Course Entrepreneurship GGSJ

Centre of Digital Management and Technology Innovation

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION COURSE

Contents

GGSJ Vision

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Course Description

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Course Goals and Outcomes 06

Syllabus

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Calendar

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Bibliography

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Instructor

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C E N T R E

‘COMPLEXITY that leads to SIMPLICITY’

Centre of Digital Management and Technology Innovation

The GGSJ Centre vision

The last technology revolution occurred as information exchanges developed on the internet, giving rise to on-line com- merce, virtual communities, customer pro- filing and unprecedented marketing activ - ities. The next technology revolution may disrupt human interaction, from develop- ing instantaneous “worth exchanges” to altering the way we relate to each other. All of this is creating opportunities for new busi- ness but challenges for old ones, as well as altering the educational needs of individuals at a faster rate than Universities can handle. GGSJ is aiming to develop a private sector ap- proach to a Dynamic University Model

GGSJ’s positioning is clustered around three main pillars: ▶ Education: professional training programs, graduate diplomas, certifications, seminars, etc. aiming to provide individuals with access to information and education on all aspects of science technology relevant to contemporary businesses. ▶ Research: fuel innovation by conducting research activities, producing research papers, technical reports and consulting activities. ▶ Technology transfer: assist commercial enterprises with product creation and enhancement utilizing the know-how generated by GGSJ.

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Course Description ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION

This program introduces you to the nature, structure, and dynamics of the contemporary software industry. It focuses on the key factors involved in ideating, hypothesizing, validating, and executing a viable and investable/return driven business model to launch a sustainable, scalable andprofitable tech-based (software and/or hardware) business venture as a company founder or as an employee of an established company. In this program, you will learn techniques and methodologies that will give you a distinct career advantage, whether or not you intend to work in a tech field. It is designed to give you a true-to-life experienceof the thought processesbehindsuccessful tech business ventures, which apply whether you are planning on creating your own startup or working for an established employer. You and your team will devise an innovative solution to a significant market problem. This will involve researching your customer base, forming and testing hypotheses, and producing a value proposition that will form the basis for your business model.

You will investigate your customer base and market by identifying the key activities, resources and partners needed for fulfillment. This process culminates in a business model that both makes sense in a financial context and resonates with a venture capital (VC) or funding audience. This program will involve guest speakers including entrepreneurs and investors that are currently active in the industry. Each will share their unique real-world experiences, insights, and perspectives on the future of software and software entrepreneurship.

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Course Goals and Outcomes

Program objectives include a meaningful understanding of: • The high-technology business environment in general and the software industry in particular. • The business concepts and principles behind creating and launching a successful innovation-driven tech venture. • How to produce, present, and critique business proposals and plans for ventures, and how to develop business simulation and forecasting models in support of these plans. • How to converse with and present to investors, executives, judging panels, incubators and accelerators. • Upon successful completion of the course, you will have first-hand experience of the stages , processes, and challenges involved in transforming an idea into an investable and scalable business venture, and will be ideally positioned to begin launching your own tech venture.

Syllabus

Lessons Include : • Essential skills for the successful entrepreneur • Analyzing problems • Examining solutions • Understanding customers • Discovering markets • Failure • Operations and Executions; Simulations

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Calendar

The lectures are scheduled in blocks of 2.25 hours for 6 days, and one block for evaluation of 2.5 hours

Lecture 1 • Course Introduction • Tech Industry Overview • Commercialization Problem: Customers, Marketing, Deliverables Lecture 2 • Founding Story Examples • Team Dynamics & Team Building • Pitfalls • Business Priorities • Market Opportunity and Sizing (TAM, SAM, SOM) Lecture 3 • Business Model Canvas • Customer Segment • Channels • Partnerships Lecture 4

• Customer Discovery • Customer Validation • Customer Acquisition Costs • Customer Lifetime Value • Pricing Models

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Lecture 5 Business Plan: • What is what you are doing • What is the unique benefit of your plan • Vision • Mission Statement Lecture 6 • Competition and Barriers • Competitive Edge

• Key Activities • Key Resources • Projections • Funding & Investor Psychology • Exit Strategies Lecture 7 • Pitch Day

The final lecture will consist of a mini-hackathon where team of 3-4 students will brainstorm, research & lay the high-level plan for their final projects.

Bibliography

These books contain essential readings that will be referenced throughout the course lectures, tutorials, and assignments. ▶ Osterwalder, Alex and Yves Pigneur, Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers . John Wiley & Sons, 2010, ISBN - 13: 978-0-470-87641-1 (paperback) ▶ Steve Blank, Steven Gary, The Four Steps to the Epiphany: Successful Strategies for Products that Win , 2nd Ed. Published 2013 ( ISBN: 0-9989200-5-07 , Print) ( ISBN: 978-0-9892005-2-3 , ePub)

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Instructor

Adam Nanjee Managing Director for Canada, Microsoft for Startups. Adamand his teamhave amandate to build, develop and grow the B2B- enterprise startup eco-system through Microsoft for Startups global program. He is board member of the Canadian Innovation Exchange, and former Senior VP for Corporate Development and Making of Zafin and former VP of MasterCard.

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Centre of Digital Management & Technology Innovation MaRS Discovery District, West Tower 661 University Avenue, Suite 1120 Toronto Ontario M5G 1M1 - Canada