MBA Entrepreneurship & Innovation

The prosperity of society comes from innovation – new products, new services, new business models, new processes, and new combinations. For organizations in all forms and sizes, including startups, SME, multinationals, NPO, and NGO, innovation has become the competitive factor number 1. However, innovation does not happen out of the blue. It is driven by entrepreneurs – individuals who spot innovation opportunities earlier than others, recognize the big picture, and develop the opportunity with passion and the right tools. The Professional MBA Entrepreneurship & Innovation^WU provides the right equipment: strategy, methods, insights, practical skills, cases, and network access.

Hands-on approach

Theory and practice need to go hand in hand; our carefully selected academic lecturers therefore accompany expert practitioners in the classroom. In each module, startups, VCs, top managers, or other key players from the entrepreneurship ecosystem provide best practices, example cases, and feedback. We also sharpen the participants’ entrepreneurial skills such as pitching, storytelling, and negotiating.

Connect with the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem

Successful entrepreneurs need a strong network. We provide E&I students important opportunities to connect with the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Vienna.

• WU Entrepreneurship Center: Students benefit from numerous contacts, expert talks, workshops, and network access provided by the WU Entrepreneurship Center.
• Entrepreneurship Café: The event connects investors, venture capitalists, business angels, growth hacking experts, and students in individual coaching sessions á la speed dating.
• Demo Day Preparation and E&I Touchdown: A training of practical skills and preparation for innovation pitches, such as the “E&I Touchdown” where MBA students pitch in front of an audience of some hundred experts, consultants, practitioners, and students.
• Coworking Space: Students have access to business accelerators like WeXelerate or Talent Garden where they can link with startups and international corporate partners.
• WU Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Students have numerous opportunities to benefit from this internationally leading research center, such as direct access to high potentials from the Master/Bachelor level.

Study your own project

Our students are invited to apply the theory learned on their own business cases, challenges, or projects. The projects can be a corporate challenge (e.g. developing a new business model) or focus on a startup topic (e.g. writing a business plan). Beginning with a counselling session, students can work on their innovation projects – be it in assignments and in their master thesis. Faculty and our network support them.

Target group

The specialization is ideal for people with an entrepreneurial mindset who seek peers with diverse backgrounds (industries, nationalities, cultures) but a shared innovation spirit:

• Entrepreneurs, executives and high-potentials with a focus on innovation, strategy, and R&D
• Individuals with an engineering, science, IT, management, or other academic background
• People who sense a need for a systematic management education to realize their ultimate career goals

Your USP as an E&I alumni

• Expert for opportunity recognition and exploitation
• Member of a strong network
• Broadened horizon and the big picture
• Capability to bridge business and technology, theory and application, across industries and cultures