Entrepreneurship at IE University
Entrepreneurship goes far beyond starting a business. It's constantly asking why and why not. It's wondering if there's a better or more efficient way to do things. It's having the boldness to bet on innovation.
It's the desire to create social change. And it's the kind of quality that takes you far, no matter your goals.
At IE University, it is also the foundation everything here is built on, embedded in how we teach, practiced in our labs, and carried into the world by everyone who comes through our doors. Created by and for entrepreneurs, we became the first-ever university to include entrepreneurship as a mandatory course for all programs. It has been in our DNA ever since.
The entrepreneurial Mindset: Build your career with purpose
The entrepreneurial Mindset: Build your career with purpose
Whether you want to start your own business, excel in someone else's, or anything in between, an entrepreneurial mindset is what sets you apart. And not only does it help you, it helps the world. Entrepreneurship fosters innovation, creates jobs, promotes diversity, and encourages adaptability.
Our Network
South Summit
South Summit Madrid brings together startups, investors, and corporations in an environment with critical mass, international reach, and proven results in investment, growth, and exits.
Heineken
Supports IE University's entrepreneurship events in Madrid, from weekly meetups to grand finals.
Across Legal
Provides legal support and services for founders.
Andersen
Offers professional services resources and mentorship for emerging ventures.
Galán Asociados
Provides legal support and services for IE University founders.
RCD
Guides early-stage ventures through corporate and M&A law.
DAC Beachcroft
Delivers cross-sector legal expertise across Europe.
​Santos
Advises IE University startups on patents, trademarks, and IP strategy.
​MIT Club of Spain
Connects IE University founders with the MIT alumni network in Spain.
Talamingo Â
Links IE University founders with investors and talent.
HubSpot
Equips IE University startups with CRM tools, resources, and training.
Revolut
Provides banking and financial services tailored for early-stage companies.
AWS
Gives IE University startups cloud credits and technical support through AWS Activate.
F6S Â
Opens access to global startup funding, programs, and opportunities.
by the numbers
The world of entrepreneurship has never moved faster. As new generations of professionals bring new ideas and ambitions, IE University is building the foundation for them to succeed.
- $288bILLIONVC investment in startups in 2022, a record high
- 22MILLIONNew global jobs created by startups per year
- 50%Of entrepreneurs have taken steps to maximize social impact
- 1,821number of businesses started by women per day in 2022
Entrepreneurship Labs: Startups, M&A, VC & Search Funds
Hands-on labs for IE University students and recent alumni. Build, invest, acquire, or go global. All rooted in one philosophy: you learn by doing.
Venture Lab
IE University's flagship startup accelerator, open to all students, alumni, and their co-founders. Teams develop business models, build prototypes, and pitch on Venture Day to investors.
Mergers & Acquisitions Lab
Hands-on immersion in mergers and acquisitions with live deal professionals. Intakes in January and September.
Search Funds Lab
An alternative path to entrepreneurship. Rather than building from scratch, you find, acquire, and lead an existing business. Intakes in January and September.
Venture Capital & Private Equity Lab
Fund shadowing with active VC and PE funds across Europe. Behind-the-scenes access to deal sourcing and investment decisions.
Global initiatives
IE University takes entrepreneurship beyond the classroom, connecting our community with founders, investors, and ideas on a global scale.
South Summit
South Summit
South Summit Madrid brings together startups, investors, and corporations in an environment with critical mass, international reach, and proven results in investment, growth, and exits. As co-organizer of the annual Madrid and Brazil editions, IE University gives our community direct access to the founders, investors, and ideas driving innovation worldwide.
International Venture Days
International Venture Days
IE University takes Venture Day to cities around the world, connecting high-potential startups with local investors and the global entrepreneurial community. With editions across multiple continents — from New York to Morocco to Tokyo — each event combines keynote speakers, panels, and a startup pitch competition co-branded with South Summit.
How IE University develops entrepreneurial thinkers
Become an entrepreneur by leveraging the power of...
The Entrepreneurial Mindset
The Entrepreneurial Mindset
How you think
It's no coincidence that everyone you meet at IE University has a strong entrepreneurial spirit. We nurture this way of thinking both inside and outside the classroom, training you to manage risk, embrace failure, ask the tough questions, and create value through effective problem-solving and innovation.
Initiatives
Initiatives
What you do
Startup accelerators, mentorship programs, networking events, industry coaching, student clubs. At IE University there are infinite ways to get involved and grow as an entrepreneur, backed by a dedicated team at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and cutting-edge spaces like Area 31.
A Bustling Community Â
A Bustling Community Â
Who you do it with
Our tight-knit network includes founders, professors, mentors, investors, partners, companies, and collaborators who lead research projects, debates, conferences, and award shows. Here, you'll find a culture of ongoing connection, collaboration, and support unlike anywhere else. Endless opportunities await.
Different paths, one mindset: our community
At IE University, entrepreneurial thinking takes many forms. The founder. The intrapreneur. The investor. The teacher. What they all share: drive, creativity, and the ability to see opportunity where others don't.
IE Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
IE Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
IE University's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center is a student-centered hub in Madrid that guides the next generation of founders through hands-on labs, global exposure, and direct access to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. With over 50 years of experience, the Center has accelerated more than 3,500 startup projects. Programs include the Venture Lab, M&A Lab, Search Funds Lab, and VC & PE Lab, as well as International Venture Days co-organized with South Summit. We don't just prepare you to face the world. We help you shape it.
What IE University entrepreneurs go on to achieve
We continually strive to elevate your IE University experience, taking pride in our data-driven successes that reflect your achievements, because your success is our success.​
- 25%IE alumni who start their own companies
- +1500Students trained in entrepreneurial management per year
- 4In europe - mba european rankingPitchbookOctober 2023
- 7worldwide & 3rd In europe - top mba programs for entrepreneurshipPoets & QuantsOctober 2023
- 4worldwide & 1st In europe - Best entrepreneurship teachingFinancial TimesFebruary 2022
Area 31: IE University's Entrepreneurship Hub
Area 31: IE University's Entrepreneurship Hub
Founded by IE Business School in Madrid in 2012, Area 31 is IE University's flagship startup incubator. It houses over 600 ventures a year and equips founders with office space, high-speed connectivity, brand association with IE University, and access to partner services from Microsoft, Amazon, and PayPal. Weekly Venture Network sessions connect founders with investors every Thursday, alongside corporate events, hackathons, and conferences that bring the full ecosystem under one roof.
Contact us
Contact us
Find out how to connect with IE University's entrepreneurship community.