MBA in Entrepreneurship at California Business Schools

If the Startup Hall of Fame was a real museum, you can bet the section dedicated to California would be the fullest. There’d be a casually-dressed manakin from the first Gap in San Francisco, a uniform from the first Taco Bell in Downey, complete with grease stains, and enshrined at the end of the hall, there’d be a grainy picture of two beaming, bearded baby boomers: Steves Jobs and Wozniak.

The main characters of many of these stories are regular people who turned their passions into empires. Others are experienced industry insiders who used their eyes for opportunity to break away from business-as-usual and change the world forever.

But no matter how any given Golden State success story starts, one thing is clear — California is a hotbed for entrepreneurship.

Today, the state’s private sector generates about $3.2 trillion. And while there are plenty of heavy hitters in the mix, only 0.1% of California businesses have 500 or more employees. Only 7% have between 20 and 100. The remaining 92% of enterprises have 20 or fewer employees.

Whether you have your sights set on Silicon Valley, the entertainment industry in LA, healthcare, energy, retail, or really anything else, there’s room at the table. And with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Entrepreneurship, you can make sure you get more than leftovers.

The Potentials and Pitfalls of Blazing New Entrepreneurial Trails in California

By its nature, all entrepreneurial endeavors are high-risk/high-reward paths in the business world. But whether you’re pushing new boundaries in an old family business, starting a new venture, or want to get into the world of venture capital, those risks and rewards are especially high in California.

On the positive side of things, no matter which industry you’re in, California has one of the biggest consumer markets in the country. And in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other metropolitan areas, those markets have a lot of buying power. You’ll find plenty of B2B and investment opportunities, too.

On the other hand, with so many lucrative markets around, competition is stiff and not just from the big conglomerates. For example, in California’s service sector (food, hotels, and so on), about a third of the workforce relies on paychecks from businesses that have only been operating for three years or less.

However, your main obstacle isn’t that California can be a cutthroat place to start a business. It’s the internal problems that’ll get you.

Mismanaged budgets, not doing enough market research, a lack of financing, and trying to expand too soon and too fast have all spelled doom for enough businesses that it’s become cliche. And with competition at every corner, there’s not always room to recover.

That being said, though, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that in 2022, about 77% of businesses in the Pacific region survived their first year. Those aren’t bad odds, but a 23% one-year failure rate isn’t something to ignore.

Unfortunately, those odds decrease as time goes on. BLS data suggests that around 46% of California businesses fail within five years. Roughly 65% fail within 10.

Of course, that’s not to say that a savvy investor or business owner can’t make it, or otherwise build and sell so they can ride off into the sunset early. But these statistics show that making it means having more than sheer determination and luck. It means taking the time to learn all the ins and outs of making smart financial decisions, leading an organization through the thick of it, and identifying opportunities.

An MBA in Entrepreneurship Will Give You the Skill and Resolve it Takes to Win

As you already know, one of the main draws of running your own business is doing things your own way. But given the unique challenges new business owners face, a little structured instruction in the art of business administration can go a long way.

So even though you don’t need to tick the boxes on some corporate recruiter’s candidate criteria list, earning an advanced business degree will prepare you to avoid the pitfalls many a starry-eyed innovator has fallen into.

For most going to one of California’s business schools with plans to launch a start-up after graduating, an MBA in Entrepreneurship is the answer.

In a lot of ways, these programs are like standard MBA programs in that they offer a well-rounded curriculum in business administration. However, in addition to offering classes on things like accounting and marketing, an entrepreneurship-focused program offers classes on subjects like:

Creating a sound business model from the ground up.
Venture capital and private equity management.
Forming strategic business partnerships.
Asset growth forecasting.
Utilizing leases, loans, and other resources.
Financial risk analysis.

With those kinds of skills in your back pocket, you’ll be equipped to dodge some damning scenarios and identify make-or-break opportunities that might send a shudder through the spine of less prepared entrepreneurs. And if you don’t run your own business or want to step back from it eventually, an MBA in Entrepreneurship can prepare you for roles like investment analyst, business development manager, or consultant at already-established organizations.

Finding the Best MBA in Entrepreneurship Program in California to Fulfill Your Mission

With California being the economic powerhouse that it is, it’s home to dozens of fantastic MBA programs, many of which offer concentrations in entrepreneurship. Whether you need the flexibility of an online MBA in Entrepreneurship or the hands-on approach of an on-campus program, you’ll find no shortage of choices.

That being said, while most programs offer a similar curriculum, they’re not identical. Some, like Cal State LA’s MBA in Entrepreneurship program, focus on market research and data analysis — a great option if you’re getting into a competitive market like tech, SaaS, or anything in the B2B sphere.

Others, like the MBA program at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, focus more on the venture capital side of things. If you have ambitious goals of becoming an angle investor yourself or representing a VC firm, these types of programs are the way to go. You can expect these programs to be heavy in networking and experiential learning opportunities.

Most MBA programs for entrepreneurs in California recognize the importance of meeting the right people at the right time so they’ll give you the chance to attend seminars, talk to speakers, or even work with local start-ups dealing with the same issues you’ll be facing in the future. Alumni networking events can be powerful tools, too. Remember — business schools love showing off their successful alumni. Use that to your advantage.

Another Degree Option to Consider: Masters in Entrepreneurship vs an MBA Entrepreneurship

Aside from MBAs, another type of program you’ll find in California is the Master of Entrepreneurship. What sets a master’s in entrepreneurship apart from an MBA is that it won’t include the more general business administration classes an MBA does. It’s all about entrepreneurship.

Because of that, a Master of Entrepreneurship can be completed in as little as a year compared to the two years it takes to earn an MBA. If you already have a good amount of business administration experience under your belt, this might be the path to take.

Studying business in California has its advantages when it comes to options, and many schools that offer MBAs in Entrepreneurship also offer a Master of Entrepreneurship.

For example, at UC Irvine, the Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship program features classes on pitch decks and starting a business in the Digital Age. If you see yourself leveraging your business acumen to build up your community, Pepperdine has a unique MA in Social Entrepreneurship and Change that includes a two-week project working with business leaders in developing countries.

Accredited On-Campus and Online MBA in Entrepreneurship Programs in California

Investing in an MBA in Entrepreneurship is an investment in your business and career. And just like any other investment, you want to be sure you’re using your time, money, and effort wisely. A good way to accomplish that is by choosing one of the many accredited MBA programs California has to offer.

Naturally, all programs here are housed in universities with the standard WASC regional accreditation that all reputable universities in the western US hold. Additionally, most of these MBAs and business schools hold accreditation through on of the three agencies that grant specialized business accreditation: