The Place for Entrepreneurial Leaders
From Vision to Venture
Gain the confidence, contacts, and know-how to thrive in the startup community.
WashU Olin Business School’s MBA program has been ranked the #1 MBA in the world for entrepreneurship by Poets & Quants — an achievement that reflects the strength and vibrancy of our entrepreneurial community.
Our students have opportunities to explore their passions, pitch ideas, secure real funding, and engage with a lively St. Louis startup scene. We’re deeply committed to supporting students interested in entrepreneurship — whether you’re developing an idea, building a venture, or embracing an entrepreneurial mindset. You’ll learn to approach challenges with curiosity, fall in love with real-world problems, and design solutions that create meaningful change. Through courses, student consulting, competitions, and co-curricular programming, you gain the skills and experience needed to move your ideas forward.
Our reach extends far beyond the WashU campus. We’re connected to entrepreneurial ecosystems in St. Louis, Silicon Valley, New York City, Shanghai, and other global hubs — providing invaluable access to founders, investors, and organizations shaping what comes next.
Olin’s strong reputation for entrepreneurship, access to world-class faculty, and data-driven approach to strategy allowed me to immediately apply what I learned to my venture, while the Skandalaris Center supplied hands-on guidance, mentorship, and a collaborative founder community.
Justin Traenkle, MBA Class of 2027
Our MBA Gives You More
Hands-on learning
with dedicated time
to launch or scale your own business venture from campus
Funding access
with direct pathways
to seed capital, venture competitions, and WashU’s alumni network of investors
Founder ecosystem
with access to mentors
plus integration into the vibrant St. Louis innovation scene
Personalized pathway
that includes 50+
entrepreneurship courses to dive deeper into your specific interests
A Full Spectrum of Entrepreneurial Learning
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Workshop Your Own Ideas
The Hatchery
Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Social Entrepreneurship
The League of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs -
Embed With a Startup
CELect: St Louis, San Francisco, New York City, and international
Marketing Metrics -
Consult With Investors
Venture Capital Methods and Practice
Private Equity Methods and Practice
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition -
Innovate Within Larger Entities
Managing the Innovation Process
Innovating for Defense -
Change the World
Social Innovation
Endgame of Entrepreneurship: Leveraging Capitalism for Good