Opening a Startup

Hi Ravi! I'm Bhavin, the CEO and co-founder of Magoosh. While I don't know a ton about the startup ecosystem in India, I did get an MBA from Berkeley and then founded Magoosh, so hopefully my perspective is helpful!

The question of whether you need an MBA or an Executive MBA is really more a question about figuring out what is currently stopping you from starting the business. Do you need to learn certain business skills, or do you have a fairly strong background in business? Do you know what you want to start, or is that still something you're figuring out? Do you have a strong network of people who can connect you with funding and talent, or do you need to build that network? The answers to these questions (and others) will help you decide if an MBA is necessary.

Strictly speaking, an MBA is not needed to start a company. MBAs can be a lot of time and money, and you will likely learn as much (or more) by just starting the company than you would by getting an MBA. If you know what you want to do and you have the skills to do it, then I would say skip the MBA and start working on your business now.

That said, getting an MBA provides you with a lot of skills and connections that will be extremely helpful in starting a business. I learned a ton during my MBA, and actually met my co-founders in my classes. It was a great experience, and if I hadn't pursued my MBA I never would have started Magoosh.

Think of it this way: getting an MBA means delaying starting your business for a year or two, and will cost a lot of money. You need to be sure that you're going to get enough out of the MBA to make it worth the costs. If you don't think it will, then I say just start the business. Best of luck!

Hope this is helpful!