"Great ideas don't come in a board room" : discover The Blue House project

"Great ideas don't come in a board room".The statement of Aline Mayard (Master 2011) is irrefutable . That's why our graduate opened The Blue House in Morocco , a place dedicated to entrepreneurs  who are looking for inspiration, ideas and energy ...

EDHEC Alumni: Can you tell us briefly how The Blue House came about?
Aline Mayard  : As a journalist covering Arab startups, I had the chance to cover a couple of British and American startups who settled into a small Moroccan fishing village for one to nine months and who said this was a life-changing experience, it helped them work intensively, gain perspective, and live a better life. So, I went there and understood: the nature was breath-taking, the atmosphere authentic and at the same time cosmopolitan, the ambiance really relaxing and inspiring.

I decided to create The Blue House, a place where startups could regain the focus, inspiration, and energy they need to get and implement great ideas and to reconnect with the big picture.
• The residency: 10 days of inspiring work and discussions with a handful of carefully selected startups.
• The company offsites: custom-built private programs for groups of 10 to 100
• The retreats: three days of adventure, relaxation and decompression and inspiration with carefully-selected startuppers.

What is your initial assessment of this entrepreneurial adventure?
AM : We did a pilot in the fall, it was the most useful decision I've made. Now I understand better what my clients need, and what I need as an entrepreneur.

Have you ever benefited from the network of EDHEC graduates?
AM : I haven't connected to the network yet but I benefited from the support and feedback from my friends from EDHEC, some of them are entrepreneurs.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
AM : You have to learn to say no and disconnect. Working in a village in Morocco, I have the advantage of being able to work without being disturbed or stressed, but having friends around you is important because it forces you to leave the office and take breaks. At one point, I worked too hard and I had a few months of and doubts that I would not recommend it.

It's also important to be surrounded with the right people: a partner with whome you're on the same page, experienced advisors, and friends who support you.

I parted ways with my partner after a few months, luckily a friend stepped in to be my "moral support." She doesn't work for my company but she listens to me, give me her opinion, proofread what I write, etc. Without someone to talk to, I think I would have lost it.

What’s next for The Blue House?
MR : We're crowdfunding at the moment to raise enough funds to finish the preparation of the house. Once this is done, we will focus on hosting startups. In a year, we hope to raise money from investors to expend world wide..

What are your expectations from the community of EDHEC graduates?
AM : I am looking for funds, sponsors, and a partner with a finance/hospitality background..

Contact
Website: www.thebluehouse.io
The Blue House on Facebook
The Blue House on Twitter