Many pursue business education dreaming of one day launching a startup. In fact, almost a third (30%) of prospective business school students have becoming an entrepreneur in mind when deciding to study, according to GMAC’s Post-GME Career Aspirations Report 2025.

As the home of many top business schools and a popular destination for entrepreneurs from all over the world, Europe is a thriving hub for innovation. Its prime location provides access to an array of countries and attracts ambitious professionals from across the globe. 

Studying at a leading European business school can provide broad opportunities for aspiring startup founders. IE Business School, for example, views entrepreneurship as essential to the business school experience. The Madrid-based school provides students with access to top-tier mentors, incubator programs, and a valuable alumni network.

As Juan Jose Güemes, chairman of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center at IE, explains: “Entrepreneurship at business school is not simply a discipline. It is a foundational mindset that impacts every aspect of the academic and curricular experience.”

4 ways studying at a European business school could help you launch your startup

1. Study in a prime location

Europe is a global hotspot for entrepreneurs, the base for startups such as the Swedish fintech company Klarna and the UK digital banking startup Revolut.

For international students wanting to enter entrepreneurship, Europe is a more affordable option than other regions, such as the US. 

The amount of time it takes to study top programs is also often shorter than in the US, where a full-time MBA typically takes two years. The IE International MBA can be completed in just 11 months, meaning students are able to reap the benefits of their education and kickstart their entrepreneurial journeys quicker.

IE, which ranks among the world’s top 20 MBA programs according to the FT, is based in the Spanish capital of Madrid—a European commercial hub with close proximity to other business capitals, such as London, Berlin, and Paris.

Providing access to mentors, investors, and fellow classmates from across the world, the school’s location offers immediate startup benefits, with easy access to multiple countries, languages, and cultures.

2. Insight from professional mentors

One of the most valuable assets for those wanting to launch startups is access to professional mentors able to share knowledge and experience of entrepreneurship.

At IE, students can interact with a wide range of professionals who can provide the advice and knowledge needed to guide them through their entrepreneurial journeys. 

“Being exposed to investors, mentors, professors, other students, and the chance to build a team helps to shape that entrepreneurial mindset,” explains Juan Jose.

“There are mentors available on campus, including some Unicorn founders, who are open to ideas, and willing to share their experiences—from people who have created super successful startups to professors who have helped entrepreneurs to create them.”

3. Access to alumni networks

The business school alumni network is crucial for aspiring entrepreneurs. Not only can alumni offer mentorship and provide valuable insights on industries and opportunities, but they can also be a source of funding through venture capital.

As part of IE University, home to more than 10,000 bachelor's and masters students from 160 countries on campus each year, IE Business School has a strong alumni network that allows current students to connect with industry experts across a range of fields. Over 1500 students are trained in entrepreneurial management each year, with 25% of IE alumni having started their own companies.

“The university has events which expose students to entrepreneurs and investors,” says Juan Jose. “We have an immense community of alumni who are involved in private equity venture capital, and investors in search funds and corporate innovation.”

A strong network is key when launching your own startup. By leveraging the expertise of those who have followed a similar entrepreneurial path through business school, you can connect to potential investors and partners and learn to navigate the challenges you’ll face along the way.

4. Take part in incubator programs

Incubator programs are a foundational tool for aspiring entrepreneurs, providing support to early-stage startups via resources such as mentorship, networking, and training to help develop business models and products.

The IE Venture Lab, an incubator program offered by the business school, is an increasingly popular development option, with 500 teams expected to participate in the startup accelerator this year.

“It helps students experience what it means to recognize an opportunity: exploring the industry, understanding the market, and building a business model,” says Juan Jose. “Some of them actually raise funds and launch their startup.”

Alongside the lab, IE co-organizes events with South Summit, a leading global platform for innovation and entrepreneurship, bringing together startups, investors, and corporations seeking to drive business opportunities and shape the future of key industries. Events span the globe, ranging from Madrid to Porto Alegre (Brazil) to Gueonggi Province (South Korea). 

With such varied support, many graduates from IE have successfully launched startups across various industries, from biotech to artificial intelligence. Others have seized investment opportunities. 

“Some of our students have been involved as leading investors in artificial intelligence companies such as Mistral, for example,” says Juan Jose.

“One of our students was the leading investor on behalf of Lightspeed, a venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley with an office in London. Some of our students have been involved in startups which have launched LLMs,” he adds.

Reflecting on IE’s success in helping students launch startups, he says: “In any field, in any industry, you can find super successful founders.”