Technology Enterpreneurship

TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The technology entrepreneurship component is compulsory for all participants of the Program, and it comprises four learning parts, which are delivered through bi-monthly webinar and online presentation sessions by our experienced course instructors:

PART ONE: VENTURE OPPORTUNITY, CONCEPT, AND STRATEGY

Part One teaches the core issues involved in deciding to pursue an entrepreneurial vision and what characteristics are vital to success from the very beginning. How to build and maintain a competitive advantage and the critical issue of market timing are the key topics of this Part. During the Internet boom, while several great new companies were built, too many entrepreneurs and investors forgot several key principles: have a sustainable advantage, create a significant barrier to entry, and be a leader when the market and the technology are both ready.

PART TWO: VENTURE FORMATION AND PLANNING

Part two examines the major strategic decisions that any group of entrepreneurs must grapple with: how to balance risk and returns, what entrepreneurial structure to pursue, how to find and cultivate the best employees and help make them productive, and the critical issues of intellectual property. Indeed, these are problems that every company faces, and ones that must be continuously examined by the leadership in any organization.

PART THREE: DETAILED FUNCTIONAL PLANNING FOR THE VENTURE

Part Three teaches the operational and organizational challenges that all entrepreneurs must tackle. Virtually every start-up led by a technologist wonders whether it needs sales and marketing. Sometimes in such companies, you hear a remark like: “We have great technology and that will bring us customers; nothing else matters! The related topics of building the organization, thinking about acquisitions, and managing operations are also important. If you fail to address these aspects of your company, it will not matter how good your technology is.

PART FOUR: FINANCING AND BUILDING THE VENTURE

Finally, Part four teaches about putting together a solid financial plan for the new company, including exit and funding strategies. Of course, such topics are crucial, and they are often the sole or dominant topics of “how-to” books on entrepreneurship. Certainly, the financing and the choice of investors are key, but unless the challenges discussed in the preceding sections are overcome, it is unlikely that a new venture, even if well financed, will be successful.