Starting your own business while studying engineering at Arts et Métiers is possible, and that's exactly what four second-year students have done with their entrepreneurial project, "Pangolin." They are now preparing to test their first prototype of a modular protection system for imminent market launch.
A low-cost armored vehicle?
Omar Adelhamid, Benjamin Delcourt, Quentin du Réau, and Vincent Rodarie are four Arts et Métiers engineering students at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Lille. This year is a special one for the four young men, who have decided to start their own business. "We feel that today, we have the means to do something useful," says Omar. Indeed, the engineering students want to develop a modular protection system for vehicles, which would be intended for Egypt in particular. "Armored vehicles are generally reserved for the elite, yet in Egypt, buses carrying soldiers are constantly under attack and are very easy targets. There are huge losses that could be avoided with adequate protection," says Benjamin. With the help of teachers at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Lille, the four engineering students have designed their first prototype and are preparing to test it. Equipping a vehicle with the system designed by the engineering students would be ten times less expensive than purchasing a traditional armored vehicle . "Our product is therefore perfectly suited to our target market," explains Quentin.
Daily support
"At first, no one took us seriously," says Benjamin. However, the four Arts et Métiers engineering students Arts et Métiers their audience with their pitch, getting not only the teachers at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Lille involved in their project, but also Enactus, an organization specializing in social entrepreneurship. The students say, "Our teachers believed in it almost more than we did. They helped us a lot, both with the technical side of things, such as building prototypes, and with the administrative side, by directing us to the right people." In fact, it was Sophie Duchamp, one of their teachers, who referred them to Enactus. Benjamin says, "The association helps us a lot, whether it's meeting other entrepreneurs and investors or with all the administrative aspects." Although Omar, Benjamin, Quentin, and Vincent have not yet created their company's articles of association, it won't be long now. "We don't yet know which legal status is most appropriate for our project, but with Enactus we are studying them carefully to determine which would be most advantageous." For now, the team is in the project development phase, and the creation and incubation of their company will take place when they enter their third year. "Today, our idea is very popular, and many people support us," Benjamin enthuses.
"Be part of the top 10%!"
For the four students, there is no doubt that embarking on such a project is beneficial: "We have nothing to lose: we haven't invested anything except time." On the other hand, they have everything to gain. Their network is growing a little more every day. Their technical knowledge is growing thanks to the creation of their prototype, developed with the help of Marc Legrand, a teacher at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Lille. With Enactus, they are learning about the various steps involved in starting a business, particularly in the defense sector. This is knowledge and experience they would not have gained without the business creation project. "We are aware that 90% of start-ups disappear within five years, but we hope to be among the remaining 10%!" concludes Quentin.
Pangolin at the Enactus France National Competition
