Entrepreneurship is a passionate and thrilling venture, and possessing the proper educational background can make the difference between failure or success. Entrepreneurship schools provide students with ample resources, instruction, and on–the-job training to develop their business concepts into successful enterprises. Whether your intention is to build a tech startup company, social business, or growth business, the top entrepreneurship schools profiled below provide with the education and resources needed to accomplish such a feat.
1. Stanford University (USA)
The USA’s Stanford University is a very likely candidate to be the best place for new entrepreneurs. Just being located in the middle of Silicon Valley, it is not difficult enough for students to have equitable access to good venture capitalists, business legends, and name companies. Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) has a highly ranked MBA program with entrepreneurial orientation, and in the Stanford d.school, students learn to think outside the box and how to arrive there in order to come up with innovative solutions. Some of the most successful startups such as Google, LinkedIn, and Snapchat have been founded by Stanford alumni, so it is a good place to start.
Besides course work, Stanford also possesses amenities like the Stanford StartX accelerator where students and alumni incubate start-ups. Stanford also provides its students with sufficient networks through programs like the Startup Garage and the Entrepreneurial Summer Program. Through its entrepreneurial network, Stanford remains among the top entrepreneurial centers.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (USA)
MIT is also extremely famous for its emphasis on technology and innovation, and thus it is the ideal entrepreneurial university. MIT Sloan School of Management offers courses that merge business with advanced engineering and technology. The most sought-after aspect of MIT is its Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, which includes funding, mentorship, and startup incubation programs.
MIT students also get an opportunity to participate in the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition, where they get to pitch their ideas and raise funds. The high degree of interaction between the Boston startup community and MIT and research-based innovation also make it a great place for entrepreneurs who want to build disruptive technologies. Two of the successful startups to have been hatched out of the entrepreneurial network at MIT include drop box and HubSpot.
3. Harvard University (USA)
Harvard Business School (HBS) is a top-ranked business school globally and a business school of Harvard University. HBS does have a decent entrepreneurship program through electives such as “The Entrepreneurial Manager” and “Startup Operations.” Harvard’s i-lab, or Innovation Lab, is an incubator building that provides mentorship, seed funding, and access to a very large network of successful startup entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to students.
Harvard encourages innovation in all kinds of programs such as the Rock Center for Entrepreneurship and the Arthur Rock Center Seed Grant. Harvard just so happens to be located in Boston, startup and venture capital capitals, so being there is perfect for being an entrepreneur. Some of the most renowned alumnus business entrepreneurs at Harvard are the creators of Facebook, the creators of Rent the Runway, and the creators of Warby Parker.
4. University of California, Berkeley (USA)
Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley is especially famous for entrepreneurial education. With Silicon Valley literally on their doorstep, students get great exposure to technology entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Berkeley’s SkyDeck accelerator is a competitive startup accelerator that helps student entrepreneurs further develop their ideas and raise money.
Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Program (BHEP) also offers great facilities such as startup competitions, mentorship, and workshops too. Social entrepreneurship is also given an incredible value by the university with students striving hard to establish businesses in attempting to solve the world’s problems. With the likes of Tesla, Sun Microsystems, and Intel being founded by such alumni, UC Berkeley is the go-to place for an entrepreneur.
5. Babson College (USA)
The world’s best college for entrepreneurship every year is Babson College. Every college does entrepreneurship as part of business school, but Babson does business and entrepreneurship and innovation, each as a standalone, and teaches them accordingly. Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® philosophy college compels students to be entrepreneurial in nature in life.
Babson provides diverse experiential learning opportunities, including the Butler Launch Pad, which provides finance and mentorship to student entrepreneurial ventures. Students are also exposed to different opportunities to pitch as well as engage with networking events where they get introduced prior to investors as well as successful entrepreneurs. Babson has alumni ground full of business visionaries who started successful companies in diversified sectors.
6. University of Pennsylvania (USA)
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is a globally ranked business school. Wharton offers a set of entrepreneurial courses in the Wharton Entrepreneurship Center, offering students mentorship, funding, and startup support.
Wharton emphasis on fact-driven decision-making and financial education prepares students for business expansion and entrepreneurship. Penn Wharton Startup Challenge and Venture Initiation Program classes guide students to hone business ideas and connect with investors. Warby Parker and Quidsi (Diapers.com) are two success stories of Wharton graduates.
7. London Business School (UK)
London Business School (LBS) is one of the top European business schools to offer entrepreneurship. LBS offers an MBA in business innovation and entrepreneurship and a Master’s in Entrepreneurship. LBS Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital offers the students networking, mentoring, and investor access.
It is situated in the best spot in London, a globally ranked number-one financial center, to be exposed to entrepreneurial activity, accelerators, and venture capital. London‘s startup ecosystem is amazingly thriving and rich and the ideal place to launch an international business. The richest entrepreneurs and corporate moguls are most probably LBS graduates, thus making it another top-class entrepreneurship school.
8. INSEAD (France/Singapore/Abu Dhabi)
INSEAD is an internationally top–ranked business school with campuses in Singapore, France, and Abu Dhabi. School’s MBA is entrepreneurship and innovation-oriented and world’s best. INSEAD Centre for Entrepreneurship is accessible to its students as it offers access to money, mentors, and facilities to incubation schemes.
Perhaps the greatest aspect of INSEAD is that it is internationally focused when it comes to learning business, wherein the students get a chance to think entrepreneurially from all over the globe. With alumni such as successful business-entrepreneurs across geographies and industries of the world, INSEAD suits best those who want to start business with global ambitions.
Conclusion
The proper entrepreneurial university can give fledgling entrepreneurs the knowledge, guidance, and support they need to thrive. By the promise of new technologies, investment savvy, or a successful network of investors and mentors, the next top entrepreneurial universities are where to begin a dream business. With counsel and advice at your fingertips, your next startup sensation is just a step away!