Entrepreneurial Project
Objectives
The course Entrepreneurial Project provides an opportunity to continue the development of your impact projects started last semester. Therefore, and applying a start up model, it builds on previous efforts from students to support the development of critical competencies in the field of launching, effectively managing and deliver innovative business models and start-ups which have societal impact. The program was created based on studying the best world examples of training systems for innovation and start ups. The enhancement of a mindset of a new type of leader who cares about societal impact and is capable of creating and developing a viable business proposition that goes beyond an idea is the centre of our course. All sessions of this course will build both the mindset and the effectiveness of students. This means that they will be of practical nature ensuring that the activity of groups grows from level to level drawing upon panel discussions, brainstorming and case studies to develop meaningful societal impact. At the heart of our course sits the Start Up Mastery (henceforth SUM) methodology that will be introduced to students at the beginning of the course. The SUM methodology typifies the development of a start up in 5 levels (from basic to platinum) creating a real sense of progress for each team. Each team will need to complete a set of tasks to progress to the next stage.
General characterization
Code
2627
Credits
7
Responsible teacher
Ricardo Zózimo da Fonseca | Igor Peer
Hours
Weekly - Available soon
Total - Available soon
Teaching language
English
Prerequisites
n/a
Bibliography
There are multiple resources for understanding, analysing and working with impact led organizations. These are just a selection to get you started:
¿ Peer Igor (2019). STARTUP MASTERY. Tel Aviv: Igor Peer.
¿ Eric Ries (2011). The Lean Startup: How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses. London: Eric Ries.
¿ Blank, S. G. (2007). The four steps to the epiphany: Successful strategies for products that win. California: S.G. Blank.
¿ John Mullins (2014). The Customer-Funded Business: Start, Finance, or Grow Your Company with Your Customers' Cash Wiley: John Mullins
Teaching method
The course is designed to be highly interactive in students' practical activity of startup business-idea analysis and development. The learning methods will be varied, including: personal and team reflexivity, case study discussions, role playing, field work.
Evaluation method
The assessment of this course is based in 3 components with the following weight on the final grade:
(i) Individual - Final Exam ¿ The exam will focus on the justifying the work conducted by students linking it to the content of the class ¿ 30%.
(ii) Group - Mid term report ¿ submission of a progress report describing and justifying the work conducted by students. This middle term report will include the Entrepreneurial Fundamentals for each stage of the Start UP Mastery methodology - 20%
(iii) Group - Final Investors Pitch presentation (30%) AND learning report (20%) ¿ this is the final presentation to investors to capture interest and investment
There is a minimum grade in the final submission to pass the course which is 9 out of 20.
Subject matter
Entrepreneurial situations and opportunity: theory and practice of entrepreneurship in different contexts Review of previous entrepreneurial activity Understanding and practicing an entrepreneurial language of impact Definition of the starting point for this course Sustainable Development Goals ¿ a critical language of impact Timeline review and impact assessment Reflection on the conclusions of the exercise Ricardo Zózimo, Igor Peer 7 Weeks 2 to 3 ¿ Beginnings, lifecycle and endings: models of startup, growth and maturity Week Topic Learning Outcomes In class Activity Between classes Staff
Vector description of an innovative macroeconomic ecosystem and innovative Start-UP vector in the global economic system Analyse and interpret information about the competitive situation and modern approaches to the development of a startup and innovative business with societal impact Mentoring, Group work Meeting in the group to select idea for startup project Igor Peer
Stages of development pre-start marketing & business development during startup launch Identify, understand and coherently analyse the nature and problems of entrepreneurship in a number of contexts of impact: societal, environmental, economic, etc. Mentoring, Group work Work with project on Startup Mastery IT Platform Igor Peer 8 Weeks 4 to 6 ¿ Plans & planning: Agility models that lead to impact. Week Topic Learning Outcomes In class Activity Between classes Staff
Startup Vicious Cycle Understanding and acting upon every startup vicious cycle Risk Assessment Group work to develop most critical risks to impact startup Ricardo Zózimo
Plans & planning: Agility models Understanding the possible outcomes of action driven models in entrepreneurship PSM and Business Development Meeting with TA and Ricardo Ricardo Zózimo
Alternative approaches to impact entrepreneurship What constitutes an effective impact plan? Enacting tools for impact
Forming a startup business model solutions; client approval of new solution and business model: Minimum Salable Product The ability to use the information obtained to make managerial decisions and form an effective innovative business strategy taking into account sustainable development goals Mentoring, Group work Creating business models for own projects Igor Peer
Innovative vector management and startup launch system: stages of managing the process of creating an MSP Formation of
modern innovative thinking, acquisition of topical skills of business development and startups in modern conditions, as well as their scaling at
the regional, national and international levels Innovative Roundtable MSP design creation of own project Igor Peer 10
Preparing for launch. You and entrepreneurship. Week Topic Learning Outcomes In class Activity Between classes Staff
State of mind: being entrepreneurial¿mindset, learning, behaviours, stress management and the role of failure Resilience, Gratitude, and others ¿ critical learning behaviours for entrepreneurial individuals Learning to learn workshop ¿ direct and abstract source of learning Reflecting on the individual collective and learning ability and capacity Ricardo Zózimo
All you need to know about communicating with investors: from networking, to following leads to pitching. Techniques for a more efficient communication with investors at all levels Tricks and tips that will enhance communication: advice from guest speakers Enacting lessons in context ¿ preparing for final investors pitch Ricardo Zózimo 11
Project¿s pitching, discussion Week Topic Learning Outcomes In class Activity Between classes Staff
Preparation for pitch Understanding critical feedback and acting upon feedback Cross groups feedback Changing approach to develop a better presentation for investors Ricardo Zózimo, Igor Peer
Final Pitch to investors Assessment piece Ricardo Zózimo, Igor Pee