Utah Eccles Master of Business Creation (MBC)

[Jonathan Whatley]

The University of Utah David Eccles School of Business offers a Master of Business Creation (MBC) degree it describes as “business accelerator meets business degree.”

The MBC is offered in both an on-campus and an online format. The online format lasts three semesters and looks to be asynchronous or close as to meeting times, although "all courses are taken with a cohort of founders progressing through the program together."

The application process not only screens each student but screens the suitability for the program of each student’s for-profit or non-profit enterprise, using a pitch deck, a video pitch essay, and questions to assess the enterprise.

"The MBC is exclusively for founders committed to achieving operating independence by the time they complete the program. […] Courses in the program are designed to help working entrepreneurs who need help on real startup problems now. Founders can immediately apply what they learn in class to their startup. […] Founders in the program not only learn from their experience starting an enterprise, they also observe their colleagues’ startup efforts in detail and have an opportunity to learn from a variety of challenges and solutions across their entire cohort."

Recent graduates from the on-campus format lead startups "from cardiac imaging and trucking software to vintage sneakers and pickleball." An FAQ describes enterprises that are or are not good fits with the MBC. "If you have revenue, you're probably ready. If you don’t have revenue, we look for work you’ve done to validate your idea: prototyping, beta testing, market validation, competitive studies, legal entity formation." Less good fits include professional practices based on billed hours and "many personal-service businesses, including restaurants and retail shops."

Tuition is $15,000, and “full and partial scholarships are available to all founders who enroll in the program.”

Funding opportunities for the enterprises may also be available arising out of the MBC community.

Only some international locations are eligible, but the program is working to expand eligible locations. Eccles recently announced a new MBC Africa cohort. "Sponsorship to cover tuition costs will be awarded to all founders enrolling in the MBC Africa program in fall 2024."

Eccles and the program are accredited by the AACSB.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Nineteen founders graduated from the Master of Business Creation (MBC) Online at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business following the summer 2024 semester. It is the second group to graduate from the flexile, online option in this unique, affordable and award-winning program designed specifically for entrepreneurs, and follows the May graduation of over 40 students from the MBC program.

[The businesses founded by each Summer 2024 graduate are: …]

• Bodomint (Rebecca Waldron, of Costa Mesa, Calif.) – Online premium diaper bag designers and sellers.
  
• Brooks Haus Entertainment (Brandon Brooks, of South Salt Lake, Utah) – One-stop-shop for artist booking, management and production services.
  
• Clear Water Distilling Co. (Matthew Eau Claire, Stephanie Eau Claire, of Pleasant Grove, Utah) – A distillery that crafts and sells premium spirits.
  
• Gforce Learning (Susan Kingsley, of Salt Lake City) – Software to convert PowerPoint documents into e-learning compatible files.
  
• Ghost 13 (Landon Hull, of North Salt Lake, Utah) – Limited-edition firearm cases and accessories.
  
• Griffin Waste Utah (Dane Eyerly, of Highland, Utah) – A dumpster rental and waste hauling business.
  
• Guided (Connor Chase, of Provo, Utah) – An app that combines meditation with AI to unlock effective and affordable mental well-being.
  
• Hope in Art Association (Kassidy Ricks, of Bountiful, Utah) – Art supplies and instruction for women in need to help the healing process of trauma.
  
• Idaho Barkery (Sabrina Sherwood, of Boise, Idaho) – Gourmet, all-natural dog treats.
  
• Leorian Education Refugee Service Provider (Susan Knott, of Salt Lake City) – Unique curriculum and childcare centers for refugee children.
  
• Maintain Bicycles (Michael “Tiger” Chase, of Chatsworth, Calif.) – Mobile bike maintenance and repair.
  
• Mandala Pies (Caitlin LaComb, Salisbury, Md.) – Pie bakeries on the Maryland shore.
  
• securesample (Arjun Gill, of Fort Collins, Colo.) – Secure fluid-sampling technology.
  
• Sexy Donut Company (Christine Mather, of Boulder, Colo.) – Meal and treat preparation service for college students, ordered by parents.
  
• Small Business To Go (Jeffrey Lunt, of Salt Lake City) – Marketing and operational services for small businesses.
  
• Utah Mobile Emissions (Daniel Diehl, of Lindon, Utah) – Mobile auto-emissions testing.
  
• Vida (Samuel Mehr, of Salt Lake City) – Data and analytics platform to connect musical artists with their most committed fans.
  
• Wonder Arts (Alexanna Wonder, of Salt Lake City) – Artwork based on tarot, witchcraft, herbalism and nature.
  

19 Founders Graduate from the Master of Business Creation Online in Summer 2024 (Mark Tullis, TechBuzz News, August 22, 2024)

Looking at these businesses, perhaps the MBC program is now more open to "personal-service businesses, including restaurants and retail shops" than in their prior statement quoted upthread.

[bjcheung77]

Interesting, seems like a good program and it's got the programmatic/secondary AACSB accreditation, most programs are much more expensive, they've kept it at the sweet spot price of $15K... There are programs that are ACBSP or just plain jane RA that are more costly that $15K. This is one to put in your decision list when it comes down to the MBA options at least consider them and even have them in the backup pile if you have a couple in mind as your first/second choices...