Technology Ventures
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This course is designed to help the student explore and learn how to start and manage a new technology company. Develop a minimum viable concept, and product, determine a marketing and financial strategy, identify the steps to create your product and learn how to protect your intellectual property. Meet with early stage technology companies in Dublin who will share their experiences and learnings. The course familiarizes you with strategies for building new businesses and how to develop a business plan that appeals to venture capitalists. Create and hone your pitch with feedback from Irish venture capital firms.
By the end of the course students will be able to:
- To demonstrate knowledge of current practices in technology venture formation
- Understand the steps involved in creating a minimum viable product proposition
- Develop the skills to test the proposition with a reachable market
- Be competent in understanding market feedback to iterate product and market to achieve ‘product market fit’
- Understanding the technology aspects and decisions required when building a tech start up
- Learn the engagement practices in securing funding for the venture
Students will, in weekly classes, learn through lectures, class discussion sessions, individual lab work, group work, tutorials, guest speakers, and mentor webinars. Meet with founders of early stage Dublin technology companies. Students will share, post their learning and interact through a dedicated Linkedin Group.
Site visits and guest lectures may include:
- Guest Lecture – Gary Leyden, Director NDRC
- Guest Lecture – Leo no ra O’Brien, CEO Pharmapod (seed funded start-up)
- Site Visit – NDRC LaunchPAD
- Guest Lecture – Tony Gallacher, CTO, Changing Worlds, (Technology Fundamentals)
- Class participation & attendance - 10%
- Design of Business Model Canvas - 30%
- Investor Presentations - 30%
- Final Exam – 30%
Design of Business Model Canvas
- Format: 20 minute (maximum) formal presentation to a jury of two, followed by 10 minutes of oral feedback.
- Value: This assignment is marked out of 100 and weighted at 30% of the total marks for the module.
- Group size: Groups of 4-5 students as explained in class, encompassing a gender mix within your class group.
- Details: Present the Business Model Canvas for the group to Lecturer and 2 external assessors. Cover all areas of the canvas to rigour. Marks will be allocated based on completeness of content, accuracy of measurement process, and assessment of key/core assumptions.
Investor Presentations
- Format: 10 minute (maximum) formal presentation to a jury of two, followed by 5 minutes of questions and answers.
- Value: This assignment is marked out of 100 and weighted at 30% of the total marks for the module.
- Group size: Groups of 4-5 students as explained in class, encompassing a gender mix within your class group.
- Details: Present the Investor Presentation for the group to Lecturer and 2 venture capitalists assessors.
Final Exam
Students will be presented with several writing prompts addressing various aspects of the courses. Students must submit written responses to three of the prompts provided.
Week | Content | Readings |
Week 1: Introduction to the Course |
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Week 2: Founding a new Venture |
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Week 3: The Business Model Canvas - Product |
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Week 4: The Business Model Canvas - Customer Identifying and engaging your Ideal Customer |
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Week 5: Market Testing the Proposition |
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Week 6: Customer Feedback Loops - Listening and Iterating |
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Week 7 & 8: Formulate the Business Plan |
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Week 9:Financing the Venture |
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Week 10: Technology Options |
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Week 11: Legal and Regulatory Environments |
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Week 12: Pitching to Investors |
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- Eric Reis. The Lean Startup, Portfolio Penguin 2011 Pp 206-272.
Note: Because of the nature and pace of change in the Technology sector the Web links listed are to blogs and industry articles that provide students with current thinking and essential updates from the sector.
- http://theleanstartup.com/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_manufacturing
- http://steveblank.com/category/lean-launchpad/
- http://www.startup-marketing.com/
- http://practicetrumpstheory.com/2010/07/3-rules-to-actionable-metrics/
- http://piratemetrics.com/
- http://www.happybootstrapper.com/2013/pirate-metrics-matrix/
- http://leananalyticsbook.com/
- http://practicetrumpstheory.com/