The Spanish Association of Business Angels and IESE Business School have released the report Angel Investment in Startups: Evolution, Activity and Trends. The study highlights the shift of business angels in Spain toward a more professional and hands-on role, with deeper involvement in deal selection, mentoring, structuring, and preparing startups for future rounds. It also draws attention to persistent challenges in liquidity and exit mechanisms, as well as the need for greater regulatory certainty to unlock trapped capital and sustain investment activity. Access the report here (in Spanish).

Led by Professor Desirée Pacheco, an IESE session in New York explored how venture capital and innovation models are evolving. With panelists from venture capital, academia, and strategy, the discussion highlighted a two-tier VC landscape, with mega-funds and niche players, alongside AI-driven shifts toward leaner, faster-scaling startups. Capital is concentrating in AI and security-related sectors, while biotech and sustainability remain constrained. Corporations are increasingly leveraging boards and external partnerships to pursue innovation, reflecting broader shifts shaping global entrepreneurial ecosystems today.​​​​​​ Find out more. 

Applications are open until May 8 for IESE’s Search Fund & Entrepreneurial Acquisitions Bootcamp, taking place June 15–18, 2026, in the Barcelona campus. This four-day, in-person bootcamp offers a practical immersion into entrepreneurship through acquisition: from sourcing deals and negotiating terms to leading and scaling acquired companies. Through case discussions and sessions with experienced searchers, CEOs, and investors, participants gain hands-on insights into the full journey. The initiative is designed for mid-career professionals seeking to acquire and operate a business. Find out more.

IESE’s Founders Forum 2026, organized by the School of Founders, returns for its second edition on 16–17 June in Barcelona, bringing together 300+ scaleup founders from 50+ nationalities. Built on the belief that entrepreneurship is a collective journey, the forum focuses on scaling with purpose, conscience, and lasting impact. Participants will have the chance to engage with leading voices in scaling through peer-driven sessions that prioritize practical tools, frameworks, and real challenges over one-way keynotes. The result: sharper focus, actionable insights, and a trusted circle to navigate the next stage of growth. Find out more.

In an interview with The Innovator, Josemaria Siota, Executive Director of IESE's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, examines how large companies are rethinking innovation through corporate venture squads. Unlike traditional corporate venturing structures, these dedicated, cross-functional teams operate with greater autonomy and speed while remaining aligned with corporate strategy. Drawing on IESE research, the model offers a way to overcome internal barriers to experimentation and execution. As firms face increasing pressure to innovate, venture squads are emerging as a practical approach to systematically develop, test, and scale new business opportunities.

IESE joined partners from leading European universities at the EuroTeQ Engineering University Secretariat Meeting, hosted by Technical University of Munich. IESE’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center contributed to shaping the long-term vision of the EuroTeQ Alliance, an EU-backed initiative advancing cross-border cooperation in education, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Discussions focused on integration, scalability, and impact, with input from the Student Council. IESE also advances joint initiatives such as the upcoming Ignite Bootcamp (July, Barcelona), where multidisciplinary teams will develop market-ready solutions, reinforcing collaboration across institutions and innovation ecosystems.

A recent IESE technical note by IESE’s Mathieu Carenzo, Jeroen Neckebrouck, and Isaac Sastre Boquet examines a pivotal moment for Barcelona-based logistics startup Babelia. After scaling rapidly to €50M in revenue, its founders must choose between a lucrative acquisition offer and continued growth backed by venture capital. The note explores the “sale versus scale” dilemma, highlighting tensions between founders and investors, dilution effects, and how governance and secondary transactions shape outcomes in high-growth ventures. Find it here.

In a recent technical note, Professor Sandra Sieber examines how an entrepreneurial mindset is becoming essential for leadership in uncertain and rapidly changing environments. Using Mango and CEO Toni Ruiz during COVID-19 as an example, the note shows how opportunity recognition, experimentation, and resilience enable firms to adapt and innovate. It highlights cognitive, behavioral, and emotional dimensions, alongside practical skills such as customer focus and adaptive decision-making, as key to navigating disruption and creating sustained value. Find it here.