City Business School

What City Business School does

City Business School (legal entity ООО «СиБиЭс Рус», branded as CBS / Сити Бизнес Скул) is a Moscow-based online business education provider operating in Russia and the CIS, delivering MBA programs, functional director courses, and soft skills training entirely through its proprietary distance learning platform at online.e-mba.ru. The core technology is a proprietary learning management system (Сервис дистанционного обучения, СДО) that delivers 24/7 multimedia and text courseware, interactive exercises, business case studies, tests, and assignments with tutor feedback, augmented by an AI-powered Interactive Management Simulator for decision-practice and gamified elements.

The product catalog spans 300+ courses organized into three MBA formats (MBA General at 1.5 years, MBA Intensive at 1 year, and MINI-MBA at 3-6 months), 12 specialized MBA tracks (Finance, HR, Sales, Marketing, Medicine, Strategy, Logistics, Strategic Management, Production & Quality, IT, Project Management, Hotel Management), role-specific executive programs (CEO, COO, CCO), six functional director courses, a 28-day neural networks course for managers, soft skills and Agile modules, free introductory courses, and a B2B Corporate University program. Content is co-developed with 1,300+ industry experts and practitioners.

CBS generates revenue primarily through tuition fees (MBA programs priced at 278,000-658,000 RUB, with tiered Basic/Professional/Strategic maximum variants), supported by SberBank's "Покупай со Сбером" installment program (6-24 month plans, school receives upfront payment) and a separate corporate training stream. Go-to-market is a sales-led digital model: organic SEO, content marketing via the e-mba.ru knowledge base and weekly email digest, social presence on VKontakte/Telegram/Max, plus an inside sales admissions commission (Mon-Fri 10:00-19:00). The school holds a perpetual Moscow Department of Education license, НАСДОБР accreditation for the maximum 5-year term (first school to receive it for online programs), and EDLEA accreditation. Reported scale: 17,000+ students annually, 155,722 registered platform users, 64,000+ ratings averaging 4.9/5, Top-7 Russian business school ranking in 2024 and 2026.

Name

City Business School

Legal name

Общество с ограниченной ответственностью «СиБиЭс Рус»

Website

https://e-mba.ru

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

City Business School is a Moscow-based online business education provider offering MBA programs, functional director courses, and soft skills training through its proprietary distance learning platform, serving Russian and CIS professionals and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree) (EDAHAHAN), Corporate Training Course Marketplaces (B2B Content Libraries) (EDAFAIAH)

Keywords

• Online business education
• MBA programs
• Executive education
• Professional development courses
• Director training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow

HQ country

Russia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. MBA and Professional Retraining Programs: Primary revenue from tuition fees for MBA programs (MBA General, MBA Intensive, MINI-MBA, specialized MBA tracks), director courses (CFO, CHRO, CMO, etc.), and professional retraining diplomas. Programs range from 3 months to 1.5 years. Tuition is charged per program with installment payment options available.
2. Installment Payment Processing: SberBank installment program (Покупай со Сбером) enables students to pay for programs in monthly installments of 6, 9, 10, 12, 18, or 24 months. Ranges from 3,000 to 300,000 rubles. School receives full payment upfront from SberBank while student pays installments to the bank.
3. Corporate Training (B2B): Revenue from training company employees through the corporate university program (Программы развития персонала), targeting organizations seeking to upskill their workforce.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

City Business School is an online business education provider offering MBA programs (MBA General, MBA Intensive, MINI-MBA Professional, MINI-MBA Intensive), 12 specialized MBA tracks, role-specific executive MBAs (CEO, COO, CCO), director-level professional courses (Finance, HR, Sales, Marketing, Production, Procurement), soft skills courses, and corporate training programs. All programs are delivered asynchronously online via a proprietary distance learning platform (СДО) at online.e-mba.ru, featuring multimedia content, 30+ business cases, AI-powered management simulator, tutor feedback, and 24/7 access. Graduates receive professional retraining diplomas registered in the federal FIS FRDO system.

Product overview

City Business School operates as an online business education platform offering a comprehensive portfolio of MBA programs, director-level professional courses, soft skills development programs, and corporate training solutions. The core offering includes three main MBA program formats (MBA General at 1.5 years, MBA Intensive at 1 year, and MINI-MBA variants at 3 months), supplemented by 12 specialized MBA tracks (Finance, HR, Sales, Marketing, Medicine, Strategy, Logistics, Strategic Management, Production & Quality, IT, Project Management, Hotel Management), plus role-specific CEO/COO/CCO executive programs and AI-themed programs (НейроМВА, Стратегия и антикризисное управление в эпоху ИИ, Нейросети для руководителей). The school also provides 6 director-level courses for C-suite professionals, multiple soft skills programs (including MBA Soft Skills, Time Management, Leadership, Agile), and 3 free introductory courses. All programs are delivered via a proprietary distance learning platform (online.e-mba.ru) with 24/7 access, multimedia content, and tutor support, targeting Russian-speaking professionals and companies in Russia and CIS countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MBA General Core 1.5-year MBA program providing comprehensive business administration education across all major management disciplines for aspiring and current business leaders.
• MBA Intensive Accelerated 1-year MBA program delivering intensive business management training with 21 specializations available.
• MINI-MBA Professional Shorter-format MBA program designed for professionals seeking condensed business education in 6 months.
• MINI-MBA Intensive 3-month intensive MBA-format program with accelerated condensed curriculum for rapid upskilling.
• MBA: Executive Director (CEO) Specialized MBA program focused on executive leadership, strategic management, and organizational governance for current or aspiring CEOs. 9-month duration.
• MBA: Operations Director (COO) MBA specialization for operations directors covering process optimization, supply chain, and operational efficiency. 10-month duration.
• MBA: Commercial Director (CCO) MBA program focused on commercial management, revenue optimization, sales strategy, and marketing economics for CCO-level executives. 10-month duration.
• MBA: Human Resources and Human Capital Management MBA specialization focused on HR management, talent development, performance management, and human capital optimization. 10-month duration.
• MBA: Strategy and Anti-Crisis Management in the AI Era MBA program combining strategic management with AI-powered crisis response and resilience planning. 10-month duration.
• NeuroMBA (НейроМВА) MBA program integrating neuroscience and AI concepts for advanced management decision-making. 6-month duration.
• MBA: Marketing and Product Management for Business Growth MBA program focused on product marketing, growth strategies, and product management for business scaling. 9-month duration.
• MBA for Entrepreneurs MBA program designed specifically for entrepreneurs covering startup management, scaling, and business development. 6-month duration.
• MBA: Investment Management and Financial Technologies MBA program focused on investment management, financial modeling, fintech tools, and capital allocation strategies. 9-month duration.
• Anti-Crisis MBA Program 2026 Crisis management MBA program with 2026-specific curriculum addressing current economic challenges and strategic resilience. 6-month duration.
• Director of Finance (CFO) 5-month professional program for chief financial officers covering financial planning, reporting, and corporate treasury management.
• Director of Human Resources (HR Director) 4-month program for HR directors covering talent management, recruitment, corporate culture, and employee motivation.
• Director of Sales Professional program for sales directors covering sales strategy, forecasting, CRM, and revenue management.
• Director of Procurement and Supply 3-month program for procurement directors covering supply chain management, vendor relations, and procurement optimization.
• Director of Marketing Professional program for marketing directors covering brand management, digital marketing, and marketing analytics.
• Director of Production 5-month program for production directors covering manufacturing management, quality control, and operational excellence.
• Neural Networks for Executives 28-day course for executives on practical AI and neural network tools for business automation and decision-making.
• MBA Soft Skills 20-day course covering personal effectiveness and core managerial soft skills including leadership and communication.
• MBA Time Management 30-day course focused on time management techniques for business professionals and executives.
• Career BOOST Career acceleration program designed to help professionals advance their careers and professional brand.
• Goal X (Цель Х) Goal-setting and achievement course focused on strategic objective planning for business leaders.
• Agile Methodologies in Project Management 21-day course on Agile methodologies and project management practices for business application.
• Leadership and Team Formation Leadership and team building course covering management leadership principles and team formation strategies.
• Public Speaking Skills Public speaking and presentation skills course for business professionals.
• Corporate Training - Corporate University Program Corporate training programs for employee development, allowing companies to upskill their workforce across business and management topics (Программы развития персонала).
• MBA Specializations (12 tracks) 12 specialized MBA tracks covering Finance, HR, Sales, Marketing, Medicine, Strategy, Logistics, Strategic Management, Production & Quality, IT Management, Project Management, and Hotel Management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average student satisfaction rating of 4.9/5 from 64,000+ students
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Integration2 records

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EDLEA (European Distance Learning and Education Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Distance Learning and Education Association is an association of over 800 European experts in distance, online, and flexible learning. CBS holds EDLEA accreditation for its MBA programs, Executive Courses, and Mini-MBA Professional. CBS is also a member of EDLEA.
• НАСДОБР (Национальный аккредитационный совет делового и управленческого образования)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerНАСДОБР is the most prestigious national accreditation for business and management education in Russia, established by РАБО, Association of Managers, Деловая Россия with support from the State Duma. CBS was the first school to receive НАСДОБР accreditation for online programs, issued for the maximum term of 5 years for MBA General and MBA Intensive programs.
• СберБанк (SberBank)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSberBank provides the 'Покупай со Сбером' (Buy with Sber) installment payment program enabling students to purchase CBS programs in monthly installments of 6-24 months, amounts from 3,000 to 300,000 rubles, with no down payment. CBS receives full payment upfront from SberBank.
• РАБО (Российская Ассоциация Бизнес-Образования)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBS is a member of РАБО, actively participating in the development of distance learning technologies and improvement of business education quality in Russia and CIS.
• Департамент образования и науки города МосквыcoreOthersMoscow Department of Education issued CBS its educational activity license (No. Л035-01298-77/00179697) on 28 February 2022, valid indefinitely. The license is verifiable through Rosobrnadzor's register.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Skolkovo Moscow School of Management: One of Russia's leading business schools offering MBA, executive MBA, and corporate programs. While more premium and brand-dominant, it competes with CBS for the same executive and corporate client base in Russia and CIS.
• MIRBIS Moscow International Higher Business School: Moscow-based international business school (MIRBIS) offering MBA, professional retraining, and executive programs overlapping with CBS's portfolio of MBA General, MBA Intensive, and director courses.
• Synergy University: Large Russian private university (Synergy / Университет Синергия) with a strong online MBA and business education portfolio serving the same Russian-speaking B2C and B2B audience as City Business School. Competes directly on online MBA pricing, installment plans, and corporate training.
• Moscow Business School: Moscow-based business school offering MBA, executive, and director programs in online and blended formats. Overlaps directly with CBS on MBA General/Intensive, MINI-MBA, and director tracks targeting Russian professionals.

Broad incumbents

• Higher School of Economics (HSE) – Faculty of Business and Management: Major Russian public university with established MBA, executive education, and corporate programs. A larger incumbent in the same market, with a much broader academic portfolio but overlapping executive and corporate clients.
• RANEPA (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration): State-affiliated Russian university with one of the largest executive education and MBA footprints in the country. Overlaps with CBS on B2B corporate training and C-suite executive programs, but at materially larger scale and broader scope.
• Coursera: Global MOOC platform offering business, management, and MBA-track content from top universities. Competes with CBS for the same price-sensitive online adult learners, though Coursera lacks Russian-specific NASDOBR-accredited MBA diplomas.

Emerging players

• Skillbox: Major Russian online education platform with courses in management, marketing, finance, and soft skills. Overlaps with CBS on soft skills, director courses, and entry-level professional education, with a more consumer/Gen-Z orientation.
• Netology: Russian online education platform covering business, marketing, and management disciplines. Comparable to CBS on online professional upskilling, though more focused on individual short courses than full MBA programs.

Regional players

• Foxford: Russian online education platform (part of the HSE ecosystem) with management and professional courses. Adjacent competitor in the Russian online education market, but with different core audience (school-age and exam prep alongside adult learning).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-business-school-general

Compliance14 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

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 City Business School