Fresh off the press: IESE Business School has just announced the 2026 list of its 40under40 Awards, a flagship recognition held every four years to spotlight outstanding entrepreneurs from its 60,000+ global alumni network. Across three editions, winners have created over 5,000 jobs, generated more than €600 million in revenue, and raised upwards of €1 billion in capital. Selected for venture growth and societal impact, they reflect the ambition of IESE founders worldwide. The awards ceremony will take place on May 12 in Barcelona will bring the community together, with an international jury presenting four distinctions. Register here to join the celebration.

IESE Business School’s Barcelona campus is featured in Monocle, highlighting how its architecture and design support collaboration, learning, and entrepreneurial activity. The piece showcases spaces built for interaction: From classrooms to informal meeting areas where startup ideas are developed, teams come together, and ventures take their first steps. More than a setting, Monocle portrays the campus as a platform where founders, students, and investors connect, echoing IESE’s hands-on approach to entrepreneurship and venture creation. Read the full feature on Monocle.

“Be open to stepping outside your comfort zone” defines Khanya Modipa’s MBA journey at IESE Business School. Originally from South Africa and formerly a Global Process Manager at Google, she has immersed herself in IESE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through the Startup & Entrepreneurship Club, she connected with the founders of Loop & Loom, a tech-enabled fashion repair venture. Her participation in the Summer Entrepreneurship Experience further deepened her industry insights, shaping a business model focused on technology, entrepreneurship, and community impact. Read the full interview in Poets & Quants. 

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. More information and registrations here.

The Global Corporate Venturing & Innovation Summit (GCVS) 2026, held in Monterrey (California), brought together corporates, investors, and innovation leaders to explore how corporate venturing initiatives are built, scaled, and governed. Among the speakers, IESE’s Josemaria Siota shared insights on the evolving role and growing strategic importance of corporate venture squads, drawing on years of research by IESE. As one of the leading global gatherings for CVC and innovation leadership, GCVI continues to shape the conversation. For further insights, a recent Global Venturing article outlines 10 practical operating tips for corporate investors stemming from the Summit.

The Fundamentals of Entrepreneurial Management II course culminated in a high-energy, highly competitive Pitch Day on March 25, where IESE MBA students unveiled AI-driven ventures built through an intensive hackathon journey. Guided by professors Liinus Hietaniemi, Jeroen Neckebrouck and Sandra Sieber, teams moved rapidly from trend identification to Minimum Viable Product (MVP) development and validation. Attended by a strong +400 MBA student audience, the competition recreated the pressure of real-world fundraising. A distinguished jury of operators, investors, and tech leaders brought broad industry experience, challenging teams on clarity, traction, and scalability. Congratulations to the winners! 

Founded in 1886, Barnes & Noble was one of the few traditional booksellers to survive Amazon’s sweeping disruption of the industry in the 1990s. IESE research by professors Yuliya Snihur and Christopher Zott reveals that its leaders framed digital disruption as an opportunity—not a threat. By crafting strong, future-oriented narratives, aligning stakeholders, and integrating online with offline operations, they steered the company through change. The research offers timely lessons for navigating today’s fast-evolving innovation and technology landscape. Read more on IESE Insight.

A recent IESE case by Professor Sandra Sieber examines how UK-based Brompton Bicycle balances tradition with innovation through a phased digital transformation. Facing global competition and rising customer expectations, the company enhanced its digital presence and began retrofitting legacy manufacturing systems with connected technology. The case challenges students to assess whether incremental upgrades or a full systems overhaul better supports long-term growth. It offers rich insights for courses on innovation, digital strategy, and operations in heritage-driven industries. Find it here.