The Master in Innovation & Entrepreneurship supports people who think differently

For Leonardo Bressan, joining the Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIE) has meant immersing himself in a community of people – both on and off campus – who share his builder's mindset. 

In this blog, Leonardo, Class of 2027, explains why his time in the MIE has been so valuable; from helping him strengthen the skills he will need to leverage as a future startup founder, to connecting him to the people that he can rely on throughout the journey.  

He reflects on some of his MIE highlights so far, including an inspiring talk with the CEO of METRO AG, a consulting project building security solutions for quantum computing, and countless events, extracurriculars, and activities that have helped him find community. 

And Leonardo shares what it is like to build a life in Berlin, "the startup capital of Europe." He explains why "it's very easy to make connections here" (even when you don't speak German), and how his time in Berlin has been a true chance to network with those who share his passions.  

Hi Leonardo, could you please introduce yourself?  

Hi, I'm Leonardo, I'm 25 and I'm from Italy. I did my bachelor's in management in Italy, then moved to Paris for an internship, and I’m now in Berlin doing the Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIE) at ESMT. 

Before ESMT, you studied in Italy and did an internship in France. Why did you choose Berlin for your master’s degree? And why ESMT? 

"For what I wanted to study, I think it's the best university in Europe. I wanted to be surrounded by people who share the same passions, and that's exactly what I found here: students who are genuinely into innovation, entrepreneurship, and startups." 

Honestly, I came to Berlin because of ESMT. For what I wanted to study, I think it's the best university in Europe. 

I wanted to be surrounded by people who share the same passions, and that's exactly what I found here: students who are genuinely into innovation, entrepreneurship, and startups. I was also looking for a university that isn't only about classes, but about everything that happens around them: workshops, events, talks with guest speakers, student organizations. On top of that, the courses looked compelling on paper when I was going through the program, and now that I'm here, I can say they live up to it. 

Then there's Berlin itself. It's the startup capital of Europe, and there are startups for literally everything. There are relevant events every day, both at the university and across the city, and with so many VCs, companies and founders around, the whole city has an entrepreneurial energy that is incredibly helpful for students like us. 

What were your reasons for choosing an innovation- and entrepreneurship-focused master’s after a bachelor’s in business administration? 

It wasn't an easy choice. At first, I thought a master's in management would be the safer option because it would keep more doors open. Then I realized I don't actually need that many open doors: I know what I'm interested in and what I want to do.   

I chose the MIE because I wanted to be around people who aspire to work in startups or build something of their own, and, ideally, to meet the people I'll end up building something with. 

I have a niche interest in procurement and supply chain, and I'd like to found a startup in that space. The entrepreneurial mindset, the network, and the courses in this program are giving me exactly the tools I need to get there. 

You received a Next Unicorn Scholarship. What is this awarded for and how did it feel to find out you were a recipient? 

" I'd never thought of my startup experience as something that could also count academically, so being recognized for it meant a lot."  

The Next Unicorn Scholarship recognizes students with an entrepreneurial track record, and in my case it was for the startup I founded when I was 19. 

At that point I knew nothing about startups. It all started with a simple problem: I wanted to take a drone on a trip to Sardinia with my friends, I couldn't afford to buy one, and there was nowhere to rent one. So I took the idea to the innovation hub at my university and started developing an app to rent sport equipment. I brought my co-founders on board and we built it together. 

Through my bachelor's university in Italy and UNIDO, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, I was sponsored to pitch at two major startup events: GITEX in Dubai and at the World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum in Bahrain. 

Getting the scholarship for this background also confirmed I had made the right choice in applying to ESMT. It showed me that my background was exactly what the program was looking for. I'd never thought of my startup experience as something that could also count academically, so being recognized for it meant a lot. 

It became a real interest during the first year of my bachelor's, and it has only grown since. 

At ESMT, some great insights so far have come from Prof. Angeliki Papachroni’s Foundations of Entrepreneurship course. The whole course is built so that every topic applies directly to startups, and the case studies are too, so you see the many different sides of building a company. 

As part of the course, we also did a consulting project with a real startup. I was lucky: I was assigned to one building security solutions for quantum computing, which I found fascinating. It taught me what consulting for a startup really means. Working through decisions alongside the founders, and doing it together with my classmates, was a great learning experience. 

Through ESMT’s Career Development Center, master’s students get opportunities to meet with business leaders. Which of these talks was most impactful, and what did you learn? 

For me, it was the talk with Dr Steffen Greubel, at the time the CEO of METRO. First of all, he was a great person, and very inspiring. He spoke openly about running a company as large and international as METRO, the problems they faced, and how they tackled them. 

What impressed me most was how he could answer any question about the company. You could tell he had full control and a view of every angle, from the technical side to HR, specific products, and the big business decisions. Not every CEO has that kind of overview of their own company. 

You had the chance to connect with more mentors and leaders through the Summer Entrepreneurship Program (now called Incubation I). What is this and what was your project? 

The Summer Entrepreneurship Program (Incubation I) is a three-month program, held this year at Antler in Berlin, where you work on your own venture and really build your product, either alone or with other participants, while building connections along the way. 

I worked on a procurement product: software that helps procurement teams manage all the documents coming in from suppliers and uses AI to turn them into actionable insights. It was a chance to practice the core skills of early-stage building: reaching out to customers, setting up interviews, and starting a company from scratch. 

I had done some of this before, but repetition is how you get better. Each time around, you learn a little more than the last. Having three full months to focus on something I had wanted to work on for a long time was a great opportunity.

"There's an event every day, and so many of them that you can choose ones in your exact niche."   

Berlin is amazing for networking with startups, founders, and investors! ESMT's network is impressive, but the wider community is just as strong. There's an event every day, and so many of them that you can choose ones in your exact niche. People go to meet other people, so it's very open and social. And even if you don't speak German, almost everything happens in English. 

It's very easy to make connections here, and you meet people from all kinds of backgrounds. Outside ESMT, I'm also part of START Berlin, a student association that connects students interested in entrepreneurship and organizes events. It has given me a remarkable network. Even with so many startups in the city, I feel like I know someone working at almost every one of them. 

You are part of The Venture Club. What is this extracurricular club all about, and what is your involvement? Does it give you a chance to meet students from different programs? 

"For me, it is the most engaging extracurricular at ESMT, because it's where theory meets practice."   

The Venture Club gives students direct access to startup founders, venture capital, and the wider ecosystem through a wide range of events. 

My focus is the Venture Program, where we offer teams of five students to act as consultants for a startup. It runs for three months, and students work with real startups from the ecosystem, putting into practice what they've learned in their master's or MBA program. 

This year I'm co-leading and organizing the program together with a Tommaso Topa, an MIE classmate of mine. For me, it is the most engaging extracurricular at ESMT, because it's where theory meets practice. 

Last year I was on the speaker management team, which finds the speakers, reaches out to them, and supports them while they prepare their talks. This year I'm co-leading the sponsorship department, reaching out to companies and pitching sponsorships and partnerships. 

It's been a great opportunity, because working behind the scenes on a TEDx stage lets you talk with really interesting people. The story that stayed with me most was Kaitlyn McGregor’s, an Olympic speed skater athlete who talked about how she had walked away from sport completely, went through a difficult period, and then came back and qualified for the Olympics. 

That story goes way beyond the business topics we usually discuss at ESMT. It's about every part of life, and I found it really inspiring. 

What has been your favorite overall MIE memory so far? 

When I think about an MIE memory, the first thing that comes to mind is my classmates. We’re a small group of fewer than 40 people, which has made it easy to get close. We spend a lot of time together outside university, going out, celebrating, and simply hanging out. 

What makes the group special is how varied it is. We come from different countries and backgrounds, each with our own ideas and perspectives, so we naturally learn a lot from each other.   

We’ve also grown close to last year’s cohort. Introduction week, with its pub crawls and student associations, brought everyone together. It’s a warm, healthy community, and it’s a big part of what makes this experience special. 

"I think the MIE is for people who think differently and want more than just classes." 

Go for it. ESMT is great if you want more than the courses and classes you could find anywhere. Of course, the professors are very good, but what really makes the difference in my opinion is everything around them: extracurricular activities, small classes, direct access to professors, the university's network, and all the offices, facilities, and events. The school puts a lot of effort into all of this. 

Then there's Berlin. It's one of the best startup ecosystems in Europe, and the university sits right in the middle of it, which is great for meeting startups but also for business in general.   

I think the MIE is for people who think differently and want more than just classes. They want the whole experience, with opportunities both inside the university and across the city. 

If I had to choose again, I would choose ESMT again. 

Thank you, Leonardo!

If you would like to follow along with Leonardo's entrepreneurial journey – or learn more about Berlin's student startup scene – you can follow him on LinkedIn.