The Launchpad for Unicorn Startups

A phrase coined in 2013 by venture capitalist Aileen Lee to describe rare, high-growth companies, a ‘Unicorn startup’ is a privately held new company valued at US$1 billion or more. Furthermore, Europe is home to a thriving startup ecosystem. Some of the world’s most successful unicorns have emerged from alumni of top European universities and business schools for entrepreneurship.

Over the past decade, graduates of business school programs around the world have raised hundreds of billions in funding, according to the Financial Times. These institutions provide world-class education, strong entrepreneurial networks, and access to venture capital, key ingredients for startup success. Many unicorn founders take their first steps toward building an enterprise while completing a master’s or MBA program.

10 Top Universities For Entrepreneurship Producing Unicorn Founders

Firstly, before diving into the list, let’s explore what makes these universities stand out in the startup world. These institutions offer structured entrepreneurship programs and access to accelerators. Additionally, strong alumni networks help them launch innovative businesses. We have listed notable startups that have reached Unicorn status from each school, however for some of these institutions the list is long and growing year by year.

1. University of Oxford / Saïd Business School (UK)

The University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School supports startup success in the United Kingdom through the Oxford Saïd Entrepreneurship Centre and Oxford University Innovation. 

These institutions provide funding, mentorship, and office space to early-stage companies, supporting students in venture building. Additionally, Oxford has an extensive angel investor network. This helps student startups secure funding from seasoned entrepreneurs, enhancing their growth prospects in competitive markets. Oxford combines cutting-edge research with high-caliber faculty. This, along with commercial support, makes it a prime breeding ground for ambitious startups.

Oxford Foundry, a dedicated entrepreneurship hub, provides students with resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Additionally, Oxford Science Enterprises invests in high-potential startups in Life Sciences, Health Tech, and Deep Tech emerging from the university.

Notable University of Oxford Unicorns:

DeepMind, LinkedIn, Hinge Health, Funding Circle

2. INSEAD (France)

INSEAD, located in France, offers a truly international environment that fosters innovation. Its campuses span Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The INSEAD Centre for Entrepreneurship supports student startups through funding, mentorship, and industry collaborations. It provides a truly international environment fostering innovation across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Moreover, INSEAD’s Entrepreneurship Startup Bootcamp provides students with intensive training in business development, venture capital pitching, & scaling strategies. The school also collaborates with Station F, Paris’s world’s largest startup campus, enabling students to connect with global investors and technology pioneers. Its strong network of over 60,000 alums worldwide enhances opportunities for mentorship and funding, making INSEAD an ideal launchpad for future unicorns.

Notable INSEAD Unicorns: 

BlaBlaCar, Wise, Nubank, Qonto

3. Cambridge Judge Business School (UK)

Cambridge Judge Business School, located in the United Kingdom, thrives on the synergy between academia and industry. Judge Business School runs a Venture Creation Program, turning research into scalable businesses. While the Cambridge Enterprise Fund, the university’s commercialization arm, provides funding, mentorship, and business guidance to help transform academic research into successful companies. In addition,, there is the Cambridge Innovation Capital that backs later-stage startups. 

Furthermore, beyond funding schemes, the Cambridge Science Park, provides tech startups with state-of-the-art labs, business mentorship, and venture funding. As a result, Cambridge has become a European startup powerhouse. 

Notable Cambridge Judge Business School Unicorns: 

CMR Surgical, Improbable, Graphcore

4. Technical University of Munich (Germany)

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany is a leader in engineering, technology, and innovation, fostering one of Germany’s most dynamic startup ecosystems. The university’s UnternehmerTUM, Europe’s largest Entrepreneurship center, provides students with training, incubation programs, and funding to scale high-tech startups.

TUM’s Industry Engagement Program connects students with global corporations, offering real-world experience and funding opportunities. The university’s strong emphasis on deep tech, AI, and sustainable technologies has also created several high-impact startups. TUM has an extensive network of investors, industry partnerships, and government-backed innovation grants. This creates ample opportunities for student startups to scale effectively.

Notable TUM Unicorns: 

Celonis (Decacorn), Lilium Aviation, Personio 

5. The London School of Economics and Political Science (UK)

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in the United Kingdom cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset through its Generate program, offering student founders mentorship, funding opportunities, and business development support. 

Move fast & break things: The benefits of studying in a startup city

Furthermore, LSE is strategically located in the heart of London,. This gives students unparalleled access to global financial hubs, top-tier investors, and industry experts. In addition, the LSESU Entrepreneurs, one of the most significant student-led initiatives in the UK, connects aspiring founders with successful business leaders. LSE also collaborates with tech incubators like Level39, Europe’s largest FinTech accelerator, helping student-led ventures grow into high-impact startups.

Notable London School of Economics and Political Science Unicorns:

TrueLayer, HelloFresh, Maven Clinic, Sennder

6. Imperial College Business School (UK)

Similarly, Imperial College Business School in the United Kingdom strongly emphasizes innovation, providing dedicated programs to support aspiring entrepreneurs. 

Imperial’s Enterprise Lab provides students with state-of-the-art prototyping facilities, and mentorship. It also offers early-stage funding to enhance student success in launching innovative ventures. More specifically, the college has a dedicated Techcelerate Program, supporting researchers in transforming their academic work into viable businesses. Its location near Silicon Roundabout, London’s tech hub, allows students to engage with venture capitalists and established startups, creating unparalleled growth opportunities.

Notable Imperial College Business School Unicorns:

Hinge Health, Tractable

7. ETH Zürich (Switzerland)

Notably, alumni and researchers from ETH Zürich have 545 companies to date. Located in Switzerland, this school excels in nurturing startup companies in deep tech, engineering, and applied sciences. To that end it offers students access to world-class research facilities and mentorship programs.

ETH Zürich hosts the Pioneer Fellowship Program, offering up to CHF 150,000 seed funding for promising startup projects. Its close collaboration with Switzerland’s Innovation Park allows students to test and deploy groundbreaking technologies.

ETH Zürich also provides access to ETH Spin-Off, a platform that helps students commercialize their research and secure venture capital. This makes ETH Zürich an ideal environment for deep tech entrepreneurs.

Notable ETH Zürich Unicorns:

GetYourGuide, Climeworks, GoStudent

8. WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management (Germany)

WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany’s Entrepreneurship Center, fosters the startup ecosystem. The Entrepreneurship Center provides students and alumni access to mentorship, funding opportunities, and networking.

For example, WHU’s Master in Entrepreneurship program integrates real-world startup experience, equipping students with the knowledge to build scalable businesses. They do this by partnering with top-tier investors, including Rocket Internet and Cherry Ventures, the university helps startups gain early-stage funding. 

WHU has a strong student-led incubator program. Consequently, it consistently ranks among Europe’s best business schools for producing high-growth ventures.

Notable WHU Unicorns:

Zalando, HelloFresh, Enpal, FlixBus 

9. École Polytechnique (France)

École Polytechnique, located in France, drives innovation through its X-UP incubator, which offers early-stage startup mentorship, funding, and dedicated workspace.

Furthermore, the Drahi-X Novation Center, École Polytechnique’s flagship startup hub, accelerates student-led ventures by connecting them with leading investors. Furthermore the school’s specialized AI & Data Science Lab fosters groundbreaking research that has contributed to the success of deep tech startups.

École Polytechnique focuses on sustainability and technology-driven entrepreneurship. As a result, it remains a significant force in European innovation, attracting top talent and global funding.

Notable École Polytechnique Unicorns:

Shift Technology, Payfit, Gorillas, Qonto

10. Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden)

Ranked #2 in Europe for creating unicorn tech founders, the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden houses the House of Innovation, a dynamic hub for entrepreneurial students with access to incubators, accelerators, and a robust mentorship network.

Moreover, SSE is deeply integrated with Sweden’s startup ecosystem, including partnerships with Norrsken Foundation, one of Europe’s leading impact investment firms. The school’s BSc in Business & Economics program encourages students to engage in entrepreneurial activities early, preparing them for high-growth ventures. 

Consequently, owing to its close connection with Stockholm’s vibrant fintech and sustainability innovation hubs, SSE remains a top choice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Notable Stockholm School of Economics Unicorns:

Klarna, iZettle (now part of PayPal)

Unicorn Universities: The Future of European Startup Growth

These universities are not just producing successful founders; they are shaping the future of global entrepreneurship. These institutions drive Europe’s economic transformation by fostering innovation and supporting early-stage startups. As a result, they attract top talent and funding globally.

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