Business schools are changing fast. Everywhere you look, they’re rethinking what it means to prepare the next generation of leaders. The best ones aren’t just reacting to change — they’re leading it. They’re experimenting with online learning, building stronger ties to industry, and reshaping their curricula to match the pace of a global economy that never sits still.

The most forward-thinking schools aren’t just keeping up — they’re out ahead. They’re taking risks, launching programs that didn’t exist a few years ago, and building bridges between business, technology, and society. They’re redefining what it means to be innovative in management education.

Our Best in Class Awards shine a light on those schools — the ones that stand out for their imagination, courage, and willingness to experiment. These are the places where the next wave of ideas is already taking shape, where students are learning not just how to lead, but how to think differently. To recognize the innovations at this year’s schools, we did not include last year’s winners, all of whom continue to offer exceptional programs.

CELEBRATING INNOVATION IN MANAGEMENT EDUCATION: POETS&QUANTS’ BEST IN CLASS AWARDS FOR 2025

Join us in recognizing these trailblazers. They’re proving that business education doesn’t have to be cautious or conventional. In their classrooms and corridors, the future of management is already underway.

Best In Class: Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business for Incubator

Have you heard what’s happening over at Arizona State University? There’s a seriously vibrant incubator ecosystem here that deserves a full spotlight for 2025. At the heart of the action is the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute’s very own program called Venture Devils. Think of it like the front door of entrepreneurship for anyone connected to ASU (and even the local community colleges): you’ve got mentors, training, workspace, and a funnel to funding.

But what makes Venture Devils stand out isn’t just that they offer startup support. It’s how they do it. You’re not just in a boot-camp and out the door. It’s a full year—year‐round system. You get matched with a Venture Mentor and you check in regularly with pitch reps, demo prep, and those all‐important accountability check-ins. It’s very “move-fast but structured.”

And yes—the money part is real. Big real. ASU supports huge prize pools—somewhere around $1.46 million annually in just startup prize funding. Think: nearly $300K each semester for Demo Day, about $400K for the hard-tech Innovation Open, and additional funds for social impact, faculty innovation—you name it.

One of the most impressive pieces? The mentor network. MBA students at the W. P. Carey School of Business average nine to 12 one-on-one hours with mentors each year—which is high compared to peers. Plus, they’ve got nearly 100 entrepreneurs-in-residence supporting every level. That kind of advisor density means startups don’t just sit there; they iterate fast and get investor-ready.

But let’s zoom out: ASU isn’t banking on just one program. The Edson Institute also runs targeted incubators like the Chandler Endeavor Venture Innovation Incubator, funds the Blackstone LaunchPad in local communities, supports youth and faculty ventures—it’s an ecosystem built across the spectrum.

And they even added something new in 2025: the Venture Devils Lightning Incubator. It’s a rapid-fire, skills-forward sprint with a sharp focus on leveling up your pitch ahead of big milestones like Demo Day. If you’ve got a startup idea, this is the “get ready now” moment.

Here’s a key point: This isn’t just for on-campus, student startups. Venture Devils is open to for-profits and non-profits, and welcomes community founders too. So you’ll find everything from hard-tech and climate solutions to social impact and consumer innovations—diverse, real, and very much beyond the “student project” label.

On the commercialization side, ASU doesn’t stop at ideas. Enter SkySong Innovations—ASU’s tech transfer and startup engine. With over 1,800 U.S. patents since FY2003 and more than $1.5 billion in investment capital drawn in, this is where research meets market in a meaningful way.

And the place they’ve built? Pretty remarkable. The SkySong — The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center is a 1.2-million-square-foot hub of startups, corporate partners and university programs. Select participants even get three months’ free office space, plus coaching and market data support. It’s not just words—it’s infrastructure.

In late 2024 into 2025, ASU partnered with the Arizona Commerce Authority to launch the Venture Start program: a six-session hybrid accelerator based in Phoenix aimed at idea-stage founders. It’s an accessible ladder: idea → market validation → go-to-market strategy → full ASU ecosystem.

So, why does all of this matter for “Best In Class” status? Because ASU didn’t just assemble a few parts—it built a whole ladder, a full pipeline. From student ideas to research spin-outs to community founders, from mentor hours to prize pools to physical headquarters…it’s comprehensive. And as the outcomes continue to show—participation up, funding up, visibility up—it stands out.

If you’re writing about “why ASU,” you can sum it up this way: They meet founders where they are, surround them with mentors, capital, and real estate, and then push them toward milestones that matter. That kind of ecosystem doesn’t happen by accident; it happens with strategy, investment, and follow-through. And that’s why ASU’s incubator ecosystem is deserving of best-in-class recognition.

Best In Class: Washington’s Foster School of Business for Technology