About
Name: Carlos Fernandez Musoles
Nationality: British/Spanish
Programme: MBA 2023
Education: PhD Computer Science, University of Sheffield, MSc Intelligent Systems, De Montfort University, MSc Biology, University of Valencia, BSc AI and Computer Science, University of Sheffield
Pre-MBA role: Entrepreneur & Director of AI , Universidad Internacional de Valencia
Post-MBA role: CEO and Founder, Kalavai
Carlos Fernandez Musoles received the Cambridge MBA Scholarship for Technology and Innovation in 2023.
Why did you choose Cambridge Judge Business School?
Coming to Cambridge, I was looking for a co-founder for my AI-based business, Kalavai. It’s an idea for a platform that turns computing devices into a batteries-included AI cloud.
I wanted to improve my own business skills but also find someone who already had a complementary skill set. And, of course, share my passion for AI. I chose Cambridge over other UK schools for its superior tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
How did you find the entrepreneurship aspect of the MBA programme?
I used every assignment I could during the MBA year to test my ideas for Kalavai.
Cambridge Judge professors were all very supportive, encouraging the class to do whatever interested us as long it followed the narrative of the course work. I was able to use Kalavai as a model for assignments, from customer survey exercises to business modelling.
Associate Professor Simon Stockley, who teaches the Entrepreneurship Concentration, was a key champion, helping connect me and my co-founder Annie Wang (MBA 2023), to UK investors. We also received great support from our Entrepreneurship core class teacher, Associate Professor Chris Coleridge.
I was also an active member of King’s College, Cambridge, where I made contacts through the Entrepreneurship Lab in particular.
Looking back how did the MBA help you develop and grow your startup?
From the very beginning, I knew I had to put myself out there, however uncomfortable it might be. For a start, there were lots of other MBA students also looking for business partners.
Annie and I used every opportunity to leverage the Cambridge ecosystem, entering competitions wherever we could, with results.
In 2024, Kalavai made it to the final round of the Cambridge University Entrepreneurs (CUE) annual pitch prize. A winner on London Business School (LBS) Booster Night, Kalavai later came top in the MBA Ventures/MBAT Pitch Competition.
The entrepreneurial ecosystem of Cambridge, the ‘Silicon Fen’, along with its Nobel Prize winners and overall support system for entrepreneurs, was incredibly important to me. I believe Cambridge is probably the best in the world in that respect.
The Cambridge ecosystem and my MBA experience helped reshape my business idea, making us more pitch-ready and investor-ready. One of my best memories was winning the US$50,000 (£37,131) prize from MBA Ventures in a pitch competition. This was an unforgettable highlight, alongside competing against Oxford in the MBA Olympics, or as it is known as, MBAT.
It was during MBAT in Paris, in May that year, that we really could launch our business idea. We found out Kalavai had won the MBA Ventures $50k Startup Pitch Competition and secured a cheque for $50,000. That first cheque really helped and it really propelled us to close our pre-seed round.
Programme news
Career opportunities for our latest MBA graduates
Despite economic uncertainty, our MBA graduates have secured strong career opportunities, reflecting their resilience and adaptability. As we publish the Cambridge MBA Employment Report 2025, Cambridge Judge Business School remains committed to preparing students for success in a dynamic global market.
What one piece of advice can you give for someone starting their MBA year?
I would say for anyone thinking about the Cambridge MBA, maybe one good piece of advice is really understanding what your priorities are coming in because there’s so much you can do all the time. The opportunities are endless. From formals and talks to networking and classes. Focus on what truly matters to you.