The Startup Mindset: New Venture Creation

Building on the Business Fundamentals morning course, this afternoon elective is an applied exploration of how entrepreneurs identify, evaluate, and capture new business opportunities. Students learn to recognize unmet market needs, test assumptions through customer discovery, and translate ideas into viable business models. Through hands-on exercises and real-world cases, they develop skills in opportunity identification, market sizing, and go-to-market strategy design, while exploring how successful founders build effective teams and partnerships. The course also introduces how venture capital investors evaluate new ventures, including the fundamentals of deal structures and pricing early-stage investments. Students are encouraged to consider how innovation can create value responsibly and contribute to broader economic and social goals. The course culminates in a mini “Dragons’ Den” experience, where teams pitch their venture ideas to a panel of investors and industry professionals.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Identify and evaluate new business opportunities by analyzing market needs, customer segments, and competitive landscapes.
2. Develop and articulate viable business models, including revenue streams, value propositions, and go-to-market strategies.
3. Apply fundamental concepts of venture financing, including valuation, deal structures, and investor perspectives.
4. Work effectively in teams to transform ideas into persuasive business pitches supported by evidence and analysis.
5. Reflect on the entrepreneurial mindset—creativity, resilience, and responsible innovation—as essential elements of leadership and career development.

*Information is subject to change as instructors finalize course syllabi