On May 12 and 13, IESE hosted the annual Search Fund Investor and CEO summits at our Madrid Campus. Under the themes 'Values of Lever Generation in Search Fund' for the CEO Summit and 'Learning from Failures and Success' in Search Funds for the Investor Summit, attendees had the chance to connect with peers, learn from industry experts, and expand their networks within the search fund community. Next stop: the Women in Search Forum in October. Learn more about search funds at IESE here.

IESE proudly took part in the 2025 Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, joining over 2,000 global leaders to explore a 'New Deal' between governments and the private sector. Josemaria Siota, Executive Director of IESE’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, moderated the panel 'Corporate venturing: Fast-tracking deep tech into legacy industries'. Engagements at the Forum provided valuable insights into the continent’s evolving economic landscape and opportunities for collaboration. Discover further insights here.​​​​​

IESE and AEBAN have published the 2025 Business Angels report, revealing cautious resilience in 2024 and renewed optimism for 2025. Despite a slowdown in exits and heightened selectivity, 92% of surveyed angels plan to invest this year. The report highlights key trends: increased co-investment, growing female participation, and interest in sectors like healthtech and agritech. As Laura Caballero, Associate Director at IESE’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, notes: “Investing in talent is investing in the future.” The report reaffirms the critical role of business angels in Spain’s early-stage innovation landscape. For more on preferred investment sectors, investor behavior, and emerging models, read our post on IESE's Entrepreneurship blog.​​​​​

The Summer Entrepreneurship Experience (SEE) launched on May 14 with 45 MBA students from 18 nationalities. Over 10 weeks, participants will validate startup ideas through hands-on, team-based work guided by IESE's Mathieu Carenzo and Mauricio Prieto. Drawing on first-year MBA knowledge, students will explore value propositions, customer analysis, and revenue models – gaining real-world entrepreneurial experience on and off campus. The SEE offers an invaluable startup pathway for MBA students, fostering entrepreneurial skills in a practical setting. 

We sat down with Professor Sandra Sieber to explore how AI and entrepreneurial thinking are reshaping leadership. A long-time expert in digital technologies, Sieber brings a unique perspective on navigating uncertainty with adaptability and curiosity. She calls for embracing AI as an opportunity—not a threat—and views entrepreneurship as a mindset essential beyond startups. Her advice? Learn fast, stay curious, and see change as a creative playground. Read the full interview on the IESE Entrepreneurship blog.

IESE is proud to celebrate MBA Class of 2025 graduates Lily Chen, Damian D'Souza, and Sergi Rivera Morcillo, who were named among The 100 Best & Brightest MBAs: Class Of 2025. The recognition is a true testament to their exceptional leadership, impact, and service to the IESE community. Read their full interviews (links above) and discover more about their inspiring journeys and accomplishments. Congratulations to all three on this well-deserved honor!

In a recent Forbes article, Professor Thomas Klueter highlights a surprising finding: large firms often miss out on breakthrough innovation when sourcing external technologies. Despite leaders’ calls for disruption, internal R&D teams tend to choose solutions aligned with existing expertise, thus limiting novelty. Based on his research in the biopharma sector, Professor Klueter urges managers to align intent with action – especially in the wake of failure. The message is clear: sourcing innovation isn’t enough; firms must also challenge internal biases to unlock real transformation.

Professor Yuliya Snihur co-authors a new article in Industry and Innovation questioning whether the Lean Startup approach truly marks a transformative shift in entrepreneurship. While the method has popularized iterative testing and customer feedback, the study suggests it may constrain innovation by sidelining theory-building. The authors call for a more balanced approach, one which combining experimentation with deeper conceptual thinking, to help entrepreneurs generate original, high-impact ideas. A thought-provoking contribution to the ongoing debate on how ventures are best built.