Course Description

 

This course introduces the students to learn the fundamentals of technology-based entrepreneurship (technopreneurship), the knowledge needed and understanding the steps involved in building a successful business venture and exploring technology trends and opportunities in the local and global context.

The course can be divided into three elements or stages:    

1.     Introducing the entrepreneurial way and philosophy

2.     Idea generation and market analysis 

3.     Business planning and execution

 

Ideally, all three elements are integrated from start to finish. While it is possible to implement at the earliest possible phase the business planning, the whole course should be presented in a "real-world" format. Students should be able to take the roles of company founders and investors, inventors and innovators, creating a vision and execution plan for their company, and raising funds — exactly as would be done in a true entrepreneurial endeavor. Another format is that a student can take the role of a principal investigator in a research laboratory (R&D) setting and is guided by entrepreneurial principles to come up with the best solution or products that the company will adapt or consider for R&D investment.

 

The course should be delivered along the following outline of major course themes:

 

A.   The Entrepreneurial Way. Introduction to Innovation & Entrepreneurship — Introduction to Technology Entrepreneurship and as Entrepreneurs, Technology Ventures, Role of Engineering, research, and development, Success and Failures, Attributes and Myths of Technology Entrepreneurs, Engineers Mindset as an Entrepreneurial Leader, Problem Solving, and Entrepreneurial Value Proposition.

 

•               This will constitute mostly lectures, reading assignments, and discussions.

•               This part of the course should establish clearly for the student why entrepreneurship is vital for training and economic growth.

•               Resource Speakers from Successful Engineers, Start-up Founders, and Venture Capitalists should be invited including networking opportunities.

 

B.    Idea Creation and Feasibility Analysis— Creativity, What is innovation? Innovationeering, Success and Failure Case studies, Entrepreneurial Idea Generation and Feasibility Analysis, Science and Engineering differentiation, Technology Commercialization Potential and limits, Paths and Barriers from Idea to Market, Assessing and Presenting opportunities.

 

•               This will constitute some lectures but mostly team exercises, discussions, and surveys.

•               This phase should define the principles behind creativity, design, and innovation. Solutions to existing problems complement identifying opportunities from inefficiencies and price. It should also clearly establish the role of applied science and engineering as an economic driver and in value proposition.

 

C.    Business Planning and Execution —Business and Venture planning, Business Structuring and Strategy, Value of Networking, Financial Analysis and Projections; Market and Competitive Analysis, Presentation of the Opportunity, Intellectual Property Strategies for Technology Companies; Marketing, Sales and Distribution Strategies, Investment and Financial Strategies, Venture Growth and Value Harvesting.

 

•               Team planning and activities should focus on preparation for a pitch competition.

•               Product validation and market scoping and segmenting.

•               The final outcome should be a business plan on a technology or solution to be implemented that will have a market and a pathway for funding.

•               Provide networking activities.     

 

The lectures will be available either via real-time lecture or recorded lecture, and videos can be download in the LMS. Face-to-face exams for midterms and finals while quizzes will be submitted online.

 

Course Schedule