Not at all! We welcome aspiring entrepreneurs and career changers, as well as more established founders.

The tools and tribe get you to think like an entrepreneur, whatever comes next.

The main thing is that your new path is one that feels more you – intentional, aligned and alive.

Unlike traditional MBAs, Happy MBA is about what moves you, not just what moves the market.

Most business education focuses on external factors: the idea, the gap in the market and big business problems.

This program is different. It’s a launchpad, a playground of possibility, a vibrant community.

Our graduates leave happier, more fulfilled and moving forward on purpose. With habits and friendships that last a lifetime.

Where income and impact flows more easily, just from being you.

Some people start something new, but lots reframe or re-design their current business, or even career.

For most people it’s about clarity and confidence in a new direction that feels great.

We do, however, encourage people on the program to start small with a new project, a stepping stone to their vision that gets them moving faster, as action brings clarity.

There’s lots of time to think, but only when we create things does this clarity become crystal clear. As well as clarity and confidence, this also builds connection with the rest of the cohort, the wider community and their network.

Not at all. The Happy MBA curriculum is a creative process that brings out lots of ideas over the 5 months.

As everyone gets to know one another, and their stories, ideas start to appear without even trying. Often during a conversation with your coach or fellow peers on the cohort.

This is a playground of possibility, a safe, friendly space to play with ideas, without fear.

Dates for each cohort are shared on the home page.

The program runs over 5 months, with a clear beginning, middle, and end — though many people stay connected long after the formal program finishes.

Our Spring 2026 cohort starts on 17 March, with the final call on 14 July.

Carlos Saba, UK
With a background in science, Carlos started his first company, a digital product studio with Laurence in 2004 and grew that into a respected agency with a team of designers and developers. He now hosts their weekly podcast, leads the community and inspires others to make money, do good and be happy.

Laurence McCahill, UK
Laurence is the driving force behind The Happy Startup School, which was launched as a side project in 2013. Along with Carlos they decided to close the agency two years later to pursue this new path driven by contribution and community. He is the creative mind behind their legendary retreats and camps.

Lana Jelenjev, Netherlands
Lana has a knack for creating, initiating and making impactful ideas happen. Her background is in the field of education- spanning 20+ years of teaching, training teachers, setting up schools and learning facilities, curriculum design and for the past few years, online learning experience design and community design.

Most people spend around 2–4 hours per week, including:

• Live calls

• Light reflection or journalling

• Small experiments or conversations

Some weeks will be lighter. Some weeks you’ll want to linger longer because something has energy.

This is not a “keep up or fall behind” program. It’s designed to fit alongside real work, real lives, and real energy levels.

There are regular live sessions across the program, including:

• Up to 8 whole group sessions for teaching and shared conversation
  (up to 2 hours each)

• Up to 16 small group (buddy group) calls
  (1 hour each)

• Occasional integration or “reset” sessions as the program unfolds
  (around 90 minutes)

The rhythm is shared clearly at the start so you can see what’s coming and plan around it. The basic cadence is:

• One whole group call every fortnight

• One small group call each week

The live sessions act as anchor points — a place to think out loud, feel supported, and maintain momentum alongside everything else you’re managing.

No.

This isn’t school, and no one is taking attendance. Life happens. Your energy fluctuates. Some weeks you’ll be all-in, others you’ll be quieter.

People get the most from the program when they attend live as often as they reasonably can, but completion is about engagement and integration, not perfect attendance.

All core sessions are recorded, so you can catch up in your own time.

That said, the program is designed so that missing a session doesn’t put you “behind”. Each module stands on its own, and we regularly help people re-orient and re-enter without guilt or catching-up stress.

You won’t be the only one doing that. Promise.

Live sessions are scheduled in UK-friendly time zones, with international participants in mind. Dates and times are shared in advance so you can plan, and all sessions are recorded if you can’t attend live.

Typically:

• Whole group calls run on a Tuesday or Thursday at 3pm (UK time)

Small group (buddy) calls are arranged by each group and have usually taken place on Fridays at either 10am or 2pm (UK time)

No, the program is fully remote so accessible to anyone, anywhere.

We’ve had students join from 25 countries including Australia, the USA, India, as well as all over Europe and the UK.

No. And in many cases, that’s a bonus.

Some people arrive with:

• A half-formed idea

• Too many ideas

• An existing business that no longer fits

• A vague sense that something needs to change

Happy MBA starts before ideas, not after them. We work from values, needs, energy, and direction first — and let ideas emerge from there.

Yes — though it’s always optional.

We host in-person gatherings, retreats, and events through the Happy Startup ecosystem, including Summercamp, Alptitude, and smaller gatherings when we can — often in Brighton, London, and wherever Laurence and Carlos happen to be in Europe.

Alongside this, members regularly arrange their own meet-ups, both online and offline. There’s an active, connected community that stays in touch and makes things happen without it needing to be organised from the centre.

The core program is fully online, but real world connection is very much part of the culture.

Definitely not.

If you already knew the answer, you probably wouldn’t need the program.

Many people join precisely because:

• The old path no longer fits

• The next chapter feels foggy

• They don’t want to make another “sensible but wrong” move

Clarity is something we build together, not a prerequisite.

The program includes a mix of:

• Recorded modules you can watch in your own time

• Live sessions for conversation, reflection, and integration

• Written materials, including guidance, tools, case studies, and worksheets

You don’t have to attend everything live to benefit, but the live sessions are often where people have their “aha” moments and things really start to click.

Cohorts are kept small enough to feel safe and human, but large enough to give you fresh perspective.

• Whole group calls: no more than 20 people

• Buddy group calls: small groups of 6–7, designed for honest conversation

• Feedback and discussion spaces: facilitated so everyone has time to speak and be heard

These aren’t webinars. They are highly interactive Zoom calls built around real conversation.

The investment reflects the high-touch nature of the program, deep mentorship and the transformation it brings.

There are 2 options:

• Standard plan £3500+vat
  Access to all group calls, WhatsApp support, workshops and our powerful curriculum with 20+ lessons & toolkits.

• Coaching plan £5000+vat
  Also includes monthly one-to-one calls with your coach throughout the program. For those that want more tailored support.

If VAT applies, it will be clearly stated at checkout.

If you’re unsure (especially if you’re outside the UK or purchasing via a business), just drop us a message and we’ll clarify before you book.

No nasty surprises.

Yes we offer payment plans as follows:

• Standard plan £750+vat x 5 months

• Coaching plan £1050 × 5 months

Currently we don’t have a scholarship scheme for Happy MBA but we hope to have something in place by 2027.