Ankit Singh and Laury Jacot had plans to create an MBA Blockchain Club even before they entered HEC Paris in September 2021

Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies and a Brand-New MBA Club

Cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are among today’s hottest trends, but what do you really know about the technology underlying them? If you don’t understand blockchain yet, there’s a new HEC Paris MBA club ready to help.

Co-founded by MBAs Laury Jacot and Ankit Singh, the Blockchain Club is the latest addition to the HEC Paris MBA’s impressive roster of student-run clubs. Both Laury and Ankit and their two Vice Presidents, Vimal Thottumgal and José López, have spent considerable time educating themselves about the technology.

“Lots of people are interested in blockchain, but they just don’t know how to get started,” says club co-founder Ankit Singh, MBA ’23

In fact, the team started brainstorming ideas for the club even before they officially became HEC Paris students in September.“Laury and I connected through the WhatsApp group for our intake,” Ankit says. “We were helping each other out with investments, sharing information about projects, teams, VCs, things like that. That whole process brought us to blockchain in general.”

The Blockchain Club's Board includes (from left) MBA students Laury Jacot, Vimal Thottumgal, Ankit Singh and Jose Lopez

The Blockchain Club’s Board includes (from left) MBA students Laury Jacot, Vimal Thottumgal, Ankit Singh and José López

What’s more, even though the World Economic Forum predicts blockchain will become the “beating heart of finance” in the next five years, the club’s founders want you to know that the digital ledger system represents a great opportunity for all MBA students.

“People tend to think of blockchain as exclusively part of finance or tech, but there’s so many different applications for it,” Laury says. “The companies we’ve talked to have all explained that while they have really clever people working on their products, they also need people who can sell those products. They need strategy people and marketing people. There’s so many different capacities they are seeking in the field.”

Laury and Ankit have created a website to help publicize the club. They foresee the group becoming a pipeline for companies to share job offers and find skilled candidates. Conversations are also in the works about creating a blockchain certificate program for students.

The co-founders are also securing potential speakers. One company they are trying to bring to campus is part of the ever-growing Carbon Credit business. Along with selling NFTs, the company plants real trees and issues sellable CO2 tokens to help offset blockchain’s environmental impact.

“Lots of people are interested in blockchain, but they just don’t know how to get started,” Ankit says. “Now HEC Paris has some very enthusiastic students working to solve that problem.”

Email the club at mbaclub.blockchain@hec.edu.