Bertrán Foundation Chair of Entrepreneurship

Chair: Julia Prats

The Bertrán Foundation Chair of Entrepreneurship is dedicated to developing the entrepreneurial spirit and deepening knowledge of the entrepreneurial process, both in newly created companies and in the heart of existing companies.

Since its creation in 1987, the Chair has promoted a range of measures to support entrepreneurial projects. These resources, such as venture capital fund FINAVES and the Business Angels Network, also act as a testing ground for academic research into entrepreneurial initiatives.

Entrepreneurship classes are also offered in the MBA program, and competitions and business forums are organized. The activities of the Chair are channeled through the Entrepreneurship Department and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EIC).

Research areas.

  • Creating new companies (Entrepreneurship). Management processes of companies, from the definition of the business plan to the consolidation of the company, including obtaining seed capital or fundraising on the market. Innovative projects are prioritized, both in traditional and emerging sectors.
  • Creating new companies from already existing companies (Intrapreneurship). The distinct methods and strategies that an organization should adopt so as to facilitate and stimulate the creation and development of new businesses within the company itself. There is particular focus on business initiatives in family-run businesses.

Chair.

Julia Prats is a professor of Entrepreneurship. She holds a Doctor in Business Administration from Harvard University, an MBA from IESE and a degree in Industrial Engineering from the Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya. Her principal area of interest is the entrepreneurial process, including the identification, assessment, and implementation of opportunities in any context. She has published several books and articles in international magazines on these subjects.

Publications

Proceedings

CAIAZZA, R., NUENO, P. (2012). New challenges and integration models in cross-border M&A. Proceeding of the 11th Annual Conference of the International Association of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management. Political change, cultural dynamics and competitiveness of firms. Universitá Parthenope di Napoli, Italy, 20 - 22 June 2012 (pp. 32 - 43).

Outreach Articles

PRATS, M. J. (2022). Adopting a retail phygital experience via open innovation. The Story of WOW. Blog IESE.

Books

NUENO, P. (2014). Emails to a young entrepreneur. Keys for fast changing times. Barcelona: Ediciones Experiencia. NUENO, P. (2014). Emails a un joven emprendedor. Claves para tiempo de cambio. Barcelona: Editorial Crítica. NUENO, P. (2011). Cartas a un joven emprendedor. Barcelona: Editorial Crítica.

Cases

PRATS, M. J., DONNELLY, C. (2024). TDK ventures, aligning corporate strategy with venture innovation. IESE. PINHEIRO SAURIN, L., PRATS, M. J. (2023). Findasense (B). A New Path for Scaling Up. IESE, E-238-E. PRATS, M. J., BRIA, V. E. (2023). Xkelet. One Technology, Many Markets. IESE, E-237-E.

Outputs in other media

NUENO, P. (2014). Optimismo para afianzar el prestigio. El Periódico de Catalunya, Barcelona. NUENO, P. (2013). Animando. La Vanguardia, Barcelona. NUENO, P. (2013). Enviando. La Vanguardia, Barcelona.

Journal Articles (refereed)

PRATS, M. J., SOSNA, M., VELAMURI, R. (2012). Managing in Different Growth Contexts. California Management Review, 54 (4), 118 - 142. doi:10.1525/cmr.2012.54.4.118. GROYSBERG, B., NANDA, A., PRATS, M. J. (2009). Does Individual Performance Affect Entrepreneurial Mobility?. Empirical Evidence from the Financial Analysis. Journal of Financial Transformation, 25, 95 - 106.

Working Papers

SIOTA, J., CAMACHO, B., PRATS, M. J. (2024). Corporate venturing. Preliminary assessment for startup scouting. Barcelona: IESE. AGULLES, R., PRATS, M. J. (2012). Change, growth and learning (DI-955-E). AGULLES, R., PRATS, M. J. (2011). Learning in practice: What organizational and management literature can contribute to professional and occupational development (DI-938-E).

Outreach Articles

PRATS, M. J. (2022). Adopting a retail phygital experience via open innovation. The Story of WOW. Blog IESE. SIOTA, J., PRATS, M. J. (2022). The Three internal barriers to deep-tech corporate venturing. Chief innovation officers must tackle not-invented-here syndrome, risk aversion, and top-down cultures to successfully collaborate with deep-tech startups.. MIT Sloan Management Review. PRATS, J., SIOTA, J. (2021). Corporate venturing enablers. How they help open innovation. IESE Insight.

Books

PRATS, M. J., SOSNA, M., SYSKO-ROMANCZUK, S. (2014). Entrepreneurial Icebreakers. Insights and Case Studies from Internationally Successful Central and Eastern European Entrepreneurs. Basingstoke [England]: Palgrave Macmillan.

Book Chapters

PRATS, M. J., FITÉ, R. M. (2024). La lógica emprendedora como capacidad directiva. En Fité, R.M.; Nueno, P.; Mehta; K. and Vilà, J. (Eds.), Primero las personas: pensamiento emprendedor para resolver problemas empresariales (pp. 205-214). Barcelona: Gestión 2000. PRATS, J., KISLENKO, S. (2015). Empowering growth from within. Cultivating conditions for intrapreneruship to thrive in shaping entrepreneurial mindsets. In Canals, Jordi (Eds.), Shaping entrepreneurial mindsets: innovation and entrepreneurship in leadership development (pp. 59-80). London: Palgrave Macmillan. PRATS, M. J., AGULLES, R. (2011). Managing Managers as Professionals: Leadership Development and Talent Transfer in a Global World. In Jordi Canals (Ed.), The Future of Leadership Development: Corporate Needs and the Role of Business Schools (pp. 266 - 291). Basingstoke [England]: Palgrave Macmillan.

Studies

SIOTA, J., KOWSZYK, Y., PRATS, M. J. (2024). European deep-tech scaleups. Go-to-market strategy. IESE, Barcelona, Spain. SIOTA, J., KOWSZYK, Y., PRATS, M. J. (2024). European deep-tech scaleups. Strong board strategy. IESE, Barcelona, Spain. SIOTA, J., KOWSZYK, Y., PRATS, M. J. (2024). European deep-tech scaleups. Investment thesis. IESE, Barcelona, Spain.

Cases

PRATS, M. J., DONNELLY, C. (2024). TDK ventures, aligning corporate strategy with venture innovation. IESE. PRATS, J., DONNELLY, C. (2023). Neuroelectrics: A unique journey in neuroscience entrepreneurship (B). Part B of the case Starlab: Transforming science into business. IESE, E-243-E. PRATS, J., DONNELLY, C. (2023). Neuroelectrics: Un viaje emprendedor único en neurociencia (B). Parte B del caso Starlab: Transformando la ciencia en negocio. IESE, E-243.

Technical Notes

WAKELING, N., MITCHELL, J., PRATS, M. J. (2009). Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and Letters of Intent (LoI) in an Entrepreneurial Context. IESE, EN-13-E. SABRIÀ, F., PRATS, M. J. (1996). Curvas «input-output». IESE, PN-384. SABRIÀ, F., PRATS, M. J. (1996). Input-output Curves. IESE, PN-384-E.

Outputs in other media

SIOTA, J., PRATS, J. (2020). Three ways to de-risk corporate-startup innovation. Sifted. PRATS, J., SIOTA, J. (2020). 3 ways corporate giants can innovate better with start-ups in Latin America. World Economic Forum. PRATS, M. J., SIOTA, J. (2018). Here's How Large Firms Can Innovate By Collaborating With Startups. Forbes.