Entrepreneurship over 30 years

1958

Esade foundation
 

Business startups and an orientation towards entrepreneurship have been a part of Esade since its foundation.

1964

First MBA program
 

In the 1963-64 Business Studies Bachelor's Degree and MBA, business startups began to be taught as a subject and students started developing projects for startups.

1986

Publication of the book: ‘How to start your own business, key management criteria’
 

Esade professors Montse Ollé and Manuel Ludevid published in 1986 the book ‘How to start your own business, key management criteria’ (Cómo crear su propia empresa, criterios clave de gestion - published in Spanish by Marcombo). It was one of the first books on startups published in Spain.

1987

‘Creation and Management of New Businesses’ also offered in the MBA
 

This course was first taught in the Esade MBA program in 1986. Once again, Montse Ollé was largely responsible.

1988

First ‘Innovative Business Startup Course’
 

The course was taught for four years from 1988 and was organized jointly with the Centre d'Empreses de Noves Tecnologies del Parc Tecnològic del Vallès.
Professor Marcel Planellas directed the course.

1991

European Small Business Seminar: ‘Entrepreneurship and Growth’
 

The 21st European Foundation for Management Development European Small Business Seminar was held at Esade in 1990. These seminars focused on startups with the participation of renowned European experts.

1992

Esade Startup Program
 

The Startup Program brought together the startup training activities in the Esade bachelor's degree, MBA, and Executive Education programs. This initiative started in 1992 and is considered the first predecessor of the current Esade Entrepreneurship Institute.

1993

European Community-Rio Group Program: Eurocenters for training trainers
 

As part of cooperation agreements between the European Community and the Rio Group, Esade was selected in 1992 to develop a training program for trainers of business startups and small and medium-sized enterprises.
In 1993, the Chile Eurocenter was launched, followed in 1994 by the Brazil Eurocenter, and the Mexico and Colombia Eurocenters in 1995.

1997

Publication of ‘How to plan a business startup’
 

The book ‘How to Plan a Business Startup’ (‘El Plan de Empresa, cómo planificar la creación de una empresa’ in Spanish and published by Marcombo) was launched at Esade in 1997 at an event chaired by the Spanish Minister for Industry.

1998

Creation of the Esade Center for Entrepreneurship
 

The center was created in 1998 to bring together Esade's training, research and social debate activities related to startups, SME growth management, and family businesses. Professor Eugenia Bieto was the first director of the center.

2005

Official recognition of the Entrepreneurship Research Group
 

The group was recognized in 2008 as a consolidated research group by the Catalan Government. The first main researcher was Dr. Marcel Planellas and the current one is Dr. Jan Brickman.  

2006

Esade Business Angels Network (Esade BAN) initiative is launched
 

Esade Alumni sparked the creation of a network in 2006 that acts as a bridge between private investors and innovative startups with high growth potential. Esade BAN has been recognized as the best private network of ‘business angels’ by the main Spanish and European networks of private investors.

2008

Launch of the Esade Entrepreneurship Institute
 

The Center for Entrepreneurship and the Entrepreneurship Research Group merged in 2008 to form the Esade Entrepreneurship Institute (EEI). Its activity is based on knowledge generation, action-oriented training, and social debate. Professor Luisa Alemany, Professor Lisa Hehenberger, and, as of 2023, Professor George Chondrakis have successfully led the EEI. At the same time, the managerial roles have been filled by Mercè Saura in the past and currently by Josep Alias.

2009

KIC Innoenergy and ‘From Science to Business’
 

Esade was chosen as the reference business school for KIC Innoenergy. Esade Creapolis was also established as the headquarters of the Innovation Development Center, which enhanced the excellence, network development, and collaborative innovation of the six European operations centers. This program has been led by Professor Jordi Vinaixa

2010

Observatory on Multinationals in Spain founded
 

The observatory was launched in 2010, led by Esade with the collaboration of public (ICEX) and private sectors (EY). Its reports have become crucial for studying the challenges faced by Spanish multinationals in an advanced stage of internationalization. Led by Professor Xavier Mendoza, the observatory is part of the Esade Entrepreneurship Institute.

2011

White Paper on Entrepreneurship in Spain published
 

The 'White Paper on Entrepreneurship in Spain', commissioned by the Prince of Girona Foundation, was developed and led by Professor Luisa Alemany and Professor Marcel Planellas in 2011. It was unveiled at the Impulsa Forum in 2011.

2011

Launch of MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
 

The MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIE) was introduced in 2011, targeting graduates seeking specialization in entrepreneurship and startup business. The prestigious magazine 'Poets&Quants' ranked the program as the third best entrepreneurship program globally in 2023. The academic director of the MIE is Professor Dr. Jan Brickman.

2011

Social enterprises
 

Between 2011 and 2016, several ‘Momentum Project’ programs were taught at Esade (supported by BBVA with the collaboration of PwC). These programs promoted social entrepreneurship through training and the creation of a support ecosystem for social entrepreneurs.

In the same year, the Prevent Foundation and Esade launched the ‘Entrepreneurial Classroom’. This free program trained people with disabilities to support business initiatives. The program was also available for people without disabilities who intend launching projects with a social impact in the field of disability.

2012

Launch of eGarage and publication of the book ‘Entrepreneurship is possible’
 

As part of the new Esade campus at Sant Cugat, the eGarage opened in 2009 as a space for entrepreneurship students.

In the same year, the book ‘Entrepreneurship is Possible’ (‘Emprender es posible’ in Spanish) was published to publicize the main conclusions of the White Paper on Entrepreneurship in Spain. The book was published by Deusto, the Princess of Girona Foundation, and Esade.

2014

CBI and C4BI Challenges
 

Challenge Based Innovation (CBI) was launched with CERN in 2014 with the participation of students from Esade, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and the European Institute of Design.

Also in 2014, the first Challenge for Business Innovation (C4BI) was organized by the elBullifoundation and Esade, with the participation of students from Copenhagen Business School, Aalto University, Sloan MIT, Berkeley, and Saïd Oxford.

2015

eWorks
 

Established in 2015 under the guidance of Professor Dr. Jan Brinckmann and managed by Davide Rovera, eWorks emerged as a platform to empower and assist students and alumni in their entrepreneurial ventures and with the robust support of Esade's entrepreneurship ecosystem. eWorks offers training (Accelerator), valuable resources and tools, strategic connections, and unwavering support to accelerate business creation and foster entrepreneurial ideas.

2017

STEP Project for Family Enterprising
 

The STEP Project report, entitled ‘Understanding Transgenerational Entrepreneurship Practices in European Family Businesses’ was published in 2017 by the European Council with the collaboration of a team of Esade professors. The project investigated entrepreneurship in family businesses.

The project, focused on entrepreneurship in family businesses, originated from the collaboration of six international universities and involves Esade professors specialized in family business management. Led by Professor Alberto Gimeno and Professor Maria José Parada, the project is a culmination of years of collaboration and expertise.

2017

Business cases
 

As a benchmark in the field of entrepreneurship case writing, the Esade Entrepreneurship Institute has had its own section on The Case Centre website since 2017. This successful dissemination has been recognized with various prizes and awards, such as the EFMD Case Writing Prize. Lourdes Urriolagoita, Suzanne Jenkins and Charlie Harris coordinated the project.

2018

Rambla of Innovation
 

The Rambla was opened on the Esade campus in 2018. It is a learning ecosystem aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. The Rambla complex hosts up to five experimentation and learning laboratories (Fab Lab, Fusion Point, E-Works, E-Garage, Decision Lab) that apply innovative educational dynamics to entrepreneurship.

2018

Publication of the book ‘Entrepreneurial Finance’
 

Cambridge University Press published in 2018 the book ‘Entrepreneurial Finance: The Art and Science of Growing Ventures’ edited by Professor Luisa Alemany (Esade Entrepreneurship Institute) and Job Andreoli (Nyenrode) with contributions from a team of lecturers and financial experts.

This book was recognized in 2021 by the Textbook and Academic Authors Association as the best textbook for finance programs specializing in business startups and development.

2018

Esade Students Association for Entrepreneurship
 

Founded by a group of students in 2018, the association (Ennova) currently drives ‘IdeaUp Challenge’, ‘Health4Good’, ‘Female Founders Night’ and ‘Ennova Ventures’.

‘E3 Initiative’ supports entrepreneurship among Esade students and organizes events – the best known of which are the ‘TED×Esade’, ‘Startup Turbo’, ‘Company Visits’ and ‘Garage Talks’.

2019-2021

Esade Best MBA for Entrepreneurship
 

In its Best MBA Programs for Entrepreneurship ranking the specialized magazine Poets&Quants ranked Esade's Full-Time MBA as the best in Europe (for three consecutive years) and fourth in the world.

The program curriculum and the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the campus where it is taught are factors in this recognition. Currently, the MBA is led by professors Luis Vives and Jan Hohberger and its Entrepreneurship Lab is led by Professor Jan Brickman.

2021

Esade Center for Social Impact
 

The Esade Center for Social Impact develops rigorous and relevant social impact research and disseminates knowledge and tools to help people better understand and solve complex global challenges.

The center was created in 2017 as part of the Esade Entrepreneurship Institute and became an independent Esade center in 2021. Lisa Hehenberger directs the center.

2022

eWorks, a top-tier European university accelerator
 

Esade eWorks Accelerator program was recognized in 2022 as the second of the top 10 European university accelerators according to EU Startups.

2023

EEI's 30th anniversary
 

The Esade Entrepreneurship Institute (EEI) is celebrating 30 years of connecting Esade’s research and academic excellence to the business world and empowering new venture creation.

2023

Launching the Esade Entrepreneurship Summit and the Promoting Entrepreneurship
 

The Esade Entrepreneurship Summit, led by Professor Dr. Jan Brinckmann to strengthen the relationship between Esade and the entrepreneurship community, is a three-day get-together of international fast-growth entrepreneurs, investors, and talent in Barcelona with a 0-bullshit approach.

Promoting Entrepreneurship, led by Professor George Chondrakis, is a one-day event that connects researchers with entrepreneurs, founders, and investors while leveraging new research on entrepreneurship to promote successful and evidence-based startups.