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Summer school
    duration4 weeks
    languageEnglish
    locationMadrid
    intake9th of June – 4th of July, 2025
    formatIn-person

    START YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY

    At IE University, we see entrepreneurship as more than just learning how to start a business; it’s about developing the mindset, skills, and strategies to transform vision into reality. In just four weeks, the Entrepreneurship Summer School immerses you in a hands-on experience designed to bring your startup ideas to life. With the guidance of seasoned mentors, you’ll gain the essential tools to test, validate, and refine your business concept alongside professional investors and prospective customers—all in the heart of Madrid’s financial district.

    At IE University, we see entrepreneurship as more than just learning how to start a business; it’s about developing the mindset to transform vision into reality. In just four weeks, this Entrepreneurship Summer School gives you all the tools to test, validate and refine your startup ideas with the guidance of seasoned mentors—right in the heart of Madrid’s financial district.

    Immersed in a dynamic, global entrepreneurial ecosystem, you’ll get expert feedback and hands-on experience as you journey step-by-step through the startup process. At the same time, you’ll build essential practical skills in business development, pitching and innovation, especially focusing on data and generative AI (GenAI) tools for entrepreneurs. Think of this as the launch pad for your entrepreneurial journey.

    WANT TO KNOW MORE?
    days to start your best summer
    40days
    :
    14hours
    :
    59minutes

    Course Overview – Typical Day in the Entrepreneurship Summer School

    The Entrepreneurship Summer School is designed to keep you on your toes, combining engaging classroom sessions with hands-on activities and peer collaboration. Every day is a chance to put theory into action and accelerate your startup journey.

    • A group of students in a university classroom engaging in discussion with a teacher.

      Week 1:

      • Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
    • A group of people engaging in a collaborative work session at a modern office space.

      Week 2:

      • Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
    • A group of young professionals interacting in a modern classroom setting.

      Week 3:

      • Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
    • A group of four presenters stands in front of an audience during a business seminar.

      Week 4:

      • Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
    • A speaker presents on stage at IE University, focusing on a mobile device.

      Last day

      • Dedicated to final presentations and a fun graduation ceremony.

    Your First Look at the Program

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    WHO IS THIS PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR?

    • This program is right for you if…

      …you're an aspiring entrepreneur eager to learn how to launch a startup step by step or to fast-track your startup idea validation in a dynamic, practical environment. It’s also ideal for early-stage startup teams looking to validate their idea and build a strong foundation.

    • Participant profile

      The Entrepreneurship Summer School is designed for university students and young professionals seeking to explore the world of startups. Whether or not you're currently enrolled in a degree program at IE University, you can join to gain hands-on experience, invaluable mentorship, and the opportunity to pitch your startup idea.

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    Focus Areas

    Whether validating ideas, prototyping, iteration based on expert feedback or learning to pitch like a pro, this module lets you live the startup reality step by step, from concept to creation.

    • 01.

      Validate Your Startup Idea

      Assess the viability of your business idea through expert mentorship, customer feedback, and market research. Learn how to test assumptions, iterate quickly, and refine your concept to align with real market needs.

    • 02.

      Build & Pitch with Confidence

      Develop your prototype through iterative testing, ensuring it solves a real problem. Master the art of pitching by crafting compelling narratives and learning how to confidently present your vision—not just to customers and stakeholders, but also to early-stage investors looking for promising startups.

    • 03.

      Develop a Winning Strategy

      Gain a strong foundation in entrepreneurial strategy, from customer acquisition and retention to understanding critical startup metrics like lifetime value and scalability. Use data-driven decision-making to grow your business effectively in its early stages.

    • 04.

      Fund Your Idea & Find Your Team

      Learn how to attract early-stage investors and secure initial funding to bring your idea to life. Get exposure to investment strategies, funding sources, and financial planning, while also discovering the importance of building a strong, complementary team to scale your venture.

    • 05.

      Leverage Generative AI for Growth

      Explore cutting-edge GenAI tools designed to optimize key startup operations, from market research and customer engagement tracking to content generation and process automation.

    • 06.

      Build Your Network & Gain Exposure

      Expand your entrepreneurial network, connecting with mentors, investors, and potential co-founders. Learn how to leverage relationships for insights, feedback, and funding opportunities, ensuring you’re plugged into the right ecosystem to accelerate your startup’s success.

    Unique Value

    The Entrepreneurship Summer School offers a comprehensive, hands-on approach to building a startup, combining practical tools, expert mentorship, and access to a global startup ecosystem. Participants benefit from a step-by-step methodology, real-time feedback, and the opportunity to refine their ideas with guidance from experienced mentors and investors.

    Learning Outcome

    Participants will gain the skills to take their startup ideas from conception to pitch, learning how to validate markets, prototype solutions, and navigate real-world challenges. They will leave with a refined business idea, actionable strategies for growth, and experience presenting their startup to industry professionals.

    Fostering Entrepreneurial Excellence at IE University

    We continually strive to elevate your IE University experience, taking pride in our data-driven successes that reflect your achievements, because your success is our success.​

    • 25%
      ie alumni who start their own companies
    • +1500
      students trained in entrepreneurial management per year
    • 4
      In europe - mba european rankingPitchbook
      October 2023
    • 7
      worldwide & 3rd In europe - top mba programs for entrepreneurshipPoets & Quants
      October 2023
    • 4
      worldwide & 1st In europe - Best entrepreneurship teachingFinancial Times
      February 2022

    LEARN ALL ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT IE UNIVERSITY

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    PROGRAM STRUCTURE

    What You're going to do
    4 Weeks
    weeks detail

      • Week 1:

        Building the Foundation

        Focus: Understanding the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and validating ideas.

      • Week 2:

        Testing and PrototypingBuilding the Foundation

        Focus: Turning ideas into actionable models and testing their viability.

      • Week 3:

        Accelerating Growth

        Focus: Strategies to scale and grow efficiently.

      • Week 4:

        Innovating with Technology

        Focus: Leveraging cutting-edge tools to gain a competitive edge.

      What You're going to do
      4 Weeks

      Discover the program's agenda

      Dive into a curriculum that immerses you in hands-on learning. Through a mix of interactive classes, collaborative group work, presentations and our innovative media lab, you’ll develop essential skills for success.

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      OUR PROGRAM LEAD FACULTY

      Ignacio Larrú Martínez – IE Professor

      • Professor in Technology Entrepreneurship and Big Data
      • Mentor at IE Venture Lab
      • Expertise in Investment & Fund Management

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      South Summit

      IE University is a co-organizer of South Summit, one of the most important global events in entrepreneurship and innovation. In fact, for IE University, South Summit is its flagship event in the field of entrepreneurship, as we uniquely foster and promote entrepreneurship and innovation through education, reinforcing these values as fundamental pillars of excellence.

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      DISCOVER THE RIGHT PROGRAM FOR YOU

      IE University Summer Program is a combination of flexible programs that allow you to mix and match the topics that interest you most, giving you a taste of your future degree or career. Each program lasts two weeks—except for the four-week Entrepreneurship program—and you can combine up to three programs to create a personalized learning journey.

      • Three young adults are chatting happily on a university campus, holding reusable cups and a bag branded with the university logo.
      • A young man and two women smiling and talking at a cafe table.
      • A group of young people walking in a park, one carrying a bag with a motivational message.
      • A young man and woman are walking and smiling together in a sunny, outdoor setting, with the woman holding a volleyball.
      • A group of young adults studying and discussing together outdoors on a grassy area.
      • Two women walking and chatting in a modern outdoor shopping area.
      • Two young adults, a male and a female, are looking at a red folder together at an outdoor table surrounded by others.
      • A group of people conversing on a modern outdoor plaza with transparent barriers and urban buildings in the background.

      DISCOVER THE SUMMER 2025 CALENDAR

      Take a look to see how you can structure your summer with our various combinations.​

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      Abstract for Tuition | IE

      TUITION

      4 WEEK PROGRAM

      • *6,900€ Price for the Entrepreneurship Program (4 weeks)
      • Interviews will be conducted by our team to explore and advise on entrepreneurship ideas.

      CREDIT RECOGNITION

      Earning academic credit at your home institution for joining IE University’s Summer Program is designed to be as straightforward as possible. Many institutions routinely award credit for summer courses, but we highly recommend that you check with your University’s International or Study Abroad Office regarding any specific requirements you might need to fulfill.

      If you join IE University’s Summer Program for at least four weeks (= two two-week modules or with the four-week Entrepreneurship Summer School), you’ll complete an academic workload equivalence of 6 ECTS credits (or 3 US credits). If you spend more time with us, you can earn even more credit equivalence, also spread over consecutive summers. To qualify for credit recognition, you need to fulfill all the course requirements and submit one final essay within two weeks of finishing your last course.

      To make the credit transfer process easier, IE University provides all the necessary documentation and evidence required by your home university’s Study Abroad Office or academic department. Additionally, we actively work to pre-agree credit recognition with key partner universities to ensure a faster and smoother process for you.


      THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

      A graphic illustration of a woman interacting with a large, symbolic interface, handling documents and folders.

      1. Online Application

      You will need to complete the online application with the following documents: 

      1. Academic transcripts.  
      2. CV (cv template).
      3. Video Assessment: in this section you will complete two live video questions on general knowledge topics.

      *You must complete all sections of the application in order to submit it.

      A person working on a laptop at a standing desk.

      2. Submit your Application

      Once you complete all sections you may submit your online application to be evaluated by our team.

      *Interviews will be conducted with the IE team to explore entrepreneurship ideas and provide guidance

      A stylized illustration of a woman walking confidently with a large checklist and a check mark, symbolizing task completion or approval.

      3. Admissions Final Decision

      Within 2 weeks of submitting, the Summer School Team will contact you with the final resolution of your Admissions process. Should it be positive, you will be guided through the next steps for your enrollment.

      A man in a yellow cap is checking a large checklist on a blue document.
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      New Podcast: Venture Ahead: Explore. Innovate. Succeed.

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      START YOUR APPLICATION

      Spaces are limited, so enroll now to guarantee your place!

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      Read more about Entrepreneurship at IE University

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