Escape the City - The Startup MBA

Everything you need to know about starting up a business

Don’t waste $100k on an MBA

Keen to start your own business? Not sure where to begin? There are so many hurdles and potential pitfalls. You don’t want to waste your time and money developing a business idea that doesn’t work. Escape the City’s Startup MBA brings together all the diverse aspects of start-up management in a single, targeted 5-day course that cuts through all the noise.

This is a real world MBA that doesn't break the bank. It is based on start-up best practice and real world examples. It is specifically designed for Escape members. It is jam-packed with up-to-date knowledge and advice. It is easy to be overwhelmed by information overload. This is the course we wish we had taken three years ago. Save yourself a lot of time and uncertainty having to figure everything out by yourself.

Delivered by startup experts

The course is taught by industry figures and entrepreneurs with demonstrated experience and expertise in the relevant start-up area. This is not an academic course - it is highly practical and is designed to tell you exactly what you need to know to start your business and help you avoid making costly mistakes.

Each intake will have 30 students. You will have the chance to work closely with a group of like-minded people. There will be homework, joint working sessions, and lots of recommended resources to support you after the course.

This is a unique opportunity

Cut through the noise to know what you need to know.
Instead of spending two years and thousands of pounds on a traditional MBA, you get all the relevant and practical knowledge you need in 5 days at a fraction of the price.
Developed by startup and industry experts. This is what we wish we had been taught when we started Escape the City.
Network with like-minded people. Having a peer group of fellow early-stage entrepreneurs is invaluable.

As seen in CITY AM

The complete guide to starting a business

The course will cover the following...

Idea Generation

Understand how to generate viable business ideas. Know how to de-risk your ideas before committing.

Finance & funding

Understand your start-up’s different financing options. Know the basics of pitching for investment.

Strategy & Metrics

Know how to develop a viable business strategy. Understand how metrics influence your strategic direction.

21st Century Marketing

Understand how to spread the word and measure. Know how marketing isn’t just advertising - it’s your entire product.

Sales

Understand the art and science of sales. Know how to manage your client base & deliver great customer service.

Tech & IT systems

Know how to create a simple online presence. Understand the do’s and don’ts of working with developers.

Who is this course for?

Esc Members

You are keen to build a career on your own terms and you are looking for targeted start-up guidance.

Aspiring entrepreneurs

You are already starting or keen to start a business and you want to gain an overview of what it entails.

General employees

You are currently employed at a big company and you want breathing space to explore the start-up route.

High-achievers

You are looking to expand your skillset and keep up to date with entrepreneurial business techniques.

NB: The course is designed for anyone in the pre-launch stages of building a startup (those with or without business ideas are welcome). If you have already launched your startup this course is probably not for you.

Specifics

When?

July 2013

Friday 5th (6-9pm), Saturday 6th (11am – 5pm), Sunday 7th (11am – 5pm)

Friday 19th (6-9pm), Saturday 20th (11am – 5pm), Sunday 21st (11am – 5pm)

Where?

Central London

Hub Westminster

SW1Y 4TE

Cost?

Before we can confirm your place, you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of £250. The remaining balance of £500 (the total cost for the course is £750) will be due on June 15, 2013.

Payment plans are available although places on the course do fill up quickly and priority will be given on a first come, first served basis. If you have further questions, please email adele@escapethecity.org.

“Gathers all key aspects of a startup and how to get it off the ground – gave me a lot more confidence about how to progress!”

“This is exactly what I needed to get me going. Thank you.”

“Absolutely awesome! Really happy I could be a part of this course and the lessons learned and material covered are extremely valuable.”

“I feel like I am finally inside the world of startups rather than watching it all from the sidelines wondering what all the jargon means. If nothing else I have the confidence to know I belong to the community and can reach out when I need to.”

“The course was extremely inspiring, informative and definitely exceeded expectations. Brilliant to hear a lot of stories of people’s startup adventures firsthand. Thought Esc managed to create a great balance between learning and fun, so a comfortable environment to share and grow.”

“Massively eye-opening, extremely motivating without being overly optimistic in any way. Everything was completely actionable and the right steps were demystified.”

“Have saved myself thousands of pounds of costs by being shown free or cheaper ways of setting up a business.

A word from Rob and Dom...

Hi there,
This is the course we wish we had taken three years ago when we escaped from management consulting to start Escape the City. We’ve spent a lot of time figuring things out for ourselves that we really could have learnt quite easily given the right opportunity. We have developed this course to help the next wave of corporate escapees stand a greater chance of building a successful start-up and not having to return to their jobs!
We hope you decide to join us on our first ever Startup MBA.

All the best,

Dom and Rob

Escape the City Co-Founders

The course takes place in central London. If you are interested in joining our July intake, please apply by clicking the “Apply for this intake” button below.

Apply for this intake