Home
Online MBA
Online MBA in Entrepreneurship and New Ventures

The Online MBA in Entrepreneurship and New Ventures

Build the Startups That Get Backers

Entrepreneurs who create fundable, scalable businesses do more than generate ideas. They validate market opportunities, model viable economics, secure capital, and build lasting organizations. Santa Clara University's Online MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and New Ventures prepares you to succeed at every stage, connecting creative vision with financial discipline, market validation with operational excellence, and startup ambition with the business foundations that investors sign on to support.

SCU's program connects you directly to Silicon Valley's startup ecosystem. You'll learn from entrepreneurs who have launched and scaled companies, engage with venture capitalists active in early-stage funding, and refine your business concepts alongside peers building their own initiatives. Shaped by innovation culture and Jesuit principles, you'll develop the capacity to create ventures that generate financial returns and meaningful impact.

Get a Program Brochure

This will only take a moment.
By clicking "Get Program Brochure" and submitting this form, I agree to receive text messages, emails and other communication regarding educational programs and opportunities, and to be contacted by Santa Clara University and Everspring, its authorized representative. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. View our privacy policy and disclosures.
woman with a laptop standing in a common area

Program Snapshot: Online MBA in Entrepreneurship and New Ventures

  • Four start dates: fall, winter, spring, and summer
  • Graduate in as little as two years
  • Two on-campus residencies
  • AACSB-accredited

Review the Admissions Requirements

Business Acumen to Make New Ideas Bankable

Many entrepreneurship programs teach startup tactics. SCU's Online MBA concentration in Entrepreneurship and New Ventures provides something more valuable: the complete business foundation you need to build sustainable, fundable companies.

The curriculum begins with core MBA coursework in finance, operations, marketing, leadership, and data analytics—the disciplines that determine whether ventures succeed or fail. You'll learn to forecast cash flow, manage growth operations, acquire customers efficiently, and lead your teams through times of uncertainty. Then, through your concentration courses, you'll apply this expertise to the specific challenges of venture creation: identifying opportunities, validating business models, securing funding, and executing growth strategies.

Why learn to master these challenges? Because investors and customers don't fund passion—they fund credible execution. As an entrepreneur, you’ll have to model unit economics, defend valuations, and present data-backed growth projections. You’ll need to know when to iterate and when to scale. Your success will depend on your ability to earn your investors' trust and build their confidence while creating operationally sound organizations. SCU's Online MBA in Entrepreneurship and New Ventures prepares you to clear every hurdle.

Entrepreneurship and New Ventures Concentration Course Highlights

group of three in a meeting room collaborating on a whiteboard

MGMT 3802: Entrepreneurial Opportunities and Innovation (4 units)

Explore how entrepreneurs recognize opportunities, communicate ideas, innovate, develop products, and build organizations. Learn how to discover problems worth solving and generate creative solutions—applicable to both startups and innovation within established companies. This foundational course examines entrepreneurship from multiple angles, including how to practice entrepreneurial thinking in your own life and career right now.
group of young adults standing by a wall with phones in their hands

MKTG 3801: Social Media Marketing (4 units)

Learn how to leverage social media as both an insights engine and a growth platform. Study how consumers share opinions and how marketers connect with customers through social channels. Become proficient in analyzing numerical data (ratings, likes, tweets) and textual data (comments, reviews) to inform marketing strategy. Focus on translating social media insights into actionable decisions that drive business growth—essential capabilities for entrepreneurs developing brands and customer communities.
group of three standing at a table, going over graphs and spreadsheets

FNCE 2482: Business Valuation (4 units)

Master the valuation techniques investors use to assess startups and growth-stage companies. Learn to implement discounted cash-flow analysis, estimate cost of capital, apply market multiples, and build pro forma models. These practical tools prepare you to defend valuations during fundraising, evaluate acquisition opportunities, and make data-driven decisions about capital allocation and growth investment.

Customize your MBA around your entrepreneurial goals.

Your MBA courses in entrepreneurship include studies of venture capital, corporate innovation, and growth strategy.

View the Full Curriculum

The Advantages of SCU's MBA Concentration in Entrepreneurship and New Ventures

Grounded in Silicon Valley, Built for Launch

Santa Clara's location isn't incidental—it's central to your entrepreneurship education. You'll learn in the ecosystem where iconic companies launched, where venture capital flows, and where entrepreneurs test ideas at speed. Through faculty connections, guest speakers, and the broader SCU network, you'll access founders, investors, and innovation leaders who understand what it actually takes to build investor-ready, scalable ventures. Further, because this is distance learning, you’ll bring Silicon Valley expertise to your venture wherever you're building it.

From Runway to Valuation: Financial Literacy for Founders

Entrepreneurs need more than vision—they need to model runway, defend valuations, and make capital decisions that determine survival and growth. Your MBA core builds financial fluency, while courses such as Business Valuation and Financial Management teach you to construct investor-ready models, forecast cash needs, and speak credibly with venture capitalists and CFOs. You'll graduate understanding not just what to build, but how to fund it and scale it profitably.

Ethical and Sustainable Entrepreneurship

Santa Clara's Jesuit foundation brings distinctive perspective to venture creation. You'll examine how to build companies that deliver both financial returns and social impact—exploring stakeholder responsibility, sustainable growth practices, and purpose-driven leadership. In an era when consumers and investors increasingly expect values-aligned ventures, this grounding differentiates you as an entrepreneur who creates lasting value, not just short-term growth.

Built for Entrepreneurs Who Can't Step Away

Four annual start dates give you flexibility to begin on your timeline. Online coursework fits around the demands of building a business or driving innovation within your current company. You'll complete your Online MBA in Entrepreneurship degree in as little as two years, applying frameworks and insights to your venture immediately—testing business models, refining pitches, and gaining customer traction as you study.
Request More Information
Schedule a Call
group of four business professionals outside a building, smiling at the camera

Turn Your Entrepreneurial Vision into Career Success

The Online MBA in Entrepreneurship and New Ventures program from the Leavey School of Business positions you for roles in which you’ll launch new businesses and lead their growth:

  • Startup founder/co-founder/CEO: Launch and scale new ventures from concept through multiple funding rounds and sustainable growth
  • Innovation director/VP: Drive internal venture development, new business initiatives, and corporate innovation programs within established organizations
  • Product leader/chief product officer: Guide product strategy and execution in fast-growth companies where market fit determines success
  • Venture capital associate/analyst: Evaluate early-stage startups, manage investment portfolios, and advise entrepreneurs on growth strategy
  • Business development director: Identify growth opportunities, structure partnerships, and expand ventures into new markets
  • Entrepreneur-in-residence: Guide startup programs within accelerators, universities, or corporate innovation labs
  • Consultant/advisor: Guide entrepreneurs and innovation teams on business model design, market validation, and scaling strategy

What Success Looks Like

93%
of alumni report salary increases within six months of graduation1
#3
in Career Outcomes
Poets&Quants2

Beyond immediate compensation, you'll build the resilience and strategic perspective that sustain entrepreneurial careers. As business models shift rapidly and new technologies create constant disruption, adaptability matters more than any single skill or sector expertise.

Start Your Application

over the shoulder view of a person working on a laptop entering data

24/7 flexibility. Uncompromising quality.

Santa Clara designed this Online MBA concentration in Entrepreneurship and New Ventures for working professionals who can't relocate or step away from their careers.

Complete your MBA in as little as two years while working full-time. Four annual start dates let you begin when it serves your situation. All classes are conducted online with asynchronous and synchronous elements—watch lectures and complete assignments on your schedule while joining live sessions for real-time collaboration.

Two short on-campus residencies bring you to campus for intensive, face-to-face experiences. You'll participate in workshops and networking events that transform your cohort from online connections into lasting professional relationships.

The online format helps you maintain career momentum throughout your program. You'll apply new knowledge to your current role as you study—often increasing your value and visibility at your company.

Explore the Online Experience
View Tuition and Financial Aid

FAQs for the Online MBA in Entrepreneurship and New Ventures

Does a concentration take longer than a general MBA?
No. Santa Clara's Entrepreneurship and New Ventures concentration follows the same timeline as the general MBA—completion in as little as two years. The concentration means you'll choose specialized classes for a portion of your coursework while completing the full core MBA curriculum. You gain deep expertise without extending your time to graduation.

What networking opportunities are available within the Entrepreneurship and New Ventures program?
Two on-campus residencies give you face-to-face access to peers, faculty, and industry professionals through workshops and networking events. You'll also join the Leavey School of Business alumni community and connect with career services. The relationships you build—especially within your cohort—become a professional network that will support your career-long success.

Can I start a business during the MBA in Entrepreneurship Program?
Absolutely. The flexible online format lets you balance startup work with coursework, and many students launch or advance their ventures while completing the program. You'll apply frameworks, business models, and strategies directly to your venture—testing ideas, refining pitches, and building traction as you learn. Faculty and peers provide feedback and support that strengthens your business in real time.
man standing at the end of a staircase with crossed arms

Take Command of Your Entrepreneurial Future

Successful entrepreneurs go far beyond generating ideas—they validate markets, build sustainable business models, and create ventures that drive financial results and meaningful change.

Santa Clara University's Online MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and New Ventures equips you to be that kind of leader. The program combines Silicon Valley's innovation ecosystem with Jesuit principles and rigorous business training, building your capability to launch profitable ventures and lead new initiatives that create lasting value.

Start Your Application
Lynn and Junaid

Need more info? That’s what we’re here for.

There’s so much to know about Leavey’s online programs that you’re bound to have questions. We’re here to help. For information and support, schedule a call with one of our knowledgeable, friendly admissions outreach advisors. They’ll make sure you get all the answers.

Schedule a Call
Send an Email

Admissions Deadlines for the Online MBA Program

Feb
26
Priority Deadline
February 26
Spring 2026 Term
Mar
15
Application Deadline
March 15
Spring 2026 Term
Mar
30
Next Start
March 30
Spring 2026 Term
Admissions Information
Start an Application
Sources
  1. As of June 30, 2025. Based on self-reported data from Online MBA program alumni, in graduating cohorts between 2021 and February 2025, at six months post-graduation.
  2. Retrieved on December 29, 2025, from poetsandquants.com/2024/12/15/best-online-mba-programs-in-the-u-s-for-2025/6/