Entrepreneurship & Management: the ESE course that turns ideas into projects

The Entrepreneurship & Management course represents one of the four modules that make up some of the three-month Short Courses, organized and created by ESE.

The module was designed and coordinated in Rome by Matteo Zaralli, an entrepreneur and consultant specializing in innovation, growth strategies, and the application of artificial intelligence to business.

From idea to enterprise: a concrete path

The intensive path accompanied a group of international students, engaged in Short Courses such as Hospitality, International Relations and Film Industry, in the development of entrepreneurial, managerial, and digital skills increasingly demanded by the market.

The students had the opportunity to explore all the main phases of creating a business: from the birth of an idea to its validation, up to the final presentation of the project. An approach that reflects the ESE philosophy of learning by doing, where theory is immediately transformed into experience.

A program built on the skills of the future

The course was structured into four key moments, designed to accompany students in building a complete entrepreneurial project.

• The first part introduced the foundations of entrepreneurship, analyzing the role of the entrepreneur, the differences between startups, SMEs, and family businesses, and how artificial intelligence is redefining the business world.
• Subsequently, attention shifted to the market, delving into marketing, sales, customer acquisition strategies, and pitching techniques—essential tools for turning an idea into a concrete opportunity.
• The third phase represented the operational heart of the program. Through the use of AI, prompt engineering, and vibe coding, each student created a prototype of their project, directly experiencing the potential of new technologies applied to innovation.
• The path finally concluded with an in-depth look at international entrepreneurship and expansion strategies in global markets, a competence increasingly central in an interconnected economy.

A personal project at the center of learning

The entire course was built around an individual project work.

Each participant progressively developed their own entrepreneurial idea, putting into practice tools, methodologies, and skills acquired during the lessons. The path concluded with the final presentation of the project through a ten-minute pitch and a Q&A session, simulating a professional context of comparison with potential investors or partners.

This approach allowed students to strengthen not only technical skills but also soft skills like problem-solving, public speaking, strategic thinking, and effective communication.

The contribution of international entrepreneurs and professionals

The program was enriched by the participation of five guest speakers from the world of business, innovation, and academia, who shared concrete experiences and case studies.

The meetings explored topics such as:

•  sales, marketing, and growth strategies;
•  pitching and investment methods;
•  innovation and artificial intelligence applications;
•  product development through AI;
•  international entrepreneurship and business development.

Thanks to direct discussion with professionals operating between Europe, Silicon Valley, the Middle East, and Australia, students were able to learn about different approaches to innovation and business creation.

Learning by doing: company visits

Further enriching the path were two company visits, designed to bring students closer to the innovation ecosystem.

The first took place at the offices of Cornerstone Italia, offering an overview of the organizational and managerial dynamics of an international company.

The course concluded with a visit to the Seedble and BlendX innovation ecosystem, where students participated in a practical activity using the platform developed by BlendX, concretely experimenting with tools and methodologies used in innovation processes.

The upcoming ESE Short Courses will kick off in September, offering new international training opportunities to students and young professionals who wish to invest in their future and engage with today’s market and technologies.