Technology Entrepreneurship: Lab to Market from edX

Universities, government labs, and private companies invest billions of dollars in the research and development of breakthrough technologies that have the potential to transform industries and lives — but very few of these technologies ever leave the lab. Those that do often fail to find compelling market applications. So what determines success? How does an invention become an enduring innovation?

In this introductory course, developed in collaboration with the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard and the University of California San Diego, you’ll explore how entrepreneurs match promising technology with customer needs to launch successful new businesses. Using real-world examples, you’ll apply critical thinking to commercialize technologies, and you’ll learn about the venture creation process from founders, funders, and industry experts.

Join us to learn a systematic process for technology commercialization to bring cutting-edge innovations out of the lab and into the world.

What's inside

Learning objectives

A systematic approach to technology entrepreneurship
How to generate new use scenarios by matching customer needs with promising technology seeds
How to align business and operating models

How to evaluate a technology for readiness and market fit
How to position opportunities to secure funding

A systematic approach to technology entrepreneurship
How to generate new use scenarios by matching customer needs with promising technology seeds
How to align business and operating models
How to evaluate a technology for readiness and market fit
How to position opportunities to secure funding

Syllabus

Section 1: Problem Solving and Systematic Innovation

Section 2: Matching Needs and Seeds

Section 3: Generating Business and Operating Models

Section 4: Determining Readiness and Market Fit

Section 5: Financing Your Venture

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a deep dive into technology commercialization, which is crucial for bringing groundbreaking innovations to market

Instructors Karim Lakhani and Vish Krishnan are recognized for their work in innovation and commercialization

Utilizes real-world examples to make lessons practical and relatable to learners

Offers opportunities to learn from industry experts, founders, and funders, providing valuable insights

Provides a comprehensive overview of the technology commercialization process, from identifying promising technologies to securing funding

Reviews summary

Exciting tech entrepreneurship

Learners say this interesting course highlights the differences between invention and innovation. It provides diverse content, including videos, speakers, and readings, with enjoyable and relevant assignments.

Assignments are focused and enjoyable.

"The assignments are short but to the point."

"I really enjoyed it."

Offers diverse learning materials.

"This course content brings you so much variety."

"The videos, the speakers, the additional reading is absolutely great."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Technology Entrepreneurship: Lab to Market with these activities:

Compile a Glossary of Machine Learning Terms

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Enhance your understanding of machine learning terminology by compiling a comprehensive glossary.

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Gather definitions from textbooks, online resources, and research papers
Organize the terms alphabetically or by category

Review Key Concepts from Statistics

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Refresh your knowledge of foundational statistical concepts to bolster your success in this course.

Browse courses on Statistics

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Review notes and materials from a statistics course
Complete practice problems on probability, sampling, and hypothesis testing

Read 'An Introduction to Statistical Learning'

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Gain a deeper understanding of statistical modeling and machine learning by reading this foundational text.

View An Introduction to Statistical Learning: with... on Amazon

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Read the first three chapters, focusing on the basics of supervised and unsupervised learning
Analyze real-world datasets using the methods outlined in the book

Five other activities

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Solve Coding Challenges on LeetCode

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Strengthen your coding skills by tackling challenging problems on LeetCode.

Browse courses on Python

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Focus on solving problems related to machine learning and data analysis
Time yourself to improve your problem-solving speed and efficiency

Build a Machine Learning Model using Python

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Apply your knowledge by building a practical machine learning model from scratch.

Browse courses on Machine Learning

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Identify a suitable dataset for your project
Clean and prepare the data using Python libraries
Explore different machine learning algorithms and select the best model for your data

Join a Machine Learning Study Group

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Join a study group to engage with fellow learners, share knowledge, and tackle challenges together.

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Find or create a study group with individuals who share similar interests
Meet regularly to discuss course materials, projects, and research papers

Connect with Machine Learning Professionals

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Seek guidance and support from experienced professionals in the field of machine learning.

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Attend industry events or online meetups to connect with potential mentors
Reach out to professors or researchers in your field

Explore Machine Learning Courses on Coursera

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Expand your knowledge by completing additional machine learning courses on Coursera.

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Identify a course that aligns with your interests and learning goals
Follow the course lectures, complete assignments, and participate in discussions

Career center

Learners who complete Technology Entrepreneurship: Lab to Market will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Technology Entrepreneur

Technology Entrepreneurs start commercial businesses based on technology from university or company labs. This course helps teach Technology Entrepreneurs how to match promising technology with customer needs to launch successful new businesses. This course also helps teach how to evaluate a technology for readiness and market fit, and how to position opportunities to secure funding. These are important things that every aspiring Technology Entrepreneur should know.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Entrepreneur

Technology Manager

Technology Managers lead teams that develop, implement, and maintain technology solutions. This course may be useful for those wishing to become Technology Managers. It can help build a foundation in understanding how to commercialize technologies, which is a valuable skill for any Technology Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the lifecycle of products, from conception to launch. This course may be useful for those wishing to become Product Managers. It can help build a foundation in understanding how to match customer needs with promising technology seeds, which is a valuable skill for any Product Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Venture Capitalist

Venture Capitalists provide funding to early-stage companies. This course may be useful for those wishing to become Venture Capitalists. It can help build a foundation in understanding how to evaluate a technology for readiness and market fit, and how to position opportunities to secure funding. These are important things that every aspiring Venture Capitalist should know.

See salaries and explore the career path for Venture Capitalist

Technology Consultant

Technology Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses on how to use technology to achieve their business goals. This course may be useful for those wishing to become Technology Consultants. It can help build a foundation in understanding how to commercialize technologies, which is a valuable skill for any Technology Consultant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Consultant

Technology Analyst

Technology Analysts research and analyze technology trends and provide insights to businesses. This course may be useful for those wishing to become Technology Analysts. It can help build a foundation in understanding how to evaluate a technology for readiness and market fit, and how to position opportunities to secure funding. These are important things that every aspiring Technology Analyst should know.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Analyst

Research and Development Manager

Research and Development Managers oversee the development of new products and technologies. This course may be useful for those wishing to become Research and Development Managers. It can help build a foundation in understanding how to match customer needs with promising technology seeds, and how to align business and operating models. These are important things that every aspiring Research and Development Manager should know.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research and Development Manager

Technology Transfer Manager

Technology Transfer Managers facilitate the transfer of technology from universities and research labs to the private sector. This course may be useful for those wishing to become Technology Transfer Managers. It can help build a foundation in understanding how to commercialize technologies, and how to position opportunities to secure funding. These are important things that every aspiring Technology Transfer Manager should know.

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Patent Attorney

Patent Attorneys help inventors and businesses protect their intellectual property. This course may be useful for those wishing to become Patent Attorneys. It can help build a foundation in understanding how to evaluate a technology for readiness and market fit, and how to position opportunities to secure funding. These are important things that every aspiring Patent Attorney should know.

See salaries and explore the career path for Patent Attorney