who can participate in HSE Fest?

Beginning entrepreneurs who develop their technological startup, as well as representatives of corporations interested in finding new employees, mentors who want to share their experience in project management, and universities who want to support the entrepreneurial spirit of students, can participate in the festival.

In addition, you can register at the festival as a listener and, along with participants in the competition, attend lectures and master classes.

How to take part?

To present your startup on HSE Fest, you need to have the simplest working prototype of the product, as well as indicate in the application what innovative technologies and scientific knowledge the creators applied it during its development. It is important that at least one of the team members is a student, graduate student or teacher of a Russian university. The application can be sent on the HSE Fest website , the reception at the HSE Fest 2022 will open in the spring. You can participate in the festival for free.

How is the festival going?

The event is held in several stages online and offline. After filing applications, the jury members evaluate whether it is worth developing the project in the chosen direction, and select the strongest teams.

Then the participants begin to work with mentors - they help beginners to improve the product and prepare it for the presentation in front of the jury. In the semifinals, teams also work with mentors, but already in offline format.

The last stage is the final pitching, that is, the presentation of techno -startups in front of the jury of the competition. This year, among the members of the jury were representatives of Rostelecom, the Center for Youth Initiatives of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives and the Board of the Association of Innovation and Technology Books.

Why is it worth participating in the festival?

Beginning entrepreneurs do not always have funds for the thorough study of their project. Therefore, the winning teams receive a monetary prize of 300 thousand rubles, which they share among themselves.

The organizers also invite business angels to the festival-private venture investors-who can support the project you like. Moreover, even if the team did not go to the final, representatives of business can pay attention to it and offer support outside the festival.

In addition to monetary rewards and potential investors, participants in the event receive consultations from top managers of leading Russian technological companies and can win prizes from the organizers and partners of HSE Fest. This year they were: the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, the Business Incubator of the Higher School of Sciences, Gazprom Neft Shelf, Energotechnohab St. Petersburg, Bosch, Globaltech IP groups.

Three facts about HSE Fest

1. All projects at the festival are evaluated according to three main criteria: technology, business, market.
2. The HSE Fest 2021 was attended by 567 teams of 211 Russian universities.
3. The last festival took place in the year of science and technology with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Government of St. Petersburg, the Committee on Industrial Policy, Innovation and Trade, as well as the Fund of Presidential Grants.

The Technopark of St. Petersburg has been working since 2008 and has been helping entrepreneurs with the help of consulting and technological services. Small and medium -sized businesses, cluster projects, companies from high -tech industries turn to the organization’s services.