Master of Business Creation (MBC)

Grow Your Startup in the Award-Winning MBC Program In Person or Online

The Master of Business Creation (MBC) is a professional and accredited degree program for serious entrepreneurs committed to growing their startup company. The program features innovative, application-focused curriculum and access to mentoring, grants, and scholarships. The program is offered at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business by the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy in partnership with the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. Together, they provide an entrepreneur program ranked among the top 10 in the nation. The MBC degree has courses, workshops, and labs specifically designed for aspiring entrepreneurs building and scaling their business. The program is available in two formats – an in-person, full-time, two-semester option or an online, flexible, three-semester option.

In partnership with:

Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute

Apply to MBC Program

Are you ready to apply? Follow the link below to start an application. Choose the option for “Business Creation MBC.”

Request Information

Want more details, information, and updates about the MBC program? Submit your contact information, and any questions you have, then we’ll get back to you.

Attend a Virtual Info Session

Sign up for an upcoming, online information session to meet with MBC faculty, get an overview of how the program works and how to apply, and ask questions.

Meet with Admissions Team

Do you have questions about the admissions process and requirements? Sign up to meet with our professional admissions one-on-one.

About the MBC Program

Why MBC?

The David Eccles School of Business is ranked among the top 10 schools for entrepreneurship by the US News & World Report and Princeton Review. Its entrepreneurship programs are provided in partnership between the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy and the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute.

Founders in the Master of Business Creation program can choose from two formats. Participate in the in-person format to complete the program on campus at the University of Utah over two semesters. Or participate online with more flexibility in three semesters months.

The skill and knowledge to build and scale a new business are fundamentally different from managing an existing business, but they can be learned and mastered. MBC founders will develop this expertise by working on their startup while learning from experts and each other.

Founders in the MBC program are focused on their startup. Their time and progress in the program revolve around their company. They spend their time cultivating their ideas while accessing classes, people, and resources that will help them develop their concept and make it successful.

The MBC is exclusively for founders committed to achieving operating independence by the time they complete the program. It requires commitment on the part of the founders in the program.

The MBC program combines the best parts of a business accelerator and a graduate business-degree program to help entrepreneurs advance their startup companies. Founders receive personalized, in-depth support, and resources while also taking classes on related topics from renowned faculty at a top-ranked business school.

Unlike an accelerator, the MBC program does not take any equity in participating startup companies. The MBC program works to add value to startup companies, not extract it, and is solely focused on accelerating your success.

Full and partial scholarships are available to support founders participating in the MBC program. The scholarships are designed to allow founders to use their resources on their startup idea instead of financing their education. Scholarship availability will be determined during the application process.

Founders in the MBC program gain access to unique resources to support their startups. Resources available include working space, exclusive access to experts and funding, and more. The resources reduce the risk of starting a company and give founders a jumpstart toward achieving a profitable enterprise.

Faculty and mentors in the MBC program come from a wide range of backgrounds and have deep knowledge and experience in all areas related to entrepreneurship. Courses in the program are designed to help working entrepreneurs who need help on real startup problems now. Founders can immediately apply what they learn in class to their startup.

Starting a company is a great way to learn about business. Founders in the MBC program get a rich experience managing everything from finance and human resources to product development and marketing. The lessons are vital for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The cohort structure of the program, along with the intensive coaching in the practicums, supports group-based learning. Founders in the program not only learn from their experience starting an enterprise, they also observe their colleagues’ startup efforts in detail and have an opportunity to learn from a variety of challenges and solutions across their entire cohort.

Program Formats

The MBC program can be completed in person or online. Each provides the similar benefits. Here are some of the key comparisons:

MBC In-Person

On campus
2 semesters
Daytime
Fixed class times
Scholarships
Grants
Personal mentorship
Peer support
Applied coursework
& More

Not ready to apply?
Request information

MBC Online

Virtual
3 semesters
Anytime
Flexible class times
Scholarships
Grants
Personal mentorship
Peer support
Applied coursework
& More

Not ready to apply?
Request information

Admissions & Curriculum Details

MBC Full-Time & Online Application Timeline for Fall 2024

(Subject to Change)

Here are important dates and deadlines to join the MBC Full-Time or Online program starting fall semester in 2024:

  • Application opens – Aug. 1, 2023
  • Priority application deadline – Feb. 5, 2024
  • Preferred application deadline – March 20, 2024 – All admitted applicants who apply by this deadline will receive some amount of scholarship support.
  • Rolling admissions – starting March 21, 2024 – Admissions decisions will be made at least once per month.
  • Application deadline – June 15, 2024 – Applications may be considered past this date if space is available.
  • Classes start – Aug. 19, 2024

MBC Online Application Timeline for Spring 2025

(Subject to Change)

Here are important dates and deadlines to join the MBC Online program starting spring semester in 2025:

  • Application opens – Aug. 1, 2024
  • Priority application deadline – Oct. 1, 2024 – All applicants who apply by this deadline will receive some amount of scholarship support.
  • Rolling admissions – starting Oct. 2, 2024 – Admissions decisions will be made at least once per month.
  • Application deadline – Nov. 15, 2024 – Applications may be considered past this date if space is available.
  • Classes start – Jan. 6, 2025

MBC Program Application

Please complete the MBC online application to be considered for the program. In the “Academic Program” section of the application, select “Business Creation (MBC)” from the dropdown list. Be prepared to respond to questions about your personal and academic background, as well as questions about residency for tuition purposes.

The MBC Full-Time program enrolls only in the fall, whereas the MBC Online program enrolls for the spring and fall semesters. The application for spring and fall enrollment opens each year on Aug. 1. Applications for the spring enrollment period will be evaluated first and during the months of August through December. Applications for the fall enrollment period will be primarily reviewed during the months of January through July. Applicants are encouraged to apply early and at least two weeks prior to the rolling admissions deadline. Once your application is complete, it will be included in a committee review for a program admissions decision.

Bachelor’s Degree

Applicants must have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Minimum GPA

Applicants must have earned a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA in their undergraduate degree. Exceptions to this requirement might be possible for exceptional candidates based on experience and need. To be considered for an exception, you can submit an application or contact us to discuss.

Transcripts

In your application, you are required to list all higher education institutions you’ve attended and provide unofficial transcripts for each institution. While we can accept unofficial transcripts during the admissions stage, the unofficial transcripts must include: the name of the school, your full name, semesters, course numbers, course titles, course grades, semester GPAs, and cumulative GPA.

Company Details

Be prepared to answer a list of questions designed to assess your enterprise. You will also be required to upload a pitch deck.

Short Essay

In 300-750 words, tell us about a time you overcame adversity. What did you learn from the experience? How have you applied what you learned to your life?

Video Pitch Essay

In no more than six minutes, please submit a video pitch essay for your company or nonprofit enterprise. In this video, introduce yourself, your company, the problem your company is solving, how you address that problem uniquely, how you compare to your competition, your team, a summary of your progress to date (revenue, capital raised, other measures of traction), and your plans for the future. Take your time, elaborate, and pitch their business. Don’t rush through the video. If your video is not carefully planned out and doesn’t cover all the questions asked, it could hurt your chances of being admitted. Think of the video as an interview.

Professional Resume

Submit a current, chronological resume. (For advice, see this resume guide.)

Only include professional work experience. The Equal Opportunity Employment Commission defines professional jobs as those that usually require a college degree.

Optional Essay

You can upload an optional essay to address any perceived weaknesses in your academic transcripts or application.

Application & Seat Fees

Application Fee

Applicants must pay a $55 non-refundable application fee.

If you apply during the rolling deadline, you will be charged an additional $30.

Seat Fee

If you’re admitted into the MBC Program, you must pay a non-refundable $1,000 seat fee.

Course Requirements

The MBC is comprised of required courses, integrated practicum courses, and program workshops featuring special topics sessions (30 total credits minimum). Founders may choose to add electives to their program of study with approval from their advisor and the graduate school in the case of an overload. All courses are taken with a cohort of founders progressing through the program together.

Required Classes

(Subject to Change)

  • Workshops
  • Business Models
  • Qualifying and Testing Business Models
  • Competitive Dynamics
  • Business Creation
  • Practicums
  • Business Launch
  • Legal Issues, Contracting, and Negotiation for Entrepreneurs
  • Leadership and HR

Learning Objectives

  • Mastering complex analysis and problem-solving
  • Executing fast-cycle-time learning
  • Negotiating solutions in multiple-constituency, multiple-issue environments
  • Navigating ambiguity
  • Working with people
  • Emotional intelligence in the face of setbacks and failures
  • Leading innovation

The MBC Full-Time and Online programs are designed to be as affordable as possible to support founders, so costs are minimized so they can put more resources into their companies. Full and partial scholarships are available for both program options. See costs below. Tuition costs exclude application fees, seat fee, room and board, and incidental costs.

(Subject to Change)

Tuition

  • $15,000 for the MBC In-Person or Online program

Scholarships

  • Full and partial scholarships are available to all founders who enroll in the program

Seat Fee

  • Founders pay a $1,000 seat fee after admission to reserve a place in the program

We welcome international residents and citizens to request information about the Master of Business Creation so we can inform them when or if they are eligible to enroll. We currently have limited or no ability to enroll many international applicants, but we are working to expand eligibility to new locations. Request information here to receive updates about eligible locations. [Updated Feb. 28, 2024]

Do you accept non-profits?

Yes, we are very interested in non-profit, low-profit, mission-driven, and hybrid non-profit/for-profit enterprises. We are focused on enterprises that are financially sustainable and that can scale to meet broad social needs. We welcome enterprises that are affiliated with the Sorenson Impact Investing Fund, the Ivory-Boyer Real Estate Center, the Gardner Policy Institute, and the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, and wish to develop further in the MBC program.

What types of enterprises are the “best fit” with the MBC?

The program faculty tend to focus first on the entrepreneur: are we convinced this person has the commitment to succeed as a founder? The second hurdle is the viability of the enterprise. Is it prepared to succeed and can it achieve independence in 9 months? The MBC is not a product-development program; it is an enterprise-creation program. With this focus, we cannot help an entrepreneur who is still doing product development. There is an expectation for those admitted into the program that they will be able to get customer feedback and initial sales within 2-3 months of entering the program. Where individuals are still in a product development phase, the best option is to come back next year.

Are there enterprises that are not a good fit for the MBC?

Professional-practice organizations where the success of the enterprise is the number of hours per day that a professional can devote to the work are not a good fit for the MBC. In these instances, spending 16-20 hours a week on degree work is a distraction from the success of the enterprise, not an acceleration. Many personal-service businesses, including restaurants and retail shops, are similarly not a good match for the MBC.

I have an idea I want to develop; can I do the development while in the MBC?

If you have revenue, you’re probably ready.  If you don’t have revenue, we look for work you’ve done to validate your idea: prototyping, beta testing, market validation, competitive studies, legal entity formation.

What funding opportunities are there for MBC founders?

Founders in the Master of Business Creation program have access to many exclusive funding opportunities. Many of these opportunities are provided by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, which supports founders in the MBC program through a variety of extracurricular programs and initiatives. Funding programs at Lassonde include the Get Seeded milestone funding program and the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge. Lassonde and the Eccles School also have other resources and are always developing new opportunities to support student founders. One new opportunity is the Fenton Founders Fund, which was announced in January 2020 and established with a $5 million investment from the Fenton Foundation. Find more opportunities by in the program directory on the Lassonde website.

Founder Testimonials

“I have changed and grown immensely through the program and their continued support and guidance, and I think I’ve also grown a lot in my confidence.”

— Alyssa Bertelsen, founder of Rise Up School of Dance, MBC graduate

“It’s a broad swath and depth of companies, which really enriches the experience and gives us at True Adherence a broader feedback loop from our peer founders.”

— Kyle Poulin, co-founder of True Adherence, MBC graduate

“Although I had a big picture of where Khalm Skincare would go, I didn’t really have the nitty-gritty established. The MBC program is really timely for me.”

— Yasmin Khan, founder of Khalm Skincare, MBC graduate

MBC Startups

The Master of Business Creation program has helped many diverse founders grow their businesses. They come from many backgrounds and are working in many industries. Learn about some of them by following the link below.

Lyda Bigelow

Meet the Faculty

The faculty for the Master of Business Creation are some of the most respected and innovative thought leaders, shaping the future and transforming business practices worldwide. Learn more about them, our staff, and get connected.

Awards & Recognition

AACSB

GCEC

Utah Business

MBC News & Announcements

Master of Business Creation Wins 2023 Utah Innovation Award (Nov. 1, 2023)

Master of Business Creation Wins Excellence Award from Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (Oct. 18, 2023)

47 founders enroll in the Master of Business Creation program for fall 2023 (Sept. 29, 2023)

26 founders graduate from the Master of Business Creation Full-Time program in class of 2023 (June 15, 2023)

VIDEO: Master of Business Creation Founders (April 10, 2023)

Contact Us

Master of Business Creation
David Eccles School of Business | University of Utah
Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building
1655 East Campus Center Dr.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112

MBC@Eccles.Utah.edu
801-585-1621 (MBC) | 801-581-7676 (Eccles School)

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