IES's Management College and
Research Centre

Will an MBA or PGDM help me start a business?

By
Saurabh Paradkar
August 29, 2025

In today's modern world, there are both students and professionals asking, “Is an MBA or a PGDM necessary for entrepreneurship?” Starting a business demands a great deal of creativity, financial understanding, leadership, and resilience. Although starting a business does not require a degree in management, but pursuing an MBA or PGDM from a top management college in Mumbai can give you the right skills, network, and confidence to succeed.

How MBA/PGDM Prepares You for Entrepreneurship

1. Strong Foundation

An MBA/PGDM programme integrates subjects such as finance, marketing, operations, and strategy. Having a deep understanding of these areas gives you the ability to make wise decisions regarding your business.

2. Entrepreneurial Mindset

Their curriculum is specially designed to foster innovation, problem-solving, and creative thinking - all essential to developing a startup.

3. Networking

From their professors and mentors to their classmates and alumni, B-Schools give you access to a vibrant community of potential co-founders, investors, and partners.

4. Hands-On Learning

An entrepreneur must understand the real world of business, and such understanding can never be gained in a classroom. Case studies, live projects, and internships will teach you how these businesses operate and how to run one.

5. Access to Incubation & Funding  

A significant number of top management institutes, IES MCRC included, have established venture incubation centres, entrepreneurship cells, and investor networks designed to facilitate the manifestation of ideas into tangible business ventures.  

Skills MBA/PGDM Students Gain for Entrepreneurship

  • Business planning & market research
  • Risk assessment & problem-solving
  • Leadership & team-building
  • Financial literacy & budgeting
  • Communication & negotiation skills

Challenges to Keep in Mind

  • Having a degree doesn’t mean you’ll automatically succeed in the business world; how you carry out your plan is what counts.
  • Constant evolution and new challenges, including a readiness to embrace risk and failure, are hallmarks of the entrepreneur’s journey.
  • The lessons don’t stop after the last day of school - the world outside serves as the finest instructor.

How IES MCRC Supports Aspiring Entrepreneurs

IES Management College and Research Centre (IES MCRC) stands out among Mumbai management institutions because of its E-cell. IES MCRC is also distinguished by the:

  • Alumni-led mentorship initiatives alongside
  • Investor and corporate networking
  • Workshops led by industry veterans
  • E-cell and start-up incubation programmes

The students not only gain important theoretical knowledge but vital practical resources through which to launch and grow business ventures.

Does an MBA or a PGDM Help in Starting a Business?

Yes, but with a caveat. Having an MBA or a PGDM does add value, but it is not going to make one an entrepreneur overnight. An MBA or PGDM does add the right set of skills, confidence, and networks that steer one’s chances towards success.

If building out a start-up is your dream, then completing your MBA or PGDM from a reputed management institution like IES MCRC, can prove to be the runway from where you can take off.

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