Esade: world’s 5th best business school for entrepreneurs, says Poets&Quants
The US publication particularly highlights the number of Esade Full-Time MBA students involved in start-ups: a category in which Esade ranks No. 1 worldwide, with all students taking part in at least one project
Tuesda, November 18, 2025. The Esade Full-Time MBA is now well-established as the benchmark program for entrepreneurs, placing 5th in the world ranking of the Best MBA Programs for Entrepreneurship 2026 by the US publication Poets&Quants. The Esade Full-Time MBA climbs two positions in this worldwide ranking, remains 3rd in Europe for the second year running, and asserts itself as the 2nd best program in Spain.
This Poets&Quants ranking is based on analyzing ten key indicators about MBA students wanting to start a business and assigning a specific weight to each one. This year, Esade was awarded 44.59 points, and ranked amongst the world’s top five in half of these ten variables. “To be precise, the Esade Full-Time MBA is amongst the best in the world as regards the percentage of its students involved in start-ups: all its students take part in at least one project,” explained Joan Rodon, dean of Esade Business School. Rodon also underlined that the Esade program ranks 2nd in the world in terms of the number of teachers teaching at least one subject focused on entrepreneurship (55%). In addition, Esade is the business school with the 3rd highest percentage of optional subjects specialized in this area (40%), according to the same ranking.
As Rodon explains, “the fact that our Full-Time MBA remains amongst the top programs in this Poets&Quants ranking is a reflection of not only the quality of Esade’s entrepreneurship program and its seamless integration into the curriculum, but also our ability to inspire projects and enhance the entrepreneurial mindset of our students.” “All this is made possible by our innovative culture and Esade’s entrepreneurial ecosystem which provides privileged access to the resources, tools and support necessary to transform ideas into real-life companies,” he added.
Entrepreneurial ecosystem with a vocation for impact
The heart of Esade’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is the Rambla of Innovation on the Sant Cugat campus, a place for incubating and accelerating start-ups where students can develop and put their ventures to the test at every stage of the entrepreneurial process in different laboratories. “In addition, on La Rambla and the other Esade campuses, students can make contact with professionals and companies who may become strategic allies, partners, mentors and even investors,” pointed out Joan Rodón. One such outstanding partner is Esade BAN, Esade Alumni’s business angel network which has invested €48m in more than 300 start-ups since its inception.
“Another cornerstone in this area is the Esade Entrepreneurship Institute,” said Rodon. “Its mission is to bolster this entrepreneurial ecosystem, drive faculty research, mobilize resources, create spaces for exchanging ideas, and promote the generation of knowledge.” In addition, its acceleration program, eWorks, celebrates its tenth anniversary this year: a decade of providing support for hundreds of students from initial ideas to the creation of start-ups, whilst consolidating itself as a community of exemplary founders, mentors and alumni in Europe.
Finally, one of the characteristic traits of entrepreneurship at Esade is the focus on social and environmental impact, in keeping with Esade’s humanist tradition. Hence, many of the ventures undertaken by students aim to develop business models that combine profitability with benefits for society and the planet. “This drive towards change and a deep sense of purpose are part of our founding principles as an institution operating within the framework of the values of the Society of Jesus,” concluded the dean of Esade Business School.
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