Our BEAM (Business, Entrepreneurship and Math) seminar course recently travelled to London for an exciting and educational trip focused on business, startups and innovation.
After flying from Frankfurt to London Heathrow, our first stop was SAP UK Ltd. We were introduced to the company through a short presentation and visited the Experience Center, where we saw several innovations, including AI technologies. One highlight was pitching our startup ideas for the first time in front of experienced SAP employees. Although we were nervous, we all managed it well. In the evening, we arrived at our hostel near Canary Wharf and had some time to explore the area.
The next day we visited Heidelberg Materials, where we learned more about the company and its climate-friendly project EvoZero. We pitched our ideas again and received valuable feedback. Afterwards, we visited a construction site to see the company’s work in practice. Later, we went to the Startup Hub at Northeastern University, where we learned more about London’s startup scene and presented our ideas in a short, improvised pitch. We ended the day traditional, with a shared dinner at a London pub.
On Friday, we visited the startup Noah, where we pitched again and received further feedback. Afterwards, we went to King’s College London, where Professor Andrés Girtz gave us a campus tour and talked about studying there. We also had the opportunity to pitch one last time and were very impressed by his knowledge and the helpful feedback he gave us.
During our free time, we were also able to explore the city, visit places such as Borough Market and the London School of Economics, and enjoy London’s unique atmosphere.
Overall, the trip was a very valuable experience. We gained insights into international companies, startups, and universities while also improving our presentation skills. It was an inspiring and memorable journey for the entire BEAM course.

Leni Rappenecker und Romy Schlundt