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INSEAD Just Landed A €10 million Donation To Boost Entrepreneurship

World's best b-school produced five companies valued at $1bn or above, including BlaBlaCar

Mon Apr 3 2017

BusinessBecause
INSEAD has received €10 million in endowed funds from a mysterious alumnus to boost academic excellence in entrepreneurship.

The yield from the momentous gift will be invested to establish several academic positions and PhD scholarships, all dedicated to strengthening research, teaching and cultivating entrepreneurial talent.

INSEAD, the world’s best-ranked business school, has produced five companies valued at or above a billion dollars, including MBA graduate Nicolas Brusson’s ride-sharing firm BlaBlaCar.

“This generous gift will transform the entrepreneurial ecosystem at INSEAD as well as inspire and empower faculty, entrepreneurs, students and alumni around the globe,” said Ilian Mihov, INSEAD dean and professor of economics. 

The donation comes as business schools strive to boost their research and teaching in entrepreneurship. MBA programs have long faced hostility from the startup community, with the high fees commanded by many courses putting entrepreneurs off. However, there are signs that founders are warming to business schools, with research published last year showing that 6,648 MBAs have founded 6,035 companies and raised $99.395 billion in venture capital for them.

Last week, French business school HEC Paris launched a fully online master’s program in innovation and entrepreneurship. Successful graduates will be able to move their respective project into its next phase by applying for seed funding from HEC Paris, and have their project come to fruition at the school’s incubator, based at Station F, the world’s biggest startup campus. Last year, NYU Stern School of Business created the Venture Fellows program, which provides students with funding and an immersion in San Francisco’s Bay Area. Harvard Business School, meanwhile, opened a start-up studio in New York City.

INSEAD’s gift, a record, comes from an alumnus who is an anonymous and longstanding supporter of the French school. His total contribution to INSEAD amounts to more than €20 million.

The donor said: “INSEAD changed my life for the better. I want INSEAD to continue to excel in everything it does and to support it as an independent institution, which needs donations from its alumni. As an entrepreneur myself, it is only natural that we support this strategic area and invest in future generations of INSEAD entrepreneurs.” 

Andreas Jacobs, MBA and chairman of INSEAD’s board of directors, said: “I believe that our alumni play a crucial role in INSEAD’s next chapter, and that it’s our responsibility to give back to the school to secure its success.”

The gift comes as Europe’s business schools, which have lagged behind their US peers on fundraising, have enjoyed growing success courting donors, according to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The UK’s Imperial College Business School received a £20 million gift in 2013 from hedge fund Brevan Howard. And London Business School last year landed a £25 million donation from Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of chemicals company Ineos.

Business schools have increasingly relied on private donations as state funding in some EU nations has fallen.

However, Europe’s gifts are nowhere near the size of those received by US schools. Chicago Booth, Michigan Ross, Stanford and Columbia have all been gifted donations of $100 million or more.

Student Reviews

HEC Paris

Student

Verified

7/07/2022

On Campus

Cultural experience

I have met the most competent and diverse batch in this school. These people not only thrive on their own but also makes sure that you are doing it with them. The professors will take your had and walk you through all milestones and make sure you are not left behind. I have found their extracurriculars extremely engaging. There was always a room to have social life after academic life. The only hindrance is the location of the school, it is slightly outside city and living in city is expensive.

Sarah

Verified

18/03/2022

On Campus

Internationality and diversity of opportunities

About my programme I would say it is very international and flexible: we have the opportunity to choose exactly the courses we want. But at the same time, the frame of the campus is crucial in students' life and enable us to create friendships.

Student

Verified

29/10/2021

On Campus

Great selection of people

While HEC's MBA is highly selective, I really enjoy the type of people HEC's selects to make sure everybody gets the best out of their MBA experience and networking opportunities. Not only it's an incredibly diverse pool of people (~60 nationalities) but most importantly they make sure to let in friendly empathic and curious people.

Veronique

Verified

28/10/2021

Blended

Best in France for Grande ecole

A prestigious business school. Languages ​​are important. It is better to have a scientific baccalaureate with excellent grades in high school and good assessments. The courses are well designed as per the latest trends and practicality of learning in stressed upon. Overall, a very good experience.

Ghadi

Verified

11/06/2022

On Campus

Diversity and quality of fellow students

Very international and interesting place to be and opens a lot of opportunities, however the administration is very french and facilities are subpar (gym, classrooms) meaning the academic affairs is pretty much useless and lastly we are graded on a curve which can create a toxic environment because of the competition. With that being said the pros outweighs the cons by far.

Student

Verified

27/03/2022

On Campus

The quality of the teachers, the campus, the clubs

The school is very international indeed, we have courses with international students and share things with them within the extra academic life (in the social clubs especially). We have great career prospects if we prepare ourselves well - however, the global curriculum is still very finance-oriented, which is a pity for other interesting domains of the company world, which does not rely on finance only. The social clubs are good practice for the management and for now, are quite independent.

Lb

Verified

26/03/2022

On Campus

HEC Paris awaits you

HEC Paris is really a nice place to do a master's in business. Many classes are useful and interesting (corporate finance, financial accounting, contract law…), some are less - but the curriculum is to be reviewed in the year to come. Regarding the student life, it is incredible, with about 130 clubs, lots of great parties with even greater people. The Jouy campus offers a lot of opportunities to do sports, and you can breathe fresh air every day. HEC also helps a great deal to find an internship or a job.

Rajarshi

Verified

28/10/2021

Blended

A dream institute

Enrolling in the HEC MBA was by far the best decision I made for myself. The people and faculty are great, with lots of opportunities to meet people and expand your horizons. Very nice campus where I have had some good running sessions. The alumni network is superb and very helpful. It also has a good support system for entrepreneurs. Would definitely recommend it!

Student

Verified

19/10/2021

On Campus

Good choice for a career boost

The classes were extremely practical and relevant to the current challenges that businesses are facing. You have access to a wide range of professionals and good career prospects once you leave the university.

Student

Verified

7/07/2022

On Campus

Cultural experience

I have met the most competent and diverse batch in this school. These people not only thrive on their own but also makes sure that you are doing it with them. The professors will take your had and walk you through all milestones and make sure you are not left behind. I have found their extracurriculars extremely engaging. There was always a room to have social life after academic life. The only hindrance is the location of the school, it is slightly outside city and living in city is expensive.

Sarah

Verified

18/03/2022

On Campus

Internationality and diversity of opportunities

About my programme I would say it is very international and flexible: we have the opportunity to choose exactly the courses we want. But at the same time, the frame of the campus is crucial in students' life and enable us to create friendships.

Student

Verified

29/10/2021

On Campus

Great selection of people

While HEC's MBA is highly selective, I really enjoy the type of people HEC's selects to make sure everybody gets the best out of their MBA experience and networking opportunities. Not only it's an incredibly diverse pool of people (~60 nationalities) but most importantly they make sure to let in friendly empathic and curious people.

Veronique

Verified

28/10/2021

Blended

Best in France for Grande ecole

A prestigious business school. Languages ​​are important. It is better to have a scientific baccalaureate with excellent grades in high school and good assessments. The courses are well designed as per the latest trends and practicality of learning in stressed upon. Overall, a very good experience.

Ghadi

Verified

11/06/2022

On Campus

Diversity and quality of fellow students

Very international and interesting place to be and opens a lot of opportunities, however the administration is very french and facilities are subpar (gym, classrooms) meaning the academic affairs is pretty much useless and lastly we are graded on a curve which can create a toxic environment because of the competition. With that being said the pros outweighs the cons by far.

Student

Verified

27/03/2022

On Campus

The quality of the teachers, the campus, the clubs

The school is very international indeed, we have courses with international students and share things with them within the extra academic life (in the social clubs especially). We have great career prospects if we prepare ourselves well - however, the global curriculum is still very finance-oriented, which is a pity for other interesting domains of the company world, which does not rely on finance only. The social clubs are good practice for the management and for now, are quite independent.

Lb

Verified

26/03/2022

On Campus

HEC Paris awaits you

HEC Paris is really a nice place to do a master's in business. Many classes are useful and interesting (corporate finance, financial accounting, contract law…), some are less - but the curriculum is to be reviewed in the year to come. Regarding the student life, it is incredible, with about 130 clubs, lots of great parties with even greater people. The Jouy campus offers a lot of opportunities to do sports, and you can breathe fresh air every day. HEC also helps a great deal to find an internship or a job.

Rajarshi

Verified

28/10/2021

Blended

A dream institute

Enrolling in the HEC MBA was by far the best decision I made for myself. The people and faculty are great, with lots of opportunities to meet people and expand your horizons. Very nice campus where I have had some good running sessions. The alumni network is superb and very helpful. It also has a good support system for entrepreneurs. Would definitely recommend it!

Student

Verified

19/10/2021

On Campus

Good choice for a career boost

The classes were extremely practical and relevant to the current challenges that businesses are facing. You have access to a wide range of professionals and good career prospects once you leave the university.

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