How Attending An Innovative MBA Fueled My Startup Dreams

James Weingartner didn’t go to business school because he was lacking in ideas. In fact, he had already co-founded fintech venture WeingoWorks—a booth rental operations platform—before he joined the MBA.

Yet, gaining his MBA credentials has enabled him to go from success to success. Having just graduated from business school in 2023, James has since gained his real estate license in pursuit of building the company’s real estate arm. 

We caught up with the successful MBA entrepreneur to hear how business school expanded his horizons, and sought his honest advice about whether he’d recommend an MBA to fellow entrepreneurs.

Choosing a business school with an entrepreneurial spirit

When James set his sights on pursuing an MBA, he knew he wasn’t going to attend just any business school.

“I wanted to understand corporate America, but I also wanted a business school that valued entrepreneurship,” he says.

His research led him to an MBA at Arizona State University (ASU) W. P. Carey School of Business. 

ASU has ranked as the most innovative university in the US for nine years, according to the US News Report.

“I was interested in gaining project management skills that I could apply to my business, marketing, and strategy,” he says.

Although he had started to form his business venture before joining the Arizona State University MBA, it wasn’t yet fully established.

“I was in search of a better idea of proper business procedures and how to use agile methodology to handle multiple projects,” he says.

Customizing the MBA experience

One aspect that drew James to the Arizona State University MBA was that it wasn’t specifically targeted to a particular sector. The degree gave him the freedom to customize his MBA journey to his interests in supply chain management and real estate development. 

The STEM-designated MBA also offered concentrations in areas such as artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, supply chain management, and marketing. 

But it was a course in real estate development that enhanced his understanding of financing and planning, which would inform the direction for his startup.

During the Arizona State University MBA, James identified a gap in the market for a fintech platform that provided operations for flea markets in the US, having noticed that the operation system for such markets hadn’t been updated since the 1980s. 

“There was a much-needed next step, which WeingoWorks could make,” he says. As well as the co-founder, James is now the CEO and president of the startup. 

This wasn’t the only benefit of his 21-month MBA in Arizona, though. He also thrived at being able to work in teams on various practical projects.

One of his standout moments was during the second year of the ASU MBA. During a capstone course, James worked with Virgin Galactic in a hands-on supply chain project.

“There’s so many partners for you to choose from,” he says, adding that his classmates worked with top companies such as Shamrock and Sysco.

Using the MBA to grow an innovative startup

James graduated from the MBA program with a diverse set of skills. 

“I transitioned from undertaking tasks ad hoc, to having an understanding of project management and systems,” he says.

This has helped him grow his startup as he’s been learning how to get involved in land acquisition while acquiring a flea market that was originally the ground zero site for the venture.

“The experiences [from my MBA] have helped me to apply all of my knowledge to drive real-world results,” he says.

Additionally, from connecting with academic faculty during his time in the MBA in Arizona, he’s built a strong contact base of experts. 

When seeking advice about how to transition the flea market to the next stage, James reached out to one of his professors at ASU. He received valuable advice that gave him the confidence to proceed with the move.

Entrepreneurs are often attracted to the bright lights of business school in hopes of strengthening their ventures or ideas. Yet James offers some valuable advice as to whether he would recommend his MBA to fellow entrepreneurs.

“If you’re just starting out in your entrepreneurship duties, be aware that an MBA is going to take up a lot of your time,” he advises.

For entrepreneurs who are more advanced in their venture creation, as James was, he believes the MBA couldn’t have been a better decision.

“If you’re wanting to understand how to lead finance or marketing to a professional level, it’s crucial to get that formal education,” he concludes.