Introduction to entrepreneurship

Summary

This course provides an introduction to the topic of entrepreneurship, the process of new firm creation and the commercialization of technologies. The course integrates theories of entrepreneurship with a practical, process-based project in which students develop a business concept in teams.

Content

Keywords

New Firm, Venture Creation, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Business Plan, Business Model, Technology Commercialization

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

None

Recommended courses

No specific courses recommended

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Analyze markets for innovative products/services
• Compare business activities of competing firms
• Decide strategies for new firms
• Develop business plan for new start-ups
• Explore business opportunities
• Identify and empathize with the needs and desires of potential customers.

Transversal skills

• Evaluate one's own performance in the team, receive and respond appropriately to feedback.
• Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
• Make an oral presentation.
• Continue to work through difficulties or initial failure to find optimal solutions.

Teaching methods

Course format integrate lectures with active participation of students in workshops on campus to develop an entrepreneurial project in teams. Occasional guest speakers and regular presentations from student teams will take place online.

Expected student activities

Active participation of students in workshops, business idea generation individually and in groups, development of a business project (using time during class workshops as well as outside of class), presentations to the class, feedback to peers.

Assessment methods

70% Business concept project (group project incl. final annotated pitch deck and written business concept proposal)

30% Peer-to-peer feedback evaluation (individual grade)

Supervision

Resources

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)

No

Bibliography

Relevant articles provided by instructor.

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/MGT-201