Why Cantillon?

Cantillon Ventures is inspired by Richard Cantillon, the 18th-century economist who first defined the entrepreneur as the person who acts under uncertainty and creates value. His ideas were centuries ahead of their time, and he remains one of the earliest thinkers to show how risk-taking drives progress.

​

As young economists, we were drawn to Cantillon’s clarity: he saw entrepreneurs not just as businesspeople, but as builders who are needed to reshape society. His work matched our own belief that innovation comes from people willing to act, experiment and solve real problems.

​

We created Cantillon Ventures to bring that spirit into our own communities giving students the chance to think boldly, take risks and develop ideas with real impact. The competition is our way of honouring Cantillon’s legacy, supporting and creating the next generation of entrepreneurs.

​​