Course Overview:

In this Startups and Innovation online course, students will explore how to use the entrepreneur mindset to create the next world-class startup. Students hear a lot of contradictory advice in life. On one hand, they may hear something like “Follow your dreams. Pursue your passion and the money will come!” On the other hand, they may hear something completely opposite, like “Most startups fail! It’s much safer to get a safe, steady job.” So which side is right? Given the massive changes to the economy and society, the skills of entrepreneurship are going to be critical in building a lasting career. The entrepreneurial mindset of searching for opportunities, creating value, and solving pain points will always be valuable. This mindset applies not just to starting a business, but in any organization that someone is a part of: school, established companies, or non-profits. Students will explore the following major concepts in this online course: product market fit, business models, competition, disruptive innovation, building a team, marketing a startup, writing a pitch deck, and raising capital.