“Because of its values, its collaborators and participants, and its social return, ‘Entrepreneurship Class’ is an exemplary model of cooperation that has also produced excellent results,” declared Montse Moré, Director of the Prevent Foundation, at the official opening of the 5th “Entrepreneurship Class: Learning and Doing” programme in Barcelona. Some of the participating initiatives are clearly entrepreneurial, while others would be better described as self-employment – but each and every one of them contributes to the dynamism of the local economy.

On the heels of successful past editions of the programme in Barcelona and Madrid that saw a total of €180,000 in grants distributed to 36 business initiatives, Director General Eugenia Bieto confirmed ESADE’s commitment to “Entrepreneurship Class” as an initiative aligned with the institution’s spirit and values: training competent, aware, committed and compassionate professionals.

Even more interesting, the 11 projects taking part in this year’s programme are incredibly diverse, ranging from social initiatives to artisanal kerchiefs, as well as event organisation for companies, environmental communication and mobile app development.

The programme is free of charge for participants and accessible to people with all sorts of disabilities, thanks to the support of the Catalan Department of Employment, Foreign Affairs and Families and the Catalan Department of Business and Knowledge with co-funding from the European Social Fund, the Directorate General for People with Disabilities of the Madrid Department of Social Policies and Families, and the support of the programme’s sponsors (Areas, Cuatrecasas, Esteve, FCC, Ferrero, Obra Social “la Caixa”, PrevenControl, Serunion, Jesús Serra Foundation, Targo Bank, Uriach and WiZink), which also provided tutors and mentors to the participants.

With the participation of Barcelona Activa, the Once Foundation, Madrid Emprende, Leialta, Startup University, OTP and Secot, the course offers theory classes taught by faculty from ESADE Business & Law School and transversal workshops led by executives from leading companies and organisations.

The best projects in this edition of the programme will have access to €30,000 in funding to help them launch or accelerate the start-ups.

The continuity of “Entrepreneurship Class” is complemented by an alumni programme that offers workshops, lectures, hands-on classes and ongoing support to the entrepreneurs and their businesses after completion of the programme.