On September 3, IESE joined the Ambition Forum in Riga, co-hosting the European Innovation Council Scaling Club Council meeting. The event gathered scaleup founders, investors, corporates, and mentors to address key growth challenges for deep-tech ventures. Josemaria Siota, Executive Director of IESE’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, moderated two panels on closing Europe’s growth capital gap and building effective scale-up boards. As a partner of the European Innovation Council Scaling Club, IESE supports 120 deep-tech scale-ups in forging critical connections across the European innovation ecosystem.

On September 3-4, IESE took part in the Stanford Search Fund CEO Conference, where search CEOs, investors, and academics gathered to discuss growth, governance, and operational challenges. The event, hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Business, is part of a long-standing collaboration with IESE, as the International Search Fund Conference alternates annually between both institutions. This rotating forum has become a key platform for sharing experiences and advancing research in the evolving search fund model. Find out more about IESE’s activity in the search fund arena. 

Enrique Linares (MBA ’06 and IESE 40under40), co-founder of Letgo, was recognized with IESE’s 40under40 2018 “Best Growth Trajectory” award after scaling the marketplace app to unicorn status in record time. After stepping back from operations, he embraced mentoring, advising, and angel investing—leading to the 2024 launch of Plus Partners, a €40M early-stage VC fund focused on Southern Europe. His transition from founder to investor marks a new chapter: supporting bold entrepreneurs with both capital and hard-won scaleup insight. Read the full story.

IESE will again participate as an ecosystem partner of the Barcelona Deep Tech Summit (BDTS), taking place 4-6 November 2025 during the Smart City Expo World Congress. Alongside Masia, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Mobile World Capital Barcelona, and Tech Barcelona, IESE is supporting this platform for scaling deep-tech ventures and will also serve on its advisory board. IESE’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center will contribute to the summit with insights on corporate venturing and tech transfer. Find out more.

The Private Equity & Venture Capital (PE&VC) Student Club at IESE is kicking off the academic year by introducing its new leadership team. Through LinkedIn, IESE MBA students like Prerna Nathani, Sharvari Shah, Matt Tomik, Stella Liao, and Shruthi shared their motivations for joining and their commitment to building bridges between classmates, alumni, and industry professionals. Alongside flagship events such as the PE&VC Conference, the club also curates speaker series like VC Unfiltered, fostering candid conversations with investors, or Ask Me Anything with IESE alumni and industry investors. Follow the Club.  

IESE’s Entrepreneurship Department is inviting applications for a tenure-track faculty position (Assistant, experienced Assistant, or Associate Professor) to start in September 2026 at the Barcelona campus. Candidates with research in entrepreneurship or innovation across disciplines and methodologies are encouraged to apply. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis from 1 August to 30 September 2025. This is a unique opportunity to join IESE’s global academic community. Learn more.

Recent research co-authored by IESE professors Chris Zott and Yuliya Snihur highlights how the way CEOs talk about change can shape how companies respond to disruption. Published in the Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, the study compares how Borders and Barnes & Noble reacted to Amazon’s rise. The difference? B&N’s CEOs used clear, future-focused, and inclusive messaging, helping the company blend online and offline models. The study shows why consistent and well-rounded communication is key when navigating digital shifts. Find out more.

As search funds grow globally, maintaining their unique culture of trust is more important than ever. A recent IESE study by Professor Jan Simon and IESE PhD Candidate Ann-Sophie Kowalewski explores how shareholder engagement (SE) can help. By encouraging active involvement, knowledge sharing, and value alignment, SE helps preserve collaboration even as institutional investors join the space. This publication offers practical ways to strengthen relationships between investors and CEOs, ensuring growth doesn’t dilute what makes search funds special. Find it here.