Applied entrepreneurship masterclass on business modelling for FEMA’s Int MBAs

Participants taking the hands-on Entrepreneurship study-unit on FEMA’s International MBA programme recently took part in an invited applied guest session delivered by Dr Arndt Schwaiger, German techpreneur, business angel and AI specialist, on start-up business & financial modelling with the Business Model DNA. Holding a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Arndt’s work focuses on digital tech-based as well as traditional business models, financial planning, growth and scaling; and he has advised numerous start-ups and businesses internationally across different sectors.

The session was hosted by Prof. Nathaniel Massa who coordinates, and together with Dr Antonietta Rosiello co-delivers this practice oriented elective targeted at working professionals.

Delivered during an immersive block for the MBA cohort taking the MBA Core elective stream, the day-long seminar focused on practical tools and frameworks for more effectively scoping, validating, stress-testing and planning new ventures.

Among the main areas covered were business model tools and frameworks for defining business goals through metrics, industry and competitor benchmarking, opportunity and risk identification, lean start-up and lean analytics applications, management dashboards, and investor-facing narrative development. This included quick business model checks and the basics of financial modelling.

The hands-on seminar encompassed several critical areas for new venture success, including:

• The Business Model Mechanism: understanding the underlying logic of how a business creates and captures value.
• BMDNA Framework: modelling business strategies into a set of specific metrics to define and track goals, such as profit versus growth.
• AI-enhanced research: techniques for leveraging agentic AI and LLM deep searches to identify industry benchmarks and competitive dynamics.
• Investor readiness: crafting compelling success stories and management dashboards based on lean analytics to convince early-stage investors.
• Pivoting and risk mitigation: using factor analysis within the BMDNA to identify opportunities and risks as a basis for strategic adjustment.

Dr Schwaiger engaged participants through applied examples and live demonstrations. Particular emphasis was placed on the use of AI-enabled deep research and agentic tools together with the Business Model DNA framework to support industry analysis, competitor benchmarking, and evidence-based business model assessment.

This offered participants further insight into how entrepreneurial ideas may be translated into more robust, metrics-based business models, including for the purposes of feasibility testing, pivoting, growth planning, and early-stage investor readiness.

The guest session aligns with FEMA’s broader emphasis on applied, professionally relevant learning within the International MBA, where participants are encouraged to engage critically with contemporary tools, methods and real-world entrepreneurial practice.

Prof. Massa and Dr Rosiello thank Dr Schwaiger for his valued contribution and the practical insight shared with the cohort.

International MBA programme @FEMA: Think Different – Reach Beyond

FEMA’s International MBA is a part-time postgraduate executive flagship programme designed for working professionals. Modular and redesigned, it combines applied masterclasses, workshops and research-informed learning aligned with increasingly complex and competitive realities.

Delivered through engaging remote sessions and immersive in-person seminars by leading academics, visiting international faculty and experienced practitioners, the programme is tailored for practising professionals – whether based locally, or residing abroad. This exposure enhances the applied research and learning experience at the core of FEMA’s teaching philosophy.

Incorporating an international study-visit abroad, the International MBA is intended for managers, professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to strengthen their leadership capabilities, broaden their global outlook, and develop the applied knowledge needed to progress further in their careers or establish and grow their own ventures.

For further enquiries on the International MBA programme at the Faculty of Economics, Management & Accountancy (FEMA) at the University of Malta, kindly contact the Programme Manager, Ms Jennifer Vella on +356 2340 6211 or by email at jennifer.vella@um.edu.mt.

• APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN online

• EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT (EUR 2,000) for eligible applicants* (deadline 30 June 2026)