The London Business School Incubator, which is overseen by the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital (IEPC), is a dedicated programme aimed at developing entrepreneurial talent and elevate alumni-led start-ups within the School community. As competition is very high, the admission is reserved for those who can demonstrate both a strong intention to benefit from the programme and the potential to contribute meaningfully to LBS’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Ivan Ante, one of our star Sloan fellows, along with his esteemed classmate, Vedika Harribarran, have had the exciting opportunity to come up with a business proposal and successfully being selected as part of the LBS Incubator. This has ultimately translated into ‘Flosendo’, an educational platform for ages between eight and seventeen that blends business skills, structured play, learning science and AI tools.
Ivan is describing his journey below within LBS, what motivated him to pause, reflect and join Sloan, and what role the Incubator has had over his recent career and venture.
Can you provide a brief overview of your background and career.
I grew up in a family of teachers and professionals, three generations. I inherited their work ethic and passion, and I saw first-hand how education changed my trajectory. However, I took a different turn. I wanted to be an investor since I was eleven. I spent fourteen years in investment management, starting as an analyst and eventually becoming Head of Global Multi-Asset Strategies at ATRAM, overseeing around two billion dollars in portfolios. I earned my CFA and CAIA along the way.
I also co-founded Aralin, an education technology startup in the Philippines helping students achieve better outcomes in their college entrance tests. That was my first real foray into entrepreneurship and education.
Now I’m at LBS, testing whether everything I’ve learned can translate into something useful for students, teachers and the schools that serve them.
What made you apply to LBS and the Sloan programme?
I wanted a more dynamic learning environment. I wanted to be surrounded by people from different backgrounds who share one thing: they chose to keep learning, and they’re experienced.
I also wanted to live in a different city, not just manage global markets from afar. I’d spent years allocating capital to places I’d never actually lived. That felt incomplete.
LBS takes entrepreneurship seriously. I joined Launchpad, entered the Healthcare Challenge, attended talks. Everyone I met, students, alumni, professors, the IEPC team, was thoughtful and willing to help.
What were your professional goals before vs now; have they changed?
My goals were broad at the start. I wanted to try everything. Test my reactions. Expand my knowledge and skills. Stay at the forefront of reskilling and AI. Pause to rethink.
Now my focus is sharper: education and entrepreneurship. Specifically, building Flosendo properly. I believe entrepreneurship is becoming a must-have skill, for myself and others. Learning remains central. I’m also becoming a power AI user and want to teach it through coaching, groups, and families. I’m hopeful about AI but less sure about the transition. That uncertainty is both a threat and an opportunity.
It brings together everything I’ve learned: institutional discipline from capital allocation, second-time entrepreneurship, education as student and coach, and AI.
Could you tell us what is your business about and what triggered the idea?
Flosendo combines two Latin words: “grow” and “bloom.” We build enrichment learning for students aged eight to seventeen, including pathways designed for different ability levels in a unique hybrid (i.e. both online and in-class) fashion. We blend business skills with structured play that complements, not competes with, the foundational curriculum.
I’ve been a learning science enthusiast for years. I enrolled in meta-learning courses myself because I needed to learn a lot, fast. The research exists but isn’t mainstream. Our design philosophy optimises learning effectiveness while also making our programmes fun and adaptive. AI is a great tool to achieve this along with proper user experience and personalisation. For example, more practice questions when they struggle, harder challenges when they’re ready. Learning isn’t easy, but it should be clear and intentional.
AI will reshape careers. Few people are building for students who’ll inherit that world. So we are. We are running two pilot products now and will be deploying by April 2026. Early teacher feedback has focused on ease of use. Safeguarding comes first.
What is the LBS Incubator and how does it serve students?
The Incubator is run by the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital. It accepts around eleven or twelve startups each year. You get office space, mentorship, access to legal and practical resources, and a network that takes you seriously because you carry the LBS name. For a new startup in education, where trust matters, that credibility helps.
The real value is community. Weekly informal gatherings. Accountability. Deadlines that force progress. For someone like me, coming from finance, that structure matters.
The Incubator also connects you to investors, advisors, and alumni founders who’ve walked the path. When you’re unknown, the LBS name opens door.
How has the Incubator helped you so far?
The support started before we were even accepted. We had mentors early – former Incubator founders, professors, and advisors gave feedback on rough ideas. Osman from the Incubator team was particularly helpful in shaping our approach. By the time we formally joined, we already felt part of the community.
Now, we have office space that feels like home. We set up structured check-ins that keep us honest. We have access to LBS professors who care about education and how students actually learn.
What matters most is the community itself. Other founders are navigating similar uncertainties. That keeps us moving.
Do you have any advice for future student entrepreneurs wanting to join the Incubator?
Start immediately. Don’t wait for the perfect idea. Join Launchpad, enter the Healthcare Challenge, attend every entrepreneurial event you can. The deadlines force iteration. The feedback sharpens your thinking.
Talk to people constantly. Share your ideas even when they’re rough. LBS is full of thoughtful people who want to help, but you have to ask.
Our two pilot products came from this process. EDEN is a teen entrepreneurship accelerator for ages twelve to seventeen, hybrid and teacher-facilitated, designed to require minimal prep time. EduCity introduces financial literacy for ages eight to nine through structured play, also hybrid and classroom-ready.
The Incubator looks for founders who’ve started, not just those with ideas. Use the year you have. Embrace AI. Don’t wait until everything is perfect. We certainly didn’t.
Advice for setting up a business while doing the Sloan programme?
It will be busy. Accept that early. But your cohort is filled with experienced professionals who’ve managed complexity before. You’re not alone.
The LBS community is remarkably helpful. Just ask. Knock on doors. Distinguished professors like Niro and Andrew make time. Alumni will respond to cold messages. Classmates will offer perspectives you hadn’t considered.
Be proactive, but also be respectful. People give their time freely here. Honour that by listening well and following through.
Finally, find a co-founder who complements you. Building alone while studying is hard. Building with someone who shares your conviction makes it sustainable. And if it doesn’t work? You’ll still have learned a lot.