How is Entrepreneurship Relevant in the Corporate World?

“A person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.”

That’s one official definition of an entrepreneur, and for most of us that’s exactly what we envisage – running your own business, joining a start-up, making waves in the market with an innovative idea. The Master in Entrepreneurship Program at WHU equips students with state-of-the-art tools and methods in entrepreneurship, and access to WHU’s unique entrepreneurial network. Perfect for those with a bold idea ready to take it forwards. But what if entrepreneurship can be used differently?

Embarking on the program doesn’t mean you have to arrive with a great idea, ready to curate the perfect pitch. Rather, it develops your entrepreneurial mindset and in the world of corporations, this can set you apart from the crowd. 

The Corporate Entrepreneurship course in the Master in Entrepreneurship Program does exactly that. Designed for those interested in learning how managers can create, develop, sustain, and lead innovative new business or initiatives within their organizations, the course provides students with the opportunity to collaborate extensively with some of Germany’s leading companies.

“This course is about getting to know innovative companies and their attitude towards innovation and entrepreneurs. We want to learn from those companies, how they interact with start-ups, which innovative tools and methods they use, and how they attract and develop entrepreneurial talent”, explains Professor Dr. Christoph Hienerth, Academic Director Master in Entrepreneurship.

The course starts with a class visit to Viessmann HQ and finishes two months later at eprimo GmbH, where students present their entrepreneurial ideas to company executives. “Viessmann and eprimo belong to the most innovative companies in their industries. They both operate in industries of massive turbulence and disruption and still thrive their innovation agenda”, adds Professor Hienerth. “This course is essential because it features two pillars, just like the program: the pillar of start-ups and founders and the pillar of corporate entrepreneurs and innovation. We want to better understand how those two can work to create synergies.”

Watch the videos below to hear from eprimo's Tobias Oudina and Viessmann's Fabian Stern on why they want people with an entrepreneurial mindset.