Entrepreneurship is often shrouded in myths. Drawing from personal and concrete experience, this lecture deconstructs 9 common misconceptions – from the ‘revolutionary idea’ to the famous ‘founder’s freedom.’ No magic formulas, no academic theories. The goal is to share raw insights from the field: what it actually takes to get started, to endure over time, and to build something that works in the real world. And who knows? It might just give you the spark to take the leap!

Steve Anavi studied at EPFL (MSc Microengineering 2006), the University of Tokyo, and INSEAD, beginning his career at Deloitte and Groupon. In 2013, he co-founded Smok.io with Alexandre Prot – later acquired by a Fortune 500 company – where he experienced the frustrations of business banking firsthand. Steve and Alexandre joined forces again to launch Qonto in 2017 with a clear mission: to simplify everyday banking for SMEs and freelancers across Europe. Qonto has since raised €622M from top-tier global investors and is a member of France’s Next40. Steve is a Knight of the French National Order of Merit and received the Alumni Award from EPFL in 2025.

• 5:00pm
  Doors open
• 5:30pm
  Welcome address – Leïla Ojjeh, Director of EPFL Alumni
• 5:35pm
  Introduction – Isabel Casado Harrington, Head of Startup Launchpad EPFL
• 5:40pm
  Campus Lecture by Steve Anavi
  “9 Lies About Entrepreneurship – Lessons From Building a Unicorn”
• 6:10pm
  Q&A session
• 6:40pm
  Networking aperitif
• 7:30pm
  End of event