Inspiring Transformation
Inspiring transformation
Our commitment goes beyond research, with a dedicated focus on training entrepreneurship combined with research excellence to support high-impact entrepreneurship. Nurturing entrepreneurial skills and equipping aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge and mindset needed is essential for fostering innovation and driving sustainable business development.
We empower entrepreneurs to innovate as well as lead with resilience and adaptability, for which we share the latest insights derived from exceptional research. Together, we envision a brighter and bolder future with the Entrepreneurship Institute contributing to the success of entrepreneurs worldwide.
The future of the key areas of entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurial finance: paving the way for a transformative future
Daniel Blaseg, Assistant Professor of the Department of Strategy and General Management
Entrepreneurial finance plays a pivotal role in evolving new businesses and innovative ecosystems. As the world undergoes a rapid transformation fueled by technology and socio-economic changes, entrepreneurs and investors become pioneers in navigating this new landscape. Access to finance, understanding of market mechanisms, and the ability to capitalize on emerging opportunities are vital components of the entrepreneurial journey.
Therefore, research in this field aims to provide business and societal solutions for the world ahead. Two issues require urgent attention from researchers: promoting diversity and equality and integrating emerging technologies into entrepreneurial finance practices.
Scaleups and scaling in an uncertain world
Prof. Dimo Ringov, Associate Professor of the Department of Strategy and General Management.
Scaleups are new ventures that have achieved a product-market fit and exhibit fast-paced and exponential growth. They operate under extreme time pressure and constraints to penetrate markets and become large national, regional, or global players. Indeed, scaleups provide an outsized contribution to employment, wealth creation, tax revenue, and overall economic development.
Therefore, business and policy leaders are shifting their focus from merely supporting the creation of new businesses to helping them scale.
Protecting and enhancing startup founder wellbeing
Prof. Annelore Huyghe, Associate Professor of the Department of Strategy and General Management.
Founders must understand that caring for their wellbeing is not a detractor from startup success but a cornerstone of it. Healthy founders fuel healthy workplaces, nurturing the wellbeing of employees, which, in turn, will lead to healthy businesses. Recent studies highlight the ‘recovery paradox’ experienced by entrepreneurs; the more they need recovery from work-related stressors, the more they struggle to achieve it. Empowering entrepreneurs to protect and enhance their wellbeing is a collective responsibility! The broader ecosystem, encompassing investors, accelerators, and educational institutions, holds the key to prioritizing and destigmatizing mental healthcare for founders.
The rise and impact of social entrepreneurship
Prof. Lisa Hehenberger, Associate Professor, Department of Strategy and General Management and Academic Director of the Esade Center for Social Impact & Prof. Alfred Vernis, Associate Professor of the Department of Strategy and General Management.
The field of social entrepreneurship has grown significantly in the last two decades, with thousands of companies worldwide using entrepreneurial approaches to address social and environmental challenges, a transformation that has been supported by an ecosystem of incubators and accelerators, investors, regulators, and market actors. The growth of social entrepreneurship has not only manifested in practice but also in academia. It has become a consolidated field of study in management scholarship, trying to understand, among other issues, the particularities of the profiles of social entrepreneurs, the tensions that appear when blending social and financial logics, the potential of hybrid business models to address societal challenges, and the legitimacy and development of the sector.
The promising world of digital platform startups
Prof. Bilgehan Uzunca, Associate Professor of the Department of Strategy and General Management
The entrepreneurial landscape has been significantly reshaped by the emergence of digital platforms. A closer look at the key components of this ecosystem provides valuable insights into future trends.
The digital platform revolution has ushered in new entrepreneurial pathways, fostering profound organizational transformation and societal changes (Wormald et al., 2023). Digital platform startups, characterized by varying types – from business models to digital infrastructures, intermediaries, and governance arrangements – have significantly influenced the entrepreneurship landscape (Uzunca et al., 2018). Their structures range from decentralized to distributed platforms, leveraging technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
The acquisition of technology companies: balancing innovation and competition
Prof. George Chondrakis, Associate Professor at the Department of Strategy and General Management at Esade, and Director of the EEI
The acquisition of technology companies has become increasingly prevalent in today's fast-paced business landscape. These acquisitions involve one company purchasing another to gain access to its technology, intellectual property, talent pool, or customer base. While such transactions can bring synergies and foster growth, there has been growing concern, particularly among regulators and competition authorities, about their potential negative impact on innovation.
One alarming trend in technology company acquisitions is the so-called ‘killer acquisitions,’ where larger pharmaceutical or tech companies acquire smaller innovative startups with the intention of discontinuing their products and reducing competition.
Navigating the paradox: the crucial role of innovation and entrepreneurship in organizations
Prof. Marcel Planellas, Professor of the Department of Strategy and General Management.
Identifying the critical need for change and innovation in organizations is a common ground that many acknowledge. However, the challenge lies in effectively managing innovation within these organizations – moving beyond routine operations and dedicating time and resources to seek out new opportunities. A key aspect here is cultivating ambidextrous managers capable of both exploiting current resources and exploring novel avenues simultaneously.
The paradox is that companies that try to innovate are very unhappy with the results obtained. Numerous studies indicate that almost 95% of managers express dissatisfaction with the results of their innovation endeavors. The inherent unpredictability of innovation, coupled with high expectations, can turn failures into particularly poignant setbacks.
The future of entrepreneurship research in the venture creation domain
Prof. Jan Brinckmann, Professor of the Department of Strategy and General Management, Academic Director of the MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Academic Director of Esade eWorks
Research in entrepreneurship within the venture creation domain is a dynamic field that continually evolves to keep pace with the changing market environments, business practices, and technological advances. Especially in a changing landscape where sustainability and social impact are gaining importance, while data analytics and AI become increasingly critical, and globalization is reshaping the entrepreneurial outlook.
To advance the field of entrepreneurship research in the venture creation domain, scholars need to adopt an interdisciplinary approach, collaborate with practitioners, and remain responsive to the changing needs and challenges of the entrepreneurial community. By doing so, entrepreneurship research can continue to provide valuable insights and guidance to both emerging and established venture creators as they navigate the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurial opportunities.
Family business: entrepreneurship and soul
Prof. María Jose Parada, Associate Professor of the Department of Strategy and General Management & Prof. Alberto Gimeno, Associate Professor of the Department of Strategy and General Management.
Family businesses are born from a different approach to traditional entrepreneurship. They intertwine two of the most important institutions in society to maximize synergies offering a unique perspective on entrepreneurship and diverging from the conventional approach to starting and running a business.
The success of entrepreneurial ventures is often measured by market value that is shaped by a combination of factors, including the sophistication of investors willing to support businesses in various stages (from seed capital to growth), the rapid evolution of technologies that can create 'winner-takes-it-all' scenarios, and the prevailing mindset prioritizing speed and financial gain.
The emergence of new business models
Prof. Luís Vives, Associate Professor of the Department of Strategy and General Management.
The rise of new business models is not just an economic shift, it's a revolution. Some of these new business models embody a broader transformation, reshaping industries, catalyzing organizational transformation, and having a profound societal impact. As we stand at this pivotal moment, it is essential to delve deep into how these new paradigms will influence our future as the dynamism of entrepreneurship and the ever-evolving spirit of innovation lies at the heart of economic growth and job creation. Nowadays, we are witnessing a fast growth of transformative business models. From platform-based ecosystems and subscription services to freemium offerings and the sustainable thrust of the circular economy – these are not mere trends but gigantic shifts that are radically altering the landscape of industries and sectors.
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![Prof. George Chondrakis]()
Director of the EEI, Associate Professor, Department of Strategy and General Management at Esade.
"Our mission for the next 30 years is to keep building on our strengths and keep providing all the necessary resources and tools that entrepreneurs need to succeed in their ventures."
