Master in Entrepreneurship and Family Business

Offered by IDEATE Lab, O.P. Jindal Global University

About the Programme

Family-owned businesses form the backbone of economies across the globe—and especially in India. The Master in Entrepreneurship and Family Business is a transformative one-year postgraduate programme that prepares future leaders to successfully manage, sustain, and scale their family businesses. With a balanced focus on academic excellence and practical application, this programme addresses the unique challenges faced by family-run enterprises—from succession and governance to innovation and digital transformation. Through a dynamic mix of online coursework and on-campus residencies, students will explore critical areas such as strategic leadership, conflict resolution, financial management, and entrepreneurship—all while preserving the core values and legacy of their family business.

Why Choose Our Master in Entrepreneurship and Family Business?

Tailored for Family Businesses: Designed specifically for those involved in family enterprises, the curriculum focuses on real challenges like generational transition, succession planning, and governance.

Entrepreneurial Innovation: Learn to lead innovation within your business, identify new growth opportunities, and adapt to digital disruption.

Ethical and Responsible Leadership: Emphasis on social responsibility, sustainability, and ethical decision-making to drive long-term success.

Academic Rigor Meets Practical Learning: Combine world-class instruction with real-world application, including a capstone project focused on your family business.

Global Perspective: Gain insights on international business expansion, digital tools, and cross-cultural management.

Peer Learning and Networking: Build lasting connections with a cohort of family business professionals from across the country and beyond.

Programme Information

Programme Duration	1 Year (4 Terms)
Total Credits	60
Delivery Format	Online + 1–2 intensive on-campus residencies (Winter/Summer)
Weekly Commitment	15–20 hours
Assessment	Continuous (50% Internal + 50% External)
Programme Fee	INR 4,00,000 (2.5L for online + 1.5L for residencies)
Cohort 1 Start Date	1 October 2025
Cohort 2 Start Date	Fall 2025 (TBA)

Curriculum Structure

Term 1

Course Name	Type	Credits	Course Focus
Introduction to Family Business	Core	5	Explore key characteristics, challenges, and governance structures in family-owned businesses.
Design Thinking for Family Business	Core	5	Learn innovation through empathy, ideation, prototyping, and problem-solving tailored to family firms.
Risk Management in Startups and Family Firms	Core	5	Understand risk identification and mitigation strategies specific to entrepreneurial family ventures.

Term 2

Course Name	Type	Credits	Course Focus
Entrepreneurship and Innovation	Core	5	Develop business ideas, value propositions, and innovative models for family business growth.
Business Strategy and Planning	Core	5	Gain strategic planning skills through SWOT analysis, competitive advantage, and long-term positioning.
Elective (Choose One):
Finance & Accounting for Entrepreneurs	Elective	5	Learn financial management, capital structure, budgeting, and valuation for family-run enterprises.
Digital Transformation in Family Business	Elective	5	Integrate digital tools like e-commerce, data analytics, and cloud systems.

Term 3

Course Name	Type	Credits	Course Focus
Family Office and Wealth Management	Core	5	Focus on wealth preservation, investments, governance, and philanthropic strategies.
Succession Planning and Estate Management	Core	5	Study legal, tax, and emotional dimensions of succession and estate planning for smooth transitions.
Elective (Choose One):
Mergers & Acquisitions in Family Businesses	Elective	5	Explore M&A strategy, valuation, due diligence, and integration tailored to family enterprises.
Venture Capital and Private Equity	Elective	5	Learn about funding sources, investor engagement, and capital scaling for entrepreneurial ventures.
Advanced Risk & Crisis Management	Elective	5	Address enterprise risk frameworks and crisis response for business resilience.

Term 4

Course Name	Type	Credits	Course Focus
Family Governance and Leadership	Core	5	Build leadership skills and governance mechanisms like family councils and boards of directors.
Capstone Project	Core	10	Apply program learning to solve a real-world family business or entrepreneurial challenge.

Meet Our Team

Prof. (Dr.) Priyatej Kotipalli

Deputy Director, IDEATE Lab, Associate Professor, Jindal Global Business School (JGBS)
B.H.M. (University of Mumbai); MBA (JNTU, Hyderabad); Ph.D. (Erasmus University, Netherlands)

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Prof. (Dr.) Tejpavan Singh Gandhok

Director, IDEATE Lab, Professor of Practice, Strategy & Entrepreneurship Area
Jindal Global Business School (JGBS)
B.E. (University of Melbourne); MBA (UCLA, Los Angeles); Ph.D. (Singapore Management University)

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Mr. Philippe J Weil

Leader in international Family Offices, consultant, author, and respected global speaker with a holistic approach to family and business.

Mr. Suraj Malik

Specialist in succession planning, family offices, and strategic ownership structuring. Active in India's family office ecosystem.

Dr. Vinod Surana

CEO coach, lawyer, mediator and policy advocate with credentials from Harvard, Cornell, LSE, and IIMs. Focused on diplomacy and leadership.

Mr. Ajay Sharma

Director at Baidyanath Ayurveda, leading the brand’s growth beyond 100 years. Board member and award-winning industry leader.

Our International Ecosystem Partners

Venture Builders of JGU

Programme Outcomes

Strategic Leadership Readiness

Graduates gain the ability to take on senior leadership roles and manage transitions in multi-generational family businesses.

Entrepreneurial and Growth Orientation

Develop the mindset and tools to innovate, diversify, and scale family ventures in competitive markets.

Mastery of Family Business Governance

Deep understanding of succession planning, conflict resolution, and governance structures unique to family enterprises.

Financial and Operational Expertise

Build strong skills in financial planning, risk management, and sustainable business practices tailored for family firms.

Ethical, Responsible, and Global Outlook

Lead with integrity while navigating global markets, digital change, and social responsibilities.

Admissions & Financing

Must have: • A Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent diploma/vocational training) in any field
• Active involvement as an entrepreneurial family member
• A clear intent to scale or impact some aspect of the family enterprise
• A defined strategic impact project (e.g. business transformation, new venture, wealth/legacy initiative, governance upgrade, etc.)
Preferable: • 1–3 years of work experience post-undergraduation

Selection Criteria: • A Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent diploma/vocational training) in any field
• Active involvement as an entrepreneurial family member
• A clear intent to scale or impact some aspect of the family enterprise
• A defined strategic impact project (e.g. business transformation, new venture, wealth/legacy initiative, governance upgrade, etc.)
Preferable: • 1–3 years of work experience post-undergraduation

Programme Fee Breakdown

Component	Amount (INR)	Payment Timeline
Registration Fee	₹ 50,000	Upon acceptance of the offer letter
Installment I	₹ 1,12,500	20 days after the programme begins
Installment II	₹ 1,12,500	Prior to the commencement of Term 3

1. Introduction to Family Business

History, nature of business/industry
Turnover and size (assets, employees, etc.)
Number of generations and siblings involved
Applicant's role and generation

2. Applicant Profile

CV covering educational qualifications, work experience, and notable accomplishments

3. Description of Proposed Strategic Impact Project

Context and key objectives
Estimated value or impact potential
Current stage (exploration, planning, implementation, etc.)

4. Statement of Support by Project Sponsor/Champion

Sponsor’s identity and role
Desired outcomes
Timeframes and resources committed for the project

Tailored for Family Businesses

A specialised programme designed to address the unique challenges, values, and growth opportunities within family-run enterprises.

Hands-On, Practice-Oriented Curriculum

Courses are designed with real-world relevance, blending case studies, simulations, and business tools.

Capstone with Real-World Impact

Students solve a live challenge in their own or another family business through a guided capstone project.

Ethics, Innovation, and Governance Focus

The curriculum emphasizes ethical leadership, strategic innovation, and governance best practices.

Global Perspective, Local Relevance

Equips students to lead with a global mindset while preserving the cultural values of family-owned enterprises.