EEI in entrepreneurship

EEI boosting entrepreneurship

The Esade Entrepreneurship Institute (EEI) celebrates 30 years of connecting Esade’s research and academic excellence to the business world and our community’s entrepreneurial spirit to empower new and more impactful ventures. At Esade, we have created a unique entrepreneurship ecosystem based on ‘learning to learn’, research excellence, and empowering entrepreneurs. This year we renew our commitment to promoting academic excellence to inspiring future entrepreneurs who will define new paths towards the future and help improve society.

Prof. George Chondrakis

Director of the EEI, Associate Professor, Department of Strategy and General Management at Esade

"Entrepreneurship is to a certain extent an art, but it's important to emphasize that there is some science behind it. The good thing is that at the institute we study the pros of entrepreneurship very carefully to identify the best practices and the different configurations for start-ups that will allow them to become more successful and increase their chances for survival."

Celebrating 30 years of entrepreneurship at Esade: a vision for the future

George Chondrakis, director of the EEI and Associate Professor, Department of Strategy and General Management at Esade

Entrepreneurship is a dynamic field and at the Esade Entrepreneurship Institute (EEI), we constantly seek to understand the best practices that will enhance Esade students' chances of becoming successful entrepreneurs. Thirty years ago, Esade took a major leap in shaping and implementing a structured approach to entrepreneurship, which is now integrated into all our programs. Our students experience the transformative power of entrepreneurship and the benefits it brings to society and organizations. The founding of the Esade Entrepreneurship Institute became a key pillar for Esade’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Our mission at the EEI is to conduct research and evidence-based studies that improve the entrepreneurial experience. We are incredibly fortunate to have a rich history, during which countless individuals have invested tremendous effort in creating an open, supportive, and exciting community for our students and the wider Barcelona community. The EEI's major structure and articulated approach to entrepreneurship took shape three decades ago and has become fully embedded in all our programs.

Our community and team play a vital role in fostering entrepreneurship at the EEI and Esade. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have contributed to our mission as it is through their dedication that we have achieved our milestones.

We are deeply committed to conducting rigorous research that enhances our understanding of entrepreneurship and strengthens our ability to support aspiring entrepreneurs. Moreover, by looking at this rapidly evolving field from a broad perspective and considering several disciplines and approaches – from startup funding to new venture creation, culture, scale-up, and leadership – we can provide a wide scope of valuable and data-based knowledge to our community. By leveraging evidence-based strategies, we ensure that our students have the best possible chance of realizing their entrepreneurial ambitions in an ever-evolving business landscape. Moreover, our focus extends beyond the quantity of entrepreneurship, such as the number of startups that emerge from Esade.

We care deeply about the quality of entrepreneurship and its impact on society. Esade’s students aspire to create high-growth, high-impact organizations that make a significant difference through their ventures. We look at entrepreneurship from a broad perspective taking into account several disciplines and approaches – including venture creation, startup funding, entrepreneurship wellbeing, scaling-up businesses, family business and transgenerational entrepreneurship, teams & networks in startups, innovation & corporate entrepreneurship, digital platform startups, new business models, alliances for startups, social entrepreneurship, and startup acquisition.

This year, as we celebrate 30 years of the Esade Entrepreneurship Institute, we find ourselves at an inflexion point that presents a unique opportunity to acknowledge our achievements. It prompts us to reflect upon our accomplishments and consider what lies ahead in the next 30 years.

But more than that, as we celebrate three decades of entrepreneurship, we acknowledge our past accomplishments and renew our commitment to shaping the future. Our mission for the future is clear: to continue building on our strengths and provide entrepreneurs and future managers with the necessary skills, resources, and tools to succeed, as well as nurturing Esade's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Looking ahead, we envision an ecosystem within the EEI that continues to thrive, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and encouraging impactful ventures. We strive to be a catalyst for change, instilling an enterprising spirit in our students that propels them to make a difference in the world.

“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.”

Professor George Chondrakis, Director of the EEI, Associate Professor, Department of Strategy and General Management at Esad

Esade

Esade is a university institution that is internationally known for academic innovation, the professional and human quality of its graduates, and for its contribution to changing organizations and society.

EEI

At the EEI our mission is to support Esade’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and facilitate the research activities of our members by raising resources, organizing knowledge-sharing activities, and disseminating scientific knowledge.

Fostering entrepreneurship at Esade: igniting the future of business

Xavier Mendoza, Director General at Esade, and Associate Professor, Department of Strategy and General Management at Esade.

Entrepreneurship is a catalyst for innovation and a vital element in our society. Our world faces unprecedented challenges and rapid changes: uncertainty has become a structural state of our system, and constant adaptation is required. Esade stands in an remarkable position to help organizations go through deep transformation, address the present situation, and prepare for the future.

At Esade, we empower our students to become agents of positive change by encouraging them to develop a dynamic and entrepreneurial mindset, face societal challenges, identify the right opportunities, and implement effective solutions.

Meet us!

Prof. George Chondrakis

Director of the EEI and Professor at Esade.

"This year, we honor the milestones we have reached and the path we have opened together."
Prof. Jan Brinckmann

Academic Director of MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Esade eWorks

"What truly thrills us is that this is only the beginning, the dawn of a new era, and there is so much more to create. Let’s unite our passion and continue building the Entrepreneurship Institute for the next 30 years and beyond."