Bertrán Foundation Chair of Entrepreneurship

Chair: Christoph Zott

The Bertrán Foundation Chair of Entrepreneurship is dedicated to developing the entrepreneurial spirit and deepening knowledge of the entrepreneurial process, both in newly created companies and in the heart of existing companies.

Since its creation in 1987, the Chair has promoted a range of measures to support entrepreneurial projects. These resources, such as venture capital fund FINAVES and the Business Angels Network, also act as a testing ground for academic research into entrepreneurial initiatives.

Entrepreneurship classes are also offered in the MBA program, and competitions and business forums are organized. The activities of the Chair are channeled through the Entrepreneurship Department and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EIC).

Research areas.

  • Creating new companies (Entrepreneurship). Management processes of companies, from the definition of the business plan to the consolidation of the company, including obtaining seed capital or fundraising on the market. Innovative projects are prioritized, both in traditional and emerging sectors.
  • Creating new companies from already existing companies (Intrapreneurship). The distinct methods and strategies that an organization should adopt so as to facilitate and stimulate the creation and development of new businesses within the company itself. There is particular focus on business initiatives in family-run businesses.

Chair.

Christoph Zott is a professor in the department of Entrepreneurship and Bertrán Foundation Chair of Entrepreneurship. He holds graduate degrees with distinction in industrial engineering from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany) and Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (France). He received his Ph.D. in commerce and business administration from the University of British Columbia (Canada). His current work centers on business model innovation, entrepreneurship in established firms, innovation strategy and new venture creation. He teaches, consults and conducts research on these topics.

Publications

Proceedings

CAIAZZA, R., NUENO, P. (2012). New challenges and integration models in cross-border M&A. Proceeding of the 11th Annual Conference of the International Association of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management. Political change, cultural dynamics and competitiveness of firms. Universitá Parthenope di Napoli, Italy, 20 - 22 June 2012 (pp. 32 - 43). Wien:

Books

NUENO, P. (2014). Emails to a young entrepreneur. Keys for fast changing times. Barcelona: Ediciones Experiencia. NUENO, P. (2014). Emails a un joven emprendedor. Claves para tiempo de cambio. Barcelona: Editorial Crítica. NUENO, P. (2011). Cartas a un joven emprendedor. Barcelona: Editorial Crítica.

Non-refereed articles

PRATS, M. J. (2022). Adopting a retail phygital experience via open innovation. The Story of WOW. Blog IESE.

Cases

PRATS, M. J., YAÑEZ, G. (2025). Barcelona Supercomputing Center: A strategic partner for industrial innovation. IESE, E-256-E. PRATS, M. J., YAÑEZ, G. (2025). Barcelona Supercomputing Center: un socio estratégico para la innovación industrial. IESE, E-256. OFOEDU, C. (2025). Sterling Bank: driving impact through corporate entrepreneurship and venturing in emerging markets. IESE, E-257-E.

Technical Notes

PRATS, M. J., SIOTA, J., YAÑEZ, G., CAMACHO, B. (2026). Corporate venturing: The start-up scouting process. IESE, EN-53-E.

Outputs in other media

NUENO, P. (2014). Optimismo para afianzar el prestigio. El Periódico de Catalunya, Barcelona. NUENO, P. (2013). Animando. La Vanguardia, Barcelona. NUENO, P. (2013). Enviando. La Vanguardia, Barcelona.

Journal Articles (refereed)

BOCKEN, N., HEIDENREICH, S., SPIETH, P., TUCCI, C., ZOTT, C. (2025). Innovating for impact. Harnessing business model innovation to tackle grand challenges. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 19 (4), 665-681. doi:10.1002/sej.70010. SERGEEVA, A., ZOTT, C. (2025). How founders' values enable business model innovation in new ventures. The case of Magnum Photos. Strategic Management Journal, 46 (10), 2492-2534. doi:10.1002/smj.3727. SNIHUR, Y., ZOTT, C., KISS, A. N. (2025). Incumbent response to business model innovation. The role of opportunity framing. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 19 (2), 225-255. doi:10.1002/sej.1534.

Working Papers

ZOTT, C., FRANKENBERGER, K., STAM, W. (2025). Resource management for business model innovation in incumbent firms. Strategic Management Journal. MANIT, R., ZOTT, C. (2010). Business model innovation: Creating value in times of change (DI-870-E). ZOTT, C., HUY, Q. (2010). The affective roots of resource heterogeneity: How founders' emotion regulation helps create social resources in startups (DI-871-E).

Proceedings

SNIHUR, Y., ZOTT, C., KISS, A. N. (2022). Incumbent response to disruptive business model innovation and CEO opportunity framing. Annual Meeting Proceedings: Seattle 2022. Academy of Management. FRANKENBERGER, K., ZOTT, C., STAM, W. (2022). Pioneering resource bundling for business model innovation. Annual Meeting Proceedings: Seattle 2022. Seattle: Academy of Management Proceedings. FRANKENBERGER, K., ZOTT, C. (2018). The role of differentiation, integration, and governance in developing innovative business models. Academy of Management Proceedings.

Books

AMIT, R., ZOTT, C. (2020). Business model innovation strategy. Transformational concepts and tools for entrepreneurial leaders. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

Book Chapters

ZOTT, C., AMIT, R., GIESSEN, E. (2024). Business model innovation capability. A game changer for sustaining a firm's edge. In Aagard, A. (Eds.), Business model innovation - Game changers and contemporary issues. London: Palgrave Macmillan. AMIT, R., ZOTT, C. (2021). Business model innovation strategy. In Duhaime, Irene M. ,Hitt, Michael A., Lyles, Marjorie A. (Eds.), Strategic Management: State of the Field and Its Future (pp. 679–698). Oxford: Oxford University Press. AMIT, R., HAN, X., ZOTT, C. (2019). Collaboration in business model innovation. In Reuer, Jeffrey J., Matusik, Sharon F., Jones, Jessica (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Entrepreneurship and Collaboration (pp. 568–586). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Non-refereed articles

ZOTT, C., RAES, A. (2024). Busting the myths. IESE Business School Insight (166). ZOTT, C. (2016). How to Innovate in Business Models. Changing The Way The Company Does Business. IESE Alumni Magazine (140), pp. 24 - 27. ZOTT, C. (2016). ¿Cómo innovar en modelos de negocio?. Cambiando el modo de operar de las empresas. IESE Revista de Antiguos Alumnos (140), pp. 28 - 31.

Cases

KOWALEWSKI, A.-S., SNIHUR, Y., ZOTT, C. (2026). Inditech: Prototyping a new in-clinic diagnostics business model. IESE, E-274-E. PEETERS, C., ZOTT, C. (2020). Aparkalo (A): Dynamizing a Sleepy Industry. IESE, E-208-E. PEETERS, C., ZOTT, C. (2020). Aparkalo (C): Normal Crisis or Sudden Death? IESE, E-210-E.

Outputs in other media

ZOTT, C. (2024). What business model designers can learn from lean startups — and vice versa. IESE Insight. ZOTT, C. (2020). In Times Of Crisis, Innovating Your Business Model Can Be A Lifeline. Here Is How To Do It Right. Forbes. ZOTT, C. (2020). Why Business Model Innovation Could Be The Key To Getting Better Results. Forbes.