ORG313 Gründer Lab and Entrepreneurship Laboratory (Autumn 2024)

ORG126 Entrepreneurship and Innovation, MF-102 Marketing, or equivalent.

On successful completion of this course the students should:

• be able to formulate business plans for new ventures, while addressing issues of concept development, market analysis, and financial planning
• be able to present and apply relevant models and theories of entrepreneurial marketing for market segmentation and targeting, competitive positioning, and product/service development
• have knowledge about key sources of venture funding, as well as key aspects of revenues and costs relevant for new venture contexts
• have familiarity with techniques of recognizing opportunities, identifying market gaps, as well as the generation and critical evaluation of ideas
• understand the ethical dilemmas that may arise throughout an entrepreneurial process, and approaches to ethical decision making in new venture contexts
• have familiarity with opportunities and constraints on new ventures, international development and growth

The goal of this course is to acquaint students with practicalities of entrepreneurship and startup management, with a specific focus on market validation and business plan development skills. The course balance introduction to key themes in entrepreneurial management, while engaging students in a comprehensive startup business plan formulation (involving both real and imaginary ventures). Key topics covered in the course, include business idea generation, developing new products/services, entrepreneurial marketing and customer relations, presentation skills, budget and financial management in new businesses, ethical considerations in entrepreneurial processes, as well as the startup process and business plan formulation. All theoretical themes are then applied to an entrepreneurial case students develop throughout the course, under tight supervision and guidance.

Throughout the course student groups will work with new venture ideas originating from real businesses, public and private institutions, social ventures, entrepreneurs, other students, or their own business ideas.

The course aligns with various UN development goals, notably supporting Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. It achieves this by introducing students to the significance of small and medium-sized enterprises in fostering economic growth and by providing them with tools and experiences to develop entrepreneurial mindsets. Additionally, entrepreneurship is presented as a means to address poverty (Goal 1) and promote gender equality (Goal 5) through initiatives such as female business ownership and development.

Approved group assignment with oral presentations.
In-class attendance in a minimum of 75% of scheduled course sessions and activities is required for approval to take the exam.

Attend and perform oral presentation of final Business Plan.

More information will be given in Canvas at the start of the semester.