What OBS Business School does

OBS Business School is a 100% online business school headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, operating since approximately 2004-2005 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Planeta Formación y Universidades, the international higher education network of Grupo Planeta. The school delivers executive education to working professionals globally through a portfolio of three MBAs (Executive MBA, Global MBA, Tech MBA) and more than 20 specialized Master's programs spanning Project Management, Digital Marketing, Business Intelligence, Cybersecurity, FinTech, Supply Chain Management, International Business, Healthcare Digital, and Machine Learning/AI. Programs are organized under two academic divisions: the School of Business Administration & Leadership and the School of Innovation & Technology Management.

The core technology stack is the OBS Virtual Campus, a proprietary online learning platform delivering the STUDENT ON methodology, which combines 100% flexible asynchronous study with dedicated Academic Coordinator support. Operational AI components include a WhatsApp Business conversational assistant for prospective-student lead capture and an anti-fraud accreditation system using facial recognition and dual-camera environment verification. The business model is tuition-based B2C: individual professionals pay upfront fees for multi-year master's programs, supplemented by subscription-based alumni services (OBS Alumni) and adjacent revenue from an entrepreneurship incubator (OBS Incubator) and career services (OBS Careers). Academic credentials are delivered through partnerships with Universitat de Barcelona and UNIE Universidad, while PMI Authorized Training Partner status enables PMP and PMI-ACP exam preparation pathways. The school claims 45,000+ alumni from 85 countries, 36,000+ active alumni community members, a 97.3% reported employability rate, and recognition in rankings from QS Stars, Financial Times, Forbes, CEO Magazine, and Eduniversal.

Name

OBS Business School

Legal name

OBS Formación Online en Management, S.L.

Website

https://obsbusiness.school

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

OBS Business School is a Barcelona-based, 100% online business school within the Grupo Planeta network, delivering MBAs and 20+ specialized master's programs in Spanish and English to working professionals across 85 countries via its proprietary virtual campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Higher Education / Business School

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting) (EDAHALAA)

Keywords

• Online business education
• Executive MBA programs
• Master's degree programs
• Online professional development
• Business school rankings

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - MBAs and Master's Programs: OBS generates revenue primarily through tuition fees for its Executive MBA, Global MBA, Tech MBA, and various Master's programs. Programs are offered in 100% online format with flexible payment options. The school also offers scholarships and financial aid programs.
2. Executive Education and Specialized Programs: Revenue from specialized professional development programs including Project Management certification preparation (PMP, PMI-ACP), and sector-specific programs in Digital Marketing, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, and Health Digital.
3. Club Alumni Services: Alumni membership providing continued networking, professional development resources, and career support services for former students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

OBS Business School sells 100% online MBA and Master's degree programs to working professionals globally, including Executive MBA, Global MBA, Tech MBA, and 25+ specialized master's degrees in project management, digital marketing, business intelligence, cybersecurity, FinTech, digital health, supply chain, and international business. Programs are delivered entirely through the proprietary Virtual Campus with personalized academic coordinator support, and are sold directly to individual students via the school's website and admissions team.

Product overview

OBS Business School is a 100% online business education platform offering a comprehensive portfolio of MBAs and Master's programs. The core offering includes three MBA programs (Executive MBA, Global MBA, and Tech MBA) alongside over 20 specialized Master's programs spanning areas including Digital Marketing, Business Intelligence, Project Management, Cybersecurity, FinTech, Supply Chain Management, and International Business. The school operates two academic divisions: the School of Business Administration & Leadership (focused on management and executive development) and the School of Innovation & Technology Management (focused on technology-driven business transformation). Supporting infrastructure includes the OBS Virtual Campus (online learning platform), Alumni Community (36,000+ professionals), OBS Incubator (entrepreneurship support), and OBS Careers services. The institution is recognized by QS Stars, Financial Times, Forbes, CEO Magazine, and Eduniversal rankings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• School of Business Administration & Leadership: School focused on programs for developing professional management skills and leadership abilities.
• School of Innovation & Technology Management
• OBS Alumni
• OBS Careers
• OBS Incubator

Products and services

• Executive MBA Online Executive MBA for business leaders providing a global strategic vision and increased management potential. Recognized in QS Online MBA Ranking (TOP 7 Spain, four QS Stars) and Financial Times rankings.
• Global MBA Online MBA for international business management and strategic growth across borders. Ranked TOP 100 globally by Financial Times and 3rd in Spanish-language MBAs by FSO.
• Tech MBA Online MBA combining business administration with innovation and technology management for professionals leading tech-driven business transformation.
• Master in Project Management Online master's program in project management for managing complex projects. Prepares students for PMP and PMI-ACP certifications through PMI Authorized Training Partner pathway; ranked 1st in Spain by El Mundo and TOP 3 by Forbes 2024.
• Master in Digital Marketing, eCommerce and Artificial Intelligence Online master's program covering digital marketing and eCommerce with AI tools for online selling and communication. Ranked TOP 6 in Spanish in E-Business and Digital Marketing by Eduniversal.
• Master in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Online master's program preparing professionals to lead data analysis and strategy projects, with an Advanced Generative AI for Data Analytics bootcamp. Ranked TOP 2 in Spanish in Business Intelligence and Strategy by Eduniversal (2023).
• Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship Online master's program developing entrepreneurial skills and innovation management capabilities. Holds EOCCS certification from EFMD (originally 2017, recertified).
• Master in Financial Management Online master's program in financial management focused on strategic financial decision-making and corporate finance leadership.
• Master in Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Online specialized master's program combining digital health with artificial intelligence for healthcare-sector professionals.
• Master in Cybersecurity Online master's program in cybersecurity focused on protecting digital assets and managing security in organizations.
• Master in Digital Transformation Online master's program in digital transformation focused on driving business development through technology adoption and digital strategies.
• Master in International Business Management Online master's program in international business management preparing professionals for global negotiation and commercial expansion. Ranked 4th in International Trade by El Mundo and TOP 6 in Spanish Management by Eduniversal.
• Master in Big Data and Analytics Online master's program in big data and analytics focused on data-driven decision making and advanced analytics techniques.
• Master in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Online specialized master's program in machine learning and AI focused on developing skills in artificial intelligence technologies.
• Master in FinTech: Digital Transformation of Finance Online master's program in FinTech covering the digital transformation of financial services and banking technology.
• Master in Supply Chain Management and Logistics Online master's program in supply chain management and logistics focused on operational excellence and supply chain optimization.
• Master in Branding and Brand Strategy Online master's program in brand management and brand strategy focused on building and managing brand equity.
• OBS Virtual Campus Proprietary online learning platform that provides enrolled OBS students with access to course materials, databases, live sessions, and training resources for 100% online program delivery.
• OBS Alumni Community / Club Alumni Alumni network of more than 36,000 professionals providing continuous learning resources, employability support, and networking opportunities to former OBS students.
• OBS Incubator Entrepreneurship incubator supporting OBS alumni and students in developing and launching new business ventures.
• OBS Careers Career services offering employment reports, employability cycles, and professional development support for OBS students and alumni.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97.3% employability rate among alumni
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Universitat de BarcelonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversitat de Barcelona is a prestigious academic partner of OBS Business School. The partnership provides academic backing and validation to OBS programs, ensuring quality standards and recognition of credentials. This collaboration represents a key element of OBS's academic credibility strategy, combining practical business education with university-level academic rigor.
• UNIE UniversidadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIE Universidad serves as an academic partner for OBS Business School, contributing to the school's mission of providing quality online business education. The partnership enhances OBS's academic portfolio and provides additional pathways for students seeking recognized university credentials.
• Planeta Formación y Universidades / Grupo PlanetaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOBS Business School is part of Planeta Formación y Universidades, the international higher education network of Grupo Planeta. The network comprises 22 educational institutions across Spain, Andorra, France, Italy, North Africa, the United States, and Colombia, serving more than 160,000 students annually from over 100 nationalities. This parent company relationship provides OBS with institutional backing, cross-border program opportunities, enterprise connections, and access to transversal training resources.
• Project Management Institute (PMI)coreTechnology or IntegrationOBS Business School is recognized as an ATP (Authorized Training Partner) member by PMI. The Master in Project Management program prepares students for PMP and PMI-ACP certification exams, providing direct pathway to globally recognized project management credentials.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IESE Business School: Barcelona-based top-tier global business school offering online MBA and executive education programs. Competes with OBS in the Spanish online MBA market but at significantly higher price points and prestige tier.
• Coursera (online degree programs): Global online education platform partnering with universities to offer accredited online master's and MBA programs at lower price points. Increasingly direct competitor for price-sensitive professionals considering OBS programs.

Direct peers

• ESIC Business & Marketing School: Spain-based business school with online MBA and marketing/technology master's programs targeting similar mid-career professional audience. Comparable program mix with overlapping specializations in digital marketing.
• Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC): Barcelona-based fully online public university offering business master's and MBA programs. Direct 100% online competitor with similar digital-first philosophy and broader academic degree-granting authority.
• IE Business School: Madrid-based business school offering online MBA and master's programs targeting global working professionals. Most direct Spanish competitor with significantly stronger international brand, but with a less mature 100% online-born DNA than OBS.
• IMF Smart Education: Spain-based online education provider offering master's degrees in business, technology, and digital fields. Directly comparable in delivery model (100% online) and target segments in the Spanish-speaking market.
• ESADE Business School: Barcelona-based elite business school with online MBA and master's offerings. Direct geographic competitor to OBS in Barcelona with stronger prestige positioning but historically more campus-based than online-native.
• EAE Business School: Barcelona/Madrid business school with strong online MBA portfolio and similar target audience of working professionals in Spanish-speaking markets. Closely comparable in positioning, price tier, and program breadth.

Emerging players

• Quantic School of Business: US-based digital-native MBA program with strong tech-enabled pedagogy and lower pricing. Represents the global digital-native category that competes with OBS in the international English-speaking online MBA segment.
• CEUPE (Centro Europeo de Postgrado): Madrid-based online postgraduate business school with Spanish-language master's programs targeting Latin American professionals. Competes directly with OBS in Spanish-speaking online master's market with aggressive pricing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OBS Business School