ESADE School Insights: Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Barcelona

Why Diego's ESADE Story Matters

After graduating from one of the top business programs in the world, Diego Casabe gives us valuable ESADE school insights. He details his experiences as an entrepreneur and explains his lifestyle as an Argentinian in Barcelona.

For applicants, this kind of story is most useful when you treat it as a blueprint: what did the program environment enable, and what did Diego do with it?

Kleta: The Venture Built In Barcelona During The MBA

Diego is a proud co-founder of Kleta, a bicycle renting company that was listed as one of the "Most Disruptive MBA Startups" by Poets and Quants for 2020 (Poets&Quants). Diego began developing Kleta while earning his MBA at ESADE in Barcelona.

The company is centered in Barcelona and provides monthly bicycle rentals with theft protection for busy locals. Diego explains the venture as a response to a local problem: security concerns and the friction of owning and maintaining a bike in a dense city environment.

As of January 2021, Kleta had over 100 rented bicycles in circulation. Diego also shared growth goals, including expanding the fleet and exploring electronic models.

Inspiration: Where Diego's Entrepreneurial Drive Came From

Diego was inspired by his aunt who moved to Los Angeles when she was 18 to start a clothing brand. When Diego used to travel to the United States from Argentina, he fell in love with the lifestyle his aunt was living. The idea of being his own boss was intriguing to him and laid the foundation for his love of entrepreneurship.

This is a useful reminder for applicants: origin stories work best when they connect to action—what you did next, what you tested, and what you learned.

ESADE Culture: Community Over Competition (As Described)

Diego emphasizes ESADE's community feel and describes the environment as "non-cutthroat." He connects that atmosphere to the international nature of the cohort and the way students support each other's professional plans.

For applicants, culture claims are only persuasive when you validate them. The best method: talk to current students and recent alumni in your target outcome (founding, joining a startup, or entrepreneurship roles) and ask what they actually did during the program week-to-week.

Entrepreneurship Support: A Concrete Program Example

Diego highlights an accelerated program open to ESADE alumni, run by Professor Jan Brinkmann, focused on new business development. He describes guest speaker sessions, frequent check-ins, and a final presentation of projects to investors.

The key takeaway isn't the program name—it's the mechanism: structured accountability + external feedback + a forcing function to present ideas. When you evaluate schools for entrepreneurship, look for these mechanisms and how accessible they are in practice.

Testing And Admissions: Keep The Focus On "Why"

The original draft includes extensive GMAT advice. Requirements vary by program and can change, so confirm accepted tests with each school (for example, GMAT Focus Edition may be one accepted option depending on the program). The strategic point that remains evergreen: applicants should understand their "why MBA," their goals, and their fit logic—because those elements shape essays, interviews, and school selection.

Key Takeaways For Prospective ESADE Applicants

• Turn Barcelona Into Strategy: show why the city ecosystem matters for your goals, not just lifestyle.
• Prove Founder Credibility: problem → principle → product → early traction or learning.
• Validate Culture: talk to recent alumni who did what you want to do, and ask what resources mattered.
• Protect Your Timeline: research should sharpen decisions, not delay execution.