Idea to Startup – Deep Technology

Description

In Idea to Startup, you become an entrepreneur. You build a viable evidence-based business model – a roadmap from a business idea to a sustainable innovation-driven company. After this course, you will master a protocol to proactively assess the merit of a technology startup, whether you want to build one or join one.

The business ideas are based on deep technology - substantial scientific advances and cutting-edge engineering (any TRL), such that you can use them to create a competitive advantage in the market. The course is especially suitable for master students connected to labs that are producing research and technologies with commercialization potential. Feel free to bring your own ideas and technologies, but you do not need one to enjoy this course. All you need is curiosity about building a business on solid technological foundations. 

What to expect?

Fast-paced and interactive, the class consists of mostly coaching sessions and team exercises, therefore class attendance is very important. Online content and short in-class lectures provide you with general guidelines for each business model milestone. Schedule permitting, guest practitioners will join to offer advice. There will be weekly assignments, building blocks to a full-fledged business model. Final deliverables include: a logbook of primary market research (yes, you’ll do interviews!), concise business model report, and a pitch presentation in front of a jury of startup professionals. 

You start the course with forming teams around a market problem or unmet need. Then, you gradually build a business model, mainly by answering questions such as: Who are my customers and what value do I create for them? How big is this market? How should my minimum viable product look like? How do I build a competitive advantage in the market (e.g. by patenting)? How will I market and deliver this product to the customer? Will this be a profitable business? You seek answers through customer, stakeholder, and expert interviews, by developing step-by-step interview protocols and executing them. 

Enrollment Requirements

This is a free elective course open to all master students. Please enroll through Brightspace up until Aug 25th. E-mail the instructor if you have any further questions.  

Cours code/Size
TPM414 / 5 ECTS

Quarter(s)
1

Day (Class Hours)
Tuesday and Thursday (1545 to 1730)

Instructor(s)
Dr. Aleksandar Giga