IIM Bangalore opens applications for third batch of BBA in Digital Business and Entrepreneurship

• Online undergraduate programme reaches 2000+ learners across 400+ cities and 29 states

BENGALURU: The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) has opened applications for the third batch of its undergraduate degree programme, the BBA in Digital Business and Entrepreneurship. Delivered online, the BBA (DBE) is designed for learners seeking a rigorous undergraduate education that brings together management foundations, entrepreneurial thinking and technology-led skills, while offering the flexibility to engage with the programme regardless of where learners are based.

Applications for the third batch are now open through the official programme website: https://dbe.iimb.ac.in/. The application window is scheduled to close on 30^th June 2026. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.

At a time when careers and organizations are being reshaped by emerging technologies, changing business models, and the growth of venture creation, the programme aims to prepare students for a world in which management knowledge must be applied in practical and fast-changing contexts. Undergraduate programmes in India that integrate these dimensions in a comprehensive and structured manner remain relatively limited.

The programme has seen strong early traction. Across the first two batches, it has enrolled more than 2,000 learners from over 400 cities across 29 states. In the most recent cohort, 25.1% of students are from Tier 3 cities, pointing to the programme’s ability to reach learners beyond major metropolitan centres. The current cohorts also include learners from 17 to 50 years of age, including many who are pursuing the programme alongside another undergraduate degree or while managing professional responsibilities.

“At IIM Bangalore, our effort with the BBA in Digital Business and Entrepreneurship is to democratize access to high-quality management education without diluting rigour. While the programme is delivered online, it is designed to be academically demanding and deeply practical. We are looking for motivated learners who value the flexibility of the format and are willing to put in the sustained effort that a rigorous IIM Bangalore education demands”, said Prof. Suresh Bhagavatula, Chairperson, BBA (DBE), and faculty of the Entrepreneurship area, IIMB.

Students learn from IIMB faculty and engage with the academic ecosystem of a globally recognized management institution, without being limited by geographic constraints. The curriculum comprises structured courses, assessments, live projects, peer learning and faculty-led inputs. Students engage with subjects such as Venturing on a Budget, New Age Business Models, Creativity Mindset for Innovation, Digital Marketing, Big Data Analytics, UI/UX Design, and Exponential Technologies, among others. The emphasis is on enabling learners to connect conceptual understanding with practical application and developing the discipline required for rigorous academic work.

A distinctive feature of the BBA (DBE) is its focus on ‘learning by doing’. Students undertake projects, experiments and venture-building exercises that enable them to apply classroom insights to real-world problems. Courses such as the ‘₹250 Venture’ introduce students to opportunity identification, experimentation, customer understanding and resourceful action. The programme ecosystem currently includes approximately 200 student-led startups across domains such as technology and AI, sustainability, consulting, e-commerce, and creative consumer products.

IIMB has also established several mechanisms to support peer learning and community formation in an online setting. Students participate in learning pods, student-led cells, city meet-ups and other structured engagement activities. The Campus Immersion, NOVA Unplugged and other curated on-campus engagements provide opportunities to interact with peers, engage with the IIMB ecosystem, and build relationships beyond the virtual classroom. These elements help students experience both the flexibility of remote learning and the depth that comes from real-world interaction.

The programme also offers students exposure to startup founders, practitioners and broader professional networks. Initiatives such as ‘Shadow a Startup Founder’ and demo-day style engagements have enabled learners to understand the realities of building and managing ventures. Students have also independently secured internships and professional opportunities with organizations such as McKinsey, KPMG, Wipro, and the Reserve Bank of India.