Inside the EDHEC Global MBA Programme's Entrepreneurship Track

The EDHEC GMBA Entrepreneurship Specialisation

The Entrepreneurship track in the EDHEC Global MBA programme offers students more than just theory. It delivers hands-on experience in building businesses from the ground up, packaged within Nice’s unique geography and strong regional startup ecosystem and investor network, the track is designed to support students aiming to start their own company, pivot into venture capital, or strengthen their entrepreneurial skillset.

Led by Jean-Louis Brelet, an experienced investor, entrepreneur and finance lecturer, the track equips participants to transition from concept to execution, all within a high-impact, mentorship-driven environment.

“What makes this track different? Where is the EDHEC flavour?” Brelet asks, rhetorically. The answer, he says, lies in its location and its people. Based in the South of France, near Sophia Antipolis, the track benefits from access to a vibrant startup and investor community. “It’s easier to find a very good startup ecosystem, a very good investor ecosystem in this region.”

“Be prepared to work very hard... But at the same time, you will actually become a real change-maker with a very critical mindset and a change mind.”

- Jean Louis Brelet

Real-World Foundations from Day One

Brelet brings 40 years of industry experience to the role, including a background in private equity from his time working in the United States. Each year, he sets the tone with a clear message: “I’m not a professor. I’m here as an experienced entrepreneur and experienced investor and I would like to share that with you as a mentor.”

This mentor-led approach encourages students to view he course as a resource for shaping a real, fundable business.

The Entrepreneurship track is tailored for students at different career crossroads. “This track is good of course for students who would like to start their own business… but also for students who would like to work for venture capitalists.” Past participants have also gone on to work in corporate VC and startup funding roles.

Throughout the track, students explore the full entrepreneurial lifecycle, from identifying a problem to building a long-term business around it. “Starting a business to solve a problem. This is what every investor will look at.”

Practising the Pitch with Real Investors

A core highlight of the track is the final pitch session. Students are required to present their venture to a jury of real investors and business angels in a setting that mimics the boardroom.

“They have to be in an entrepreneur’s shoes,” explains Brelet. “We ask a partner for their boardroom to make sure we can do this pitching session as close as possible to real condition.”

This practical element is what transforms the classroom experience into something actionable—where feedback from investors directly influences how students refine their ideas and business models.

What It Takes to Succeed

While the programme welcomes students from diverse professional backgrounds, Brelet emphasises that success hinges on attitude more than prior experience.

“If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, if you want to be a successful venture capitalist... the first one is network, network, network, network.”

He adds that intellectual curiosity, resilience, and passion are essential. “Be prepared to work very hard,” he says. “But at the same time, you will actually become a real change-maker with a very critical mindset and a change mind.”