Overview
A Master in Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a graduate program designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to launch, manage, and grow successful businesses and innovative ventures. This program focuses on developing an entrepreneurial mindset, fostering creativity, and understanding the dynamics of innovation in various contexts. The curriculum typically covers topics such as business model development, start-up financing, strategic innovation management, technology commercialization, and venture capital. Students often engage in hands-on projects, business plan competitions, and internships to gain practical experience.
Career Pathways
A graduate of the Master in Entrepreneurship and Innovation program could pursue either of the following careers,
- Entrepreneur/Start-up Founder: Launch and manage new business ventures, develop business plans, secure funding, and drive business growth.
- Social Entrepreneur: Start and manage ventures aimed at solving social, cultural, or environmental problems.
- Innovation Consultant: Lead innovation initiatives within established companies, develop new products or services, and implement innovative processes. Advise companies on innovation strategies, help develop new business models, and support organizational change.
- Product Manager: Oversee the development and launch of new products, manage product life cycles, and coordinate between different teams.
- Project Manager: Lead projects focused on innovation and business development, ensuring timely and successful completion.
- Technology Transfer Specialist: Facilitate the commercialization of new technologies, manage intellectual property, and negotiate licensing agreements.
Schools
The top ranked schools for the Master in Entrepreneurship and Innovation program are,
- Imperial Business School
Imperial offers a 1-year MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management program that focuses on foundational management coursework such as accounting, finance, marketing, human resource management and organizational behaviour, leadership. The program then delves into innovation topics such as innovation impact, technology and innovation management, venture capital and growth finance, and strategic management. Thereafter, elective options include consumer behaviour, digital marketing, family business, social innovation, and project management. Students also work on a consulting project or a business start-up idea in which knowledge, skills, and feedback gained provides a holistic learning experience.
- EDHEC Business School
The MSc in Entrepreneurship & Innovation focuses on providing entrepreneurial skills and developing an innovative mindset to develop ventures that create positive impact in society. sustainability in strategic decision making. The program consists of core courses such as business ethics, customer acquisition, entrepreneurial leadership, negotiation, strategic foresight and innovation. A few of the elective courses include business models for sustainability, managing risks, and performance management. Prior to graduation, students have the option to undertake certifications in project management, leadership, and foresight innovation and transformation while also completing a 6-month internship to gain relevant practical experience.
- ESADE Business School
The Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at ESADE initially begins with foundational coursework that includes innovation management, creative thinking, and entrepreneurship. Thereafter, coursework focuses on advanced strategies for entrepreneurial ventures, marketing and finance for ventures, and an internship innovation project. In the final term, students choose electives that include agile software development, machine learning, digital marketing, project management, social entrepreneurship, and disruptive innovation among others. The program also includes a research thesis, business plan, or in-company project to be completed prior to graduation.
- Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
RSM’s MSc Strategic Entrepreneurship program focuses on equipping students with knowledge and skills to develop and scale new ventures. The coursework includes topics on opportunity creation, start-up growth strategies, corporate entrepreneurship. Furthermore, elective options include start-up strategies, financing, and marketing, social impact entrepreneurship and investment.
- University of Washington: Foster
The Master of Science in Entrepreneurship is a 12-month program that focuses on helping students identify and assess business ideas, tests MVPs, and gain insights that help improve products or services. Courses include accounting for entrepreneurs, venture planning and execution, entrepreneurial strategy and decision making, legal essentials for entrepreneurs, negotiation, digital marketing, and entrepreneurial finance.
- Babson College
Babson’s Master of Science in Management in Entrepreneurial Leadership (MSEL) is a top ranked program for entrepreneurship in the US. The 9-month program focuses on both theoretical learning and hands-on practical experience. Core coursework includes management essentials such as finance, economics, law, marketing management, operations management, strategy and consulting. The practical components of this program include a study trip abroad with a focus on entrepreneurship and a consultancy project designed to apply the knowledge from the classroom into developing entrepreneurial skills.
- University of Southern California: Marshall
The Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at USC Marshall is a 12-month program wherein students study courses on venture initiation and feasibility, new venture creation. Thereafter, students choose electives among technology commercialization, new venture investment, corporate entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, new product development, branding strategy, and sports entertainment among others.