Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA, United States
QS #1Full need-based aid
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science · Mechanical Engineering · Economics
- Tuition
- Est. above $60,000 per year before aid
- Deadline
- Typically 1 November
All careers
Business & Strategy
Entrepreneur
Builds a new venture from an idea into a working organisation.
What this career is
Entrepreneurs identify problems, build products or services to solve them and grow organisations around them. The path is uncertain and often combines employment, side projects and founding companies.
What professionals do
- Talk to customers
- Build and test products
- Raise money and manage finances
- Hire and lead a team
Outlook: High risk and high learning; skills transfer to product, strategy and leadership roles.
Official occupation data
Tasks, skills, US pay and job growth from O*NET and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Key skills
Product thinking
analyticalProduct managers and founders must turn user needs into clear decisions and trade-offs.
Start with
- · Interview five users of an app you use
- · Write a one-page problem statement and solution
Leadership
leadershipScholarships such as Chevening and fellowships explicitly select for demonstrated leadership.
Start with
- · Take on a defined role in a club or project
- · Lead one initiative from idea to result
Negotiation
communicationUseful for consulting, sales, entrepreneurship and diplomacy.
Start with
- · Learn interests vs. positions
- · Practise in Model UN or case competitions
Public speaking
communicationInterviews, pitches, Model UN and leadership roles all reward clear spoken communication.
Start with
- · Join a debate or Model UN club
- · Present a project in under five minutes
Accounting fundamentals
analyticalAccounting is the language of business; it underpins finance, consulting and entrepreneurship.
Start with
- · Learn the accounting equation and double-entry
- · Read an annual report of a company you know
Software development
technicalThe core skill of software engineering roles and a strong advantage for founders and product managers.
Start with
- · Learn a language and data structures
- · Use Git and GitHub daily
Education paths
- 1Any degree — business and technical degrees are both common
- 2Startup incubators and accelerators
- 3Many founders gain industry experience first
Universities strong in Business & Management
Stanford University
Stanford, CA, United States
QS =2Full need-based aid
Computer Science · Management Science & Engineering · Economics
- Tuition
- Est. above $60,000 per year before aid
- Deadline
- Typically 1 November
Imperial College London
London, United Kingdom
QS #2Merit scholarships
Computing · Electrical & Electronic Engineering · Mathematics
- Tuition
- Est. £38,000–£50,000 per year for international students
- Deadline
- Typically late January
Typical entry-level roles
Founder of a student ventureEarly employee at a startupVenture programme fellow
Build your profile
Recommended extracurriculars
- · Hult Prize
- · Enactus
- · Launching a small business or app
- · Hackathons
Recommended competitions
PrizesHybrid
- Location
- Campus rounds worldwide; global final varies
- Deadline
- Campus programmes typically run from autumn to winter
PrizesIn person
- Location
- National competitions worldwide
- Deadline
- Season timing varies by country
Scholarships & fellowships
Funding variesIn person
- Location
- Host city changes annually
- Deadline
- Scholarship calls typically earlier in the year
Funding variesHybrid
- Location
- Projects worldwide
- Deadline
- Several cycles per year
Certifications that help
Marketing
HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification
HubSpot Academy
Content, social and email marketing fundamentals.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- About 4–5 hours