Poets&Quants Reveals Top 100 MBA Startups of 2024: Capchase Leads with $1.1 Billion in Funding

Poets&Quants, a leading resource for graduate business education, has unveiled its annual ranking of the top 100 highest-funded MBA startups for 2024. The list, which has been compiled annually since 2014, offers valuable insights into the entrepreneurial landscape shaped by recent MBA graduates from prestigious business schools worldwide.

Topping this year's list is Capchase, co-founded by INSEAD MBA graduate Luis Basagoiti Marqués. The startup, which was founded in 2020, has raised an impressive $1.1 billion in funding, catapulting it from the second position in 2023 to the top spot this year. Capchase's success is further underscored by its inclusion in Forbes' 2023 list of Next Billion-Dollar Startups.

The ranking methodology focuses on startups founded between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, with at least one MBA founder during this period. The primary criterion for ranking is the amount of funding raised in the past five years, providing a standardized metric for comparison across different ventures.

Notable entries in the top 10 include Tamara from London Business School, Kyte from UC Berkeley Haas, and Merama from Harvard Business School. The list showcases a diverse range of industries and business models, reflecting the broad impact of MBA-led entrepreneurship.

An encouraging trend highlighted in this year's list is the significant presence of women-founded startups. More than 23 companies on the list were founded by women entrepreneurs, collectively raising $756.5 million. This statistic underscores the growing role of women in high-growth startups and venture capital ecosystems.

The annual ranking serves as a barometer for the health and dynamism of the MBA startup ecosystem. It not only highlights individual success stories but also provides insights into emerging trends, hot sectors, and the effectiveness of business schools in fostering entrepreneurship. For aspiring entrepreneurs and investors, the list offers a valuable overview of promising ventures and potential investment opportunities.

Furthermore, the success of these startups reflects the evolving nature of business education and its real-world applications. It demonstrates how MBA programs are equipping graduates with the skills, networks, and confidence to launch and scale innovative businesses across various sectors.

As the business world continues to face rapid technological changes and economic challenges, the achievements of these MBA-founded startups serve as a testament to the resilience, innovation, and adaptability fostered by top business schools. The list not only celebrates individual and institutional success but also provides inspiration and benchmarks for future entrepreneurs emerging from MBA programs worldwide.