Launching the Venture

1.5 credits · Undergraduate

This course is designed to provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience in new venture creation and development. Students will learn entrepreneurial skills including opportunity recognition, business model development, market validation and basic financial modeling. The focus will be on taking an idea from concept to execution while developing a compelling value proposition for an early-stage startup that can attract potential investors. Students will form venture teams and collaborate to create a comprehensive business plan and pitch presentation, which will be delivered to a panel of Vanderbilt alumni entrepreneurs and investors during the final session of the course, “The Shipyard”. You will have a chance to ideate, test, and develop materials for an early-stage venture by incorporating materials learned in the course. Be prepared to engage actively, conduct market research, and test your ideas outside the classroom. The course will incorporate a mix of case studies, articles, and guest speakers. Prerequisite: BUSA 2300 [1.5]