ENES 460: Fundamentals of Technology Startup Ventures C D

Sample Syllabus
ENES 460: Fundamentals of Technology Startup Ventures
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is open to all students and will help them learn the processes and skills needed to launch and
manage technology start-up ventures. Students will learn how to assess the feasibility of a startup venture,
as well as how to apply best practices for planning, launching, and managing new companies. Students
will discuss a wide range of issues of importance and concern to entrepreneurs and learn to recognize
opportunity, assess the skills and talents of successful entrepreneurs, and learn models and approaches
that help them navigate uncertainty.
COURSE GOALS
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•
•
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To learn how to plan, launch, and manage a technology start-up venture;
To build confidence in students’ personal talents, develop an entrepreneurial skill set, and learn
how to pair these talents with others who have complimentary skills;
To develop specific skills, competencies, research and analysis methods, and perspectives of
technology start-up success factors; and
To provide students with the skills for identifying and analyzing entrepreneurial opportunities
throughout their career.
STATEMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY
Throughout the course, students will be exposed to proprietary information from other students, guest
lecturers and faculty. All such information is to be treated as confidential. By enrolling in and taking part
of this course, students agree not to disclose this information to any third parties without specific written
permission from students, guest lecturers or faculty, as applicable. Students further agree not to utilize any
such proprietary information for their own personal commercial advantage or for the commercial
advantage of any third party. In addition, students agree that any advice provided by the instructor and
any affiliated parties will not serve as the basis of any legal suit. Any breach of this policy may subject a
student to academic integrity proceedings as described in the University of Maryland policies and
procedures, and to any remedies that may be available at law. Receipt of this policy and registration in our
classes is evidence that you understand this policy and will abide by it.
UNIVERSITY CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity,
administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland
for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these
standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating,
fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the
Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.shc.umd.edu.
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Sample Syllabus
COURSE MATERIALS
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Byers, Dorf, & Nelson. (2010). “Technology Ventures: From Ideas to Enterprise.” McGraw Hill.
ISBN-13: 978-0073380186. Listed as TV in the schedule.
Articles and readings as assigned on the schedule of this syllabus.
GRADING
Concept Submission
5%
Competitive Analysis
15%
Marketing Plan
15%
Business Plan
40%
Investor Presentation
15%
Peer Evaluation
10%
Total
100%
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Sample Syllabus
GUIDELINES & DUE DATES FOR ASSIGNMENTS
Concept Submission
Individually develop a two-pager on the candidate concept with attention to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Defining the concept.
What is unique about the concept compared to current and expected competitors?
What is the current and expected state of the market (customers)?
How do your personal interests, ambitions, and relationships align with the opportunity?
Competitive Analysis
Individually or as a team of 2, develop a three-page competitive analysis for your venture. If
teaming, all subsequent deliverables will be completed as a team. If working individually, all
subsequent deliverables will be completed individually. For this deliverable, focus on:
1.
2.
3.
Defining each of the Five Forces impacting your venture
Assessing the relative force (low, medium, high) on your venture for each force
Discussing potential strategies to position your venture successfully given the forces
Marketing Plan
Develop a five-page marketing plan in Word for your venture. The outline for the marketing plan is:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Marketing objectives
Target customer segments (With consideration of how you will Cross the Chasm)
Marketing mix: Product, price, promotion, & placement
Sales methods to include personal selling and/or sales channels, etc.
Business Plan
Using the outline provided in the text, develop a business plan not to exceed 20 pages including
cover page, tables of contents, executive summary (of 1 page), financials, tables, charts, etc.
Investor Presentation
Develop a PowerPoint presentation not to exceed 20 slides to share your concept with the class. In
the notes section, include a script of what you would say if presenting the presentation to an
investor.
FORMAT FOR ASSIGNMENTS
The following guidelines apply to all assignments without exception.
• All work must be submitted via Blackboard on the “Assignment Submissions” link from the main
menu by 11:59 PM on the day due.
• Assignments must be sent in a single Word document file (with the only exceptions being
PowerPoint for the Investor Presentation) labeled as follows: 460_
assignmentname_lastname_firstname. For example, “460_conceptsubmission_green_ james”. For
team deliverables, include all team member names within the file name.
• The subject line of the e-mail should contain the same label as the file name.
• All written (Word) assignments must be typed in 12 pt font, Times New Roman, and singlespaced with 1” margins.
• Reference should be cited in APA format with a references pages.
• Do not exceed the page limit requirement as stated in each assignment (minimum 5 pt. penalty).
• You should put your name (including team members) on the first page of each assignment.
• Late assignments will incur a 10 pt. penalty per day.
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Sample Syllabus
SCHEDULE
Topic 1 – Welcome & Course Overview
Readings for Next Class
• Economic Growth and the Technology
Entrepreneur (TV 1)
Topic 2 – Business Models & Idea Generation
Readings
• Economic Growth and the Technology
Entrepreneur (TV 1)
Readings for Next Class
• Opportunity and the Concept Summary
(TV 2)
Topic 3 – Identifying Entrepreneurial
Opportunities
Readings
• Opportunity and the Concept Summary
(TV 2)
Readings for Next Class
• Innovation Strategies (TV 5)
• Innovation (BCG)
Topic 5 – The Business Plan: Part I
Readings
• How to Write a Great Business Plan
• Vision and the Business Model (TV 3)
• The Business Plan (TV 7)
Readings for Next Class
• Organizational Development (TV 12)
• Management of Operations (TV 14)
Topic 6 – The Business Plan: Part II
Readings
• Organizational Development (TV 12)
• Management of Operations (TV 14)
Readings for Next Class
• Competitive Strategy (TV 4)
• What is Strategy?
• How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy
Assignments
• Review sample business plans in
Appendix A of TV
Topic 7 – Competitive Advantage & Strategy
Topic 4 – Innovation
Readings
• Innovation Strategies (TV 5)
• Innovation (BCG)
Readings for Next Class
• How to Write a Great Business Plan
• Vision and the Business Model (TV 3)
• The Business Plan (TV 7)
Readings
• Competitive Strategy (TV 4)
• What is Strategy?
• How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy
Readings for Next Class
• The Marketing and Sales Plan (TV 11)
Assignments
• Competitive Analysis
Assignments
• Concept Submission
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Sample Syllabus
Topic 8 – Marketing Fundamentals
Readings
• The Marketing and Sales Plan (TV 11)
Topic 9 – Market Research Workshop
Readings for Next Class
• The Financial Plan (TV 17)
• Sources of Capital (TV 18)
• How Venture Capital Works
• How Much Money Does Your New
Venture Need
Assignments
• Marketing Plan
Topic 10 – Defining the Financials
Topic 12 – Social Capital
Readings
• Leading Ventures to Success (TV 20)
Readings for Next Class
• Profit and Harvest (TV 16)
Topic 13 – Company Valuation Concepts
Readings
• Profit and Harvest (TV 16)
Topic 14 – Importance of International
Entrepreneurship
Assignments
• Business Plan and Investor Presentation
Readings
• The Financial Plan (TV 17)
• Sources of Capital (TV 18)
• How Venture Capital Works
• How Much Money Does Your New
Venture Need
Readings for Next Class
• Legal Formation and Intellectual
Property (TV 10)
Topic 11 – Company Formation, Operating
Agreements, Employment Agreements, and
Stock Plans
Readings
• Legal Formation and Intellectual
Property (TV 10)
Readings for Next Class
• Leading Ventures to Success (TV 20)
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