LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS
LSE ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 6
This January, Sagemont Prep will unveil an exclusive new global partnership with the renowned London School of Economics an unparalleled opportunity reserved for our most driven and forward-thinking students
Over an intensive two days during the LSE Entrepreneurship Summit, participants will immerse themselves in a world typically reserved for rising leaders and top-tier innovators. This elite entrepreneurship summit will bring students face-to-face with LSE scholars, international founders, and industry visionaries through masterclasses, fireside dialogues, and design-thinking challenges
From high-impact workshops to collaborative innovation labs, students will engage in experiences that sharpen analytical thinking, inspire bold ideas, and illuminate the pathways through which their talents can influence the world. This summit marks a defining moment for Sagemont Prep one where our students step confidently onto the global stage and into the future they are poised to shape
WORKSHOPS
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: WHAT ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAN TEACH US ABOUT HUMANITY
FROM PASSION TO PURPOSE: HOW TO BUILD AN IMPACTDRIVEN CAREER
Building a business can actually make you a better person. What can the world of startups teach us about being responsible, ethical citizens? In this talk, we will explore the valuable lessons entrepreneurship offers about problem-solving, compassion, and building sustainable communities. Through real-world examples, discover how the principles that guide successful ventures such as collaboration, resilience, and innovation can also help us become better humans. Whether you're aiming to lead a business one day or simply live with purpose, learn how entrepreneurship can inspire everyday acts of good citizenship. Discover how entrepreneurial thinking can help you create positive change, whatever path you choose.
Join Archana Kotecha, LSE alumna and award-winning social entrepreneur, for an inspiring conversation about turning professional expertise into powerful social innovation As founder of Remedy Project, Archana has built a successful consultancy that partners with major corporations, governments and international organizations to solve complex global challenges, whilst championing people who can't always advocate for themselves She will share how she identified a problem others weren't addressing, built strategic partnerships with industry leaders, and created a scalable business model that drives real change. Perfect for anyone who wants to understand how entrepreneurial thinking and smart strategy can build both a successful career and lasting impact.
CAREERPRENEURSHIP: DESIGN YOUR CAREER LIKE AN INNOVATOR
Why wait to be told what your career should look like when you could design it yourself? This is an interactive presentation on how to build an entrepreneurial toolkit and mindset that you can apply to design a meaningful career We will set the context of what the future of work holds, before introducing the Futureproof Formula, which gives you the opportunity to get stuck into pursuing what you enjoy and designing your dream career in a futureproof way You will learn how to position and deploy your own personal brand and entrepreneurial mindset to stand out from the crowd Time to take control of your future and build a career path that's uniquely yours!
PROTOTYPE YOUR FUTURE: DESIGN THINKING IN ACTION
What do Airbnb's turnaround from near-bankruptcy to billion-dollar success and Apple's iconic product designs have in common? Design Thinking: the creative problem-solving method that puts people first Learn to solve real-world problems, ideate creative solutions, and collaborate effectively. From brainstorming to prototyping, this session fosters innovation and critical thinking. For example, in the Design Your Ideal School For the Future workshop, students will step into the shoes of designers and envision their dream school Through Design Thinking principles, you’ll explore innovative ideas, collaborate and create prototypes for a school that fosters creativity, inclusivity, and student well-being This approach used by everyone from tech founders to sports entrepreneurs to medics redesigning patient care turns you into the kind of innovative problem-solver every industry needs.
THE FAILURE FAIR: YOUR MESS-UPS ARE YOUR MAKING
What if your biggest mess-up could become your greatest strength?
An intimate and supportive seminar that will allow you to examine your mistakes and learn quickly from them, removing the stigma from the notion of failure. We offer participants the stage to share real-life stories and examples of what they have viewed as 'mess-ups' but what, with encouragement and advice from peers and our founders, can be transformed into a mark of leadership and resilience. There'll be plenty of opportunities to develop an understanding of how to respond to disappointment and setbacks and to critically think through real-life scenarios with you leaving the session equipped with the tools to approach your next perceived problem with confidence, maturity, and overall wellbeing Ready to reframe failure as fuel and leave with the resilience skills that set great leaders apart?
FIRESIDE CHAT: FROM UNIVERSITY TO RUNNING A MIAMI HOSPITALITY BUSINESS
Meet Juan Felipe Uribe, LSE alumnus and CEO of Miami Vacation Rentals Ever wondered what it takes to build your own business after university? Juan studied at LSE and now runs a successful property rental company in Miami, managing over 150 properties and winning awards from Airbnb. He'll talk about how his education helped shape his business thinking, the realities of being an entrepreneur (including the challenges nobody warns you about), and what the hospitality industry actually looks like for young people starting out today If you're curious about property, business or just want to hear an honest conversation about life after education, this is for you.
FROM PASSION TO IMPACT: BUILD YOUR OWN PERSONAL
WORKSHOPS FIRESIDE CHAT FROM DATA OVERLOAD TO PATIENT CARE: BUILDING TECH THAT SAVES LIVES
THEORY OF CHANGE
The aim of this workshop is to help YOU to understand where your passions lie and how you can translate those passions into your dream vocation that makes a real impact in your life, and the lives of those you'll touch. But what does that mean in practice? Well, if you're passionate about football, you might map out how becoming a sports physiotherapist, youth coach, or sports policy advocate could create pathways to improve mental health and social mobility in young people through sport Are you worried about climate change and health? Use this workshop to help you discover how a career in medicine could lead to research on air pollution's health impacts and how you could ultimately influence environmental policy. By working backwards from the change you want to see, you'll identify concrete, strategic steps that align your interests with a meaningful career It's never too early to start planning your impact!
NO CODE, NO PROBLEM: BUILD YOUR FIRST APP TODAY
Imagine creating an app to organize your revision schedule or track your football team's statistics all without writing code You don’t need to be a coder to build an app or website anymore. Tools like Lovable and Replit mean you can dream up an app and have a prototype in minutes In this hands-on workshop, you will be introduced to AI-powered no-code tools that entrepreneurs are actually using Together, you will create a simple prototype app and then work in teams to design their own. The session will demonstrate how technology is making innovation more accessible and give you a practical taste of digital entrepreneurship. This workshop is for anyone wanting an AI-powered tool that lets you turn any problem you spot into a solution, whether you're pursuing a career from healthcare to engineering to environmental science
What does it take to run a top-rated healthcare tech company? Tyler Smith, LSE alumnus and CEO of Health Data Movers, reveals how his team helps hospitals and doctors use technology to actually improve patient care. If you've ever been frustrated by healthcare inefficiency or wondered how tech could fix broken systems, this is your chance to hear from someone doing exactly that. Whether you're into medicine, coding, or just want to solve problems that matter, discover why healthcare tech is both essential and exciting!
HOOK, LINE & SINKER: HOW TO MASTER THE ART OF PERSUASION
Everyone will need to pitch at some point in their lives, whether it's an idea, a project, or even themselves in an interview And to most of us, that feels really scary but it doesn't have to be. Using the Hook, Line and Sinker Framework, this workshop introduces you to the basics of persuasive pitching, including how to structure a clear message, build confidence, and connect with an audience You will create and deliver your own oneminute pitch and receive supportive peer feedback in small groups to strengthen their delivery Whether you're convincing your teacher to let you lead a project, presenting to your school council, or persuading friends to support your charity fundraiser, pitching is something you're already doing These same skills become invaluable in virtually every career path: engineers pitch technical solutions to stakeholders, doctors advocate for patient care approaches, sales professionals present products, investment bankers pitch deals to clients, and entrepreneurs secure funding for their ventures. Mastering the art of the pitch means you can turn your ideas into action, regardless of your field And, just as importantly, get to where you want to be!
MEET THE MINDS BEHIND AI THAT ACTUALLY GETS STUDENTS
WORKSHOPS THE CHOICE LAB: MAKING DECISIONS THAT MATTER
Jordan and Jamie, co-founders of Willow AI, spotted something schools were missing: 75% of you are already using ChatGPT for homework anyway. Instead of banning AI or pretending it doesn't exist, they built something better. Willow helps you actually understand your work (so you're not stuck in exams with no clue), gives you personalised support when you're genuinely stuck, and creates a space where you can ask questions you'd never raise your hand for in class Their tech is behind a 20% grade improvement and 87% engagement boost. Come hear how they're building AI that prepares you for the real world, not just helps you game the system
In The Choice Lab, students step inside the real decision-making engine of entrepreneurial life where nothing is black and white, every option has a trade-off, and waiting is a decision. This hands-on session blends behavioral science, case studies, and rapid-fire scenario challenges to help students understand how great leaders choose under pressure. We’ll explore why our brains favor certain paths, how to balance instinct with evidence, and what to do when every option feels risky. Students will practice making tough calls in messy, real-world situations from team dynamics to pivots, partnerships, funding choices, and ethical dilemmas. By the end, students will build a personalized decision framework they can use in school, life, and future ventures
DESIGN SPRINT
THIS PITCH COMPETITION AND WORKSHOP CONNECTS YOU WITH CEOS AND INDUSTRY EXPERTS, CREATING A POWERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS WILLING TO PUT IN THE WORK.
THIS COMPETITION IS ONLY OPEN TO 32 STUDENT APPLICANTS.
SESSION 1: FROM ZERO TO VIRAL: MARKETING THAT ACTUALLY WORKS
Ever wondered how a random TikTok becomes a global trend, or how brands like Prime and Duolingo went from unknown to everywhere? You can build the most amazing product or have the most important mission, but without marketing, no one will hear about it. This workshop introduces you to the core principles of marketing: understanding your audience, crafting your message, and choosing the right channels. Using examples from viral campaigns and social enterprises, you will design a mini-marketing plan for a product or idea and learn how storytelling can turn a simple idea into a movement skills that matter whether you're promoting a school initiative, launching a startup, rallying support for a cause, or working in fields from medicine to finance where communicating impact is essential
SESSION 2: INTRO TO SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND DESIGN THINKING
In this session, we will cover the basics of social entrepreneurship and introduce students to the UN Sustainable Development Goals We will then use design thinking to get to the root cause of the students chosen problem that they want to solve.
SESSION 3: PROTOTYPING YOUR SOLUTION
Using the "how might we" framework, students will work backward to design a solution to the problem they selected in session 1. They will then work together to design a prototype of their solution and get feedback.
SESSION 4: PITCH MENTORING PITCH SEMI FINAL PITCH FINAL