High Technology Entrepreneurship Program
May 26 - August 8, 2008 in Silicon Valley
Course
You will be enrolled in a three-credit graduate-level course, NBA 6750 High Technology Entrepreneurship. In this class, you will discuss issues facing actual new enterprises in a seminar-style setting. The course materials will provide you with an overview of major elements of high technology entrepreneurial activity, including evaluation and planning of a new enterprise, its financing, typical operating and administrative problems, and alternatives for growth and sale.
Some of the information used in the class will be delivered electronically and you can access the lectures via streaming video for preview and review. You will be expected to prepare for class discussion by watching and studying the streaming video lectures and reading assigned book and article segments.
You do not need a technology degree to benefit from this course. Students with a wide range of backgrounds have participated in the past with success, including those with MBAs and degrees in liberal arts, design, and other non-technology areas. On the other hand, pure technologists are welcome, too.
In addition, you will be expected to use Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint and to do financial forecasts with QuickUp, an Excel model.
Teaching methods:
Mr. Nesheim will teach this course using American teaching methods, including short quizzes and brief homework assignments related to reading and lectures. The course does not include a comprehensive final examination. You should view lectures via streaming video prior to class. These videos will also be available for your post-classroom review. Classroom time will focus on discussing the assigned readings and exchanging entrepreneurial ideas, observations from jobs, and current news affecting start-ups. You will have an opportunity to improve your public speaking skills through weekly short presentations about your team project. Also, guest speakers from real companies in Silicon Valley will join the class to share their experiences.
Team projects: Developing a viable business plan
You will join a team of four or more students and prepare a business plan from an original idea. The emphasis will be on how to convert an initial idea to a plan for a world-class enterprise that can attract real venture capital and go public in NASDAQ within five years. Your team will present this plan using the general format recommended and discussed in High Tech Start Up.
It is expected that some students may actually start up their business when they complete this course. In the past, some students have generated interest from venture capitalist for their team projects.
The director will share business plans from recent class projects. These will be a valuable resource as your create and design your own business plan.