Written by Eva Lemmy

As an English undergraduate passionate about both the arts and the business world, I’ve often wondered and struggled to understand how these two spheres can interact. The majority of entrepreneurs I have come across have been situated in AI, software and various other tech fields and it often feels as though there isn’t a place for those passionate about art or music or literature. I applied to join this year’s E-Lab residential in the hope that I would find an answer to these questions and also learn the skills, as someone with a humanities background, to be able to situate myself in an entrepreneurial environment.

From day one, the programme helped to broaden my understanding of entrepreneurship as I met students from all subject and work backgrounds and instantly realised I was not the only one questioning where arts would find its place in the week. Others I spoke to shared reasons for joining the course ranging from well-developed ideas but a lack of self-confidence in business capability, to just wanting to understand more “business” talk for when networking or having job interviews. In this way, the variation the E-Lab programme offers perfectly complements the broad motives of its participants.

The first session of most days was dedicated to hearing group pitches, where we presented our ideas and were subsequently questioned by others who offered their thoughts, ideas or hesitations. For many of us, this was the first time – in a long time – that we were required to present an idea in front of others. The process not only demonstrated how ideas must be constantly developing, but allowed us the chance to practice conducting ourselves in a Q&A format and it served as a really valuable opportunity to become aware of problems or challenges that none of us have considered. This exercise helped me appreciate the value of articulating and defending ideas, whilst also being open to constantly adapting and changing what it is that you are presenting. I realised throughout the week that the purpose seemed to end up being more important than the exact ways the product would operate and being open to this flexibility is an important part of the entrepreneurial experience. In many ways the business pitch was similar to writing an essay: an openness to adapting the argument and an effort to balance being convincing yet concise. The emphasis was also on practical, real-world outcomes and having to consider the ever-changing spheres of business and tech developments.

In the afternoons we were joined by guest speakers who covered a range of valuable topics such as intellectual property (IP), branding or taxes. They demonstrated expertise but also shared their personal journeys as entrepreneurs. These sessions really highlighted that it is possible for anyone, regardless of background, to establish a start-up and that it is more important to have the drive and perseverance than a specific route into the industry. One key takeaway I had from these talks was listening to Sheelpa Patel discuss a rebrand and how, what seemed like a fair risk to a company, was so thoroughly considered and executed. The process Sheelpa talked through, along with other concepts explored throughout the week from submitting patents to writing shareholder agreements, made me realise just how fundamental the place of arts already is within entrepreneurship.

The ability to market yourself successfully, to pitch to investors or to have a strong brand are all skills many humanities students practice regularly in other forms and the E-Lab helped me recognise how interwoven arts and business already are. In this way, business is supported by many arts skills, however what the programme really helped me understand is how business skills can empower artists and about how learning about IP or branding, for instance, can help turn a passion into a sustainable career.

This idea echoes a point made in a Forbes article earlier this year by Christos Makridis [source]. Makridis discusses how economic pressures have forced those in the arts sector to reconsider the relationship between arts and business. He argues that ‘by embracing arts entrepreneurship, we can narrow the gap between artistic passion and economic sustainability, ensuring that artists not only survive but thrive’. For artists, learning how to pitch their ideas, protect their creative work, and understand market dynamics can equip them to provide sustainable creative ventures with a greater impact.

The E-Lab residential week has given me new tools to navigate what can seem like the daunting business side to artistic endeavours alongside a new confidence to discuss and defend my ideas with others moving forward. I would therefore encourage anyone, particularly those who feel they lack an amount of “business sense”, to engage with the E-Lab. I am particularly looking forward to hearing from more speakers with an arts background over the coming year.

The E-Lab Residential: Bridging a gap between arts and business

A Story of Cambridge’s Inaugural LLM x Law Hackathon

‘Hack the Law’ Hackathon Reflection 2024: Enhancing the Mind and Judgement with JudgeMentor