Hult’s Bachelor’s in Entrepreneurship prepares you to think differently, take risks, and start building from day one, preparing you not just to launch a business, but to shape the future. We spoke with Daniel Rukare, the Global Discipline Lead for Entrepreneurship & Global Innovation, to find out more.
Hult: What makes Hult’s Bachelor’s in Entrepreneurship different from other entrepreneurship programs?
Daniel: This degree gives students the environment to build companies, not just study them. Students study in Dubai, one of the world’s most active startup hubs. They engage with founders, investors, family businesses, and corporate innovators, and that energy flows directly into the classroom. We don’t ask students to imagine markets from a textbook. Instead, we ask them to step outside, talk to real customers, and bring those insights straight into their projects.
Practical learning lies at the heart of the program. Students work on live client challenges with real companies—from early-stage ventures to established businesses. They diagnose real problems, propose solutions, and present their recommendations to senior decision-makers. This hands-on approach builds confidence and maturity that’s hard to match in a purely classroom-based program.
Another defining element of the program is the Venture Studio, which gives students dedicated time and structured support to work on startup projects, either by advancing their own ideas or by joining the ventures of their peers. Rather than traditional lectures, students focus on setting clear milestones and working toward them through self-directed work, regular check-ins with mentors and entrepreneurs-in-residence, and access to the Venture Studio’s resources and network.
Students can also engage with opportunities like the Hult Prize and other startup competitions. By combining Dubai’s startup scene, real-world experience, incubator resources, and a global network, this degree delivers a truly unique entrepreneurial experience.
“This degree gives students the environment to build companies, not just study them.”
H: What mentorship, startup resources, and networks are available to Bachelor’s in Entrepreneurship students?
D: Students aren’t left to ‘figure it out’ on their own. They learn in an environment filled with people who understand what it takes to build something from the ground up.
Mentorship is a core part of the experience. Students work closely with faculty who bring real entrepreneurial and consulting backgrounds. The Venture Studio adds another layer of support by giving students access to founders, investors, and industry practitioners. Guidance comes through one-to-one mentoring, small-group sessions, and focused clinics on topics such as customer discovery, funding, and go-to-market strategy.
Students also have access to practical resources. They can join workshops on essential startup topics, get help with financial modeling and pitch preparation, and take part in feedback sessions to test ideas before launching.
“Students aren’t left to ‘figure it out’ on their own. They learn in an environment filled with people who understand what it takes to build something from the ground up.”
H: What entrepreneurial skills and experience will students gain?
D: Students leave the program with a strong toolkit of skills and a set of lived experiences. On the skills side, they learn how to spot and evaluate opportunities, size markets, and build and test business models. They practice customer discovery and design thinking, and learn how to run lean experiments. Students also become comfortable with the numbers behind a venture—from unit economics to basic fundraising and valuation. In addition, the curriculum explores how family businesses think about investment, risk, and long-term value, which is particularly relevant in Dubai.
Equally important are the human skills. Students work in diverse teams and learn how to communicate clearly, structure a convincing story, and pitch to different audiences. They develop resilience, adaptability, and the ability to take feedback without losing confidence. These are the muscles that every founder needs, and they are built through repeated practice.
In terms of experience, students will have worked on several live client challenges across sectors and business types. By graduation, students will have a portfolio of real projects and ventures they can discuss in detail, rather than just a list of modules completed on a transcript.
“Students leave the program with real skills and lived entrepreneurial experience.”
H: Can a student launch or scale their own business during the program, and what support will they get?
D: The program is designed with that possibility in mind. If a student already has a business, they can use the Bachelor’s in Entrepreneurship to strengthen and scale it. If they have a rough idea, they can use their courses and the Venture Studio to refine it, test it, and take it to market.
Support includes mentoring from faculty and external practitioners, access to feedback sessions, help with refining business models and financial plans, and preparation for investor or partner conversations. Students can also tap into events, pitch days, and connections within Dubai’s startup and family business community.
It’s also important to say that it is completely acceptable if an idea changes or even fails. Part of the value of launching a venture during the degree is that students can make mistakes in a safe environment, reflect on them, and carry those lessons into their next project.
“If a student already has a business, they can use the Bachelor’s in Entrepreneurship to strengthen and scale it.”
H: What gives Hult entrepreneurship graduates an edge over other business founders?
D: I see three main advantages. First, students are accustomed to building in a genuinely global, multicultural setting. Dubai attracts talent, capital, and ideas from every direction, and students learn early how to think across markets, cultures, and customer segments. This is a real edge for founders who will operate in regional or global markets, not just a single local context.
Second, they graduate with real experience, not just knowledge. By the time they finish, they will have worked on multiple live client projects, engaged with family businesses and other organizations, and, often, taken part in competitions like the Hult Prize. Many will also have started or tested at least one venture of their own through the Venture Studio. As a result, they are already familiar with the ups and downs of execution.
Third, they learn to connect startup thinking with an understanding of family businesses and long-term capital. Many entrepreneurship programs focus purely on high-growth startups. In our program, students see how entrepreneurial thinking plays out in family firms, family offices, and more traditional businesses that are trying to reinvent and regenerate. That perspective is especially valuable when working with or pitching to these types of partners.
Hult entrepreneurship graduates are founders who already have hands-on experience in a demanding, international environment. They know how to engage customers, work in diverse teams, handle uncertainty, and leverage the networks around them. That combination of mindset, skills, and experience is their real edge.
“Hult entrepreneurship graduates know how to engage customers, work in diverse teams, and handle uncertainty in real-world business environments.”
Curious to learn more about Hult’s undergraduate programs? Download our brochure.
