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At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Identify the type of business to be launched.
2. Define the business model for the launch.
3. Conduct a feasibility assessment of the venture concept and business model.
4. Complete an initial financial assessment of a venture.
5. Develop practical / realistic strategies for funding a venture.
6. Learn how to make effective presentations of new opportunity, business model, and venture.
7. Assess the demands and rewards of entrepreneurship as a potential career path.
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I. Entrepreneurship as a Career
A. Identify skills and resources needed to successfully capitalize on an opportunity and execute a business model.
B. Self-assessment
C. Network assessment
D. Risk assessment
E. Engaging committed stakeholders
F. Overcoming constraints and obstacles
II. Developing and Discovering Opportunities
A. Moving from idea to opportunity
B. Sources of / discovering / creating opportunity
C. Characteristics of "attractive" opportunities
III. Business Models
A. Business model canvas framework
B. Business model types and innovation
IV. Develop and Assess the Venture Concept and Business Model
A. Lean launch of ventures
1. Identify a pain point
2. Test the solution
3. Find repeatable and scalable business model
B. Customer segments and Value Propositions
1. Value Proposition Canvas
2. Product-Market fit
C. Channels, customer relationships, and revenue streams
1. Get, Keep, and Grow customer acquisition and retention strategies
2. Revenue and pricing models
D. Key activities, key resources, and key partners
1. Operations and physical, human, financial, and intellectual resources needed to execute the business model
2. Finding and working with key suppliers and partners
V. Funding a Venture
A. Financial assessment
1. Fixed and variable cost structure
2. Financial projections and key metrics
3. Realistic startup funding alternatives (e.g., bootstrapping, crowdfunding)
4. Angel funding for highly scalable business models
5. Legal form decision and implications for future company growth
6. Growth and harvest / exit goals
B. Legal considerations
VI. Effective Presentations of New Opportunity, Business Model and Venture
A. Presentation skills
B. Visuals and telling a story
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Just Start. Schlesinger, Leonard and Kiefer, Charles. HBR Press. 2012 (classic)
The Startup Owner's Manual. Blank, Steve and Dorf, Bob. K&S Ranch Publishing. 2012 (classic)
Business Model Generation. Osterwalder, Alexander and Pigneur, Yves. Wiley. 2010 (classic)
Instructor prepared materials