Start a Business: Design Thinking & Entrepreneurship [2024] from Udemy

Nat's Review: "This is the best course on entrepreneurship that I've seen."

8 Steps to Becoming a Successful Business Owner

There’s a lot of fluff and theory about startups, entrepreneurship, and business modeling. You won’t find any of that stuff here. That 8-step journey that we’ve built for you has been crafted through our founding team’s real startup journey and with research from institutions like MIT, Y Combinator, and Stanford. This experience is about lowering your risk, accelerating your journey forward, and inviting you to join a thriving community of like-minded people.

See Real World Examples as You Launch Your Business

Your launch will be supported by real world examples of the business launch tools in this course in action. You’ll have access to multiple target market interview recordings, downloadable support resources, and an inside look at data tracking Eazl’s growth from a concept to a six-figure business in its first year. You’ll also get to choose from three specialization tracks:

Services and Live Experiences
Physical Products
Web Applications and Digital Technologies

Unmatched Video Learning Experience Quality

Anyone who has the willpower to do what it takes to become the boss will love this course. Leveraging our experience as the leading provider of entrepreneurial business education to a community of over 50,000 learners worldwide, we’ve created an unparalleled video-based learning experience for you. This experience is about real stuff involved in entrepreneurship, the power of visual learning, and the thrill of building something awesome. Starting with the first phase of the course, you’ll learn how to select a launch market, collect the research you need to create an offering that people will pay for, and move down the human-centric design path. Then you’ll move to phase two where you’ll design a minimum viable product (MVP)a very early version of your conceptthat you can use to validate your idea before taking it to the public. In phase three you’ll build your first operational version of the business, craft the first iteration of your brand and business story, get your first paying customers, and set yourself up to receive growth capital using a practical method that doesn’t require you to deal with venture capitalists or lawyers. Come rock it with us.

This course features music by Audionautix, Kevin MacLoed, and Chris Zabriskie

Team Eazl would like to thank the following people who underwrote the development of this learning experience:

Platinum Circle Funders: Dundee and Ian Butcher, Bieke and Brian Burwell, and Michele Chaboudy

Gold Circle Funder: Landry Jones

Silver Circle Funders: Christos Angelidakis, Eric Jacobson, Ricardo Pan Neves, David Valentine, Joselyn Quintero, and Mike Steely

Content Upgrade Journal

• Version 1.1 (November 2021): In this upgrade, we've added new content related to finding business ideas that work well online, how to perform market research using the Internet and other tech-enabled researching methods, more prototyping tools, and more content on how to get your business' first customers. Enjoy the update.

• Version 1.2 (January 2022): In this upgrade, we've added professionally-developed English-language subtitles. This will be a great addition for our ESL learners.

• Version 2 (November 2023): In this upgrade, we've added AI prompts for entrepreneurs. You can use these prompts to generate a business plan and develop your early customer profile they'll help you reach your goals faster.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn to find specific audiences for your ideas.
Develop human-centered design skills that enable you to create great products and services.
Learn how to reduce the risks associated with entrepreneurship by validating your ideas before launching.

Build a great brand for your new business.
Learn how to raise a seed funding round no matter where you are in the world.

Learn to find specific audiences for your ideas.
Develop human-centered design skills that enable you to create great products and services.
Learn how to reduce the risks associated with entrepreneurship by validating your ideas before launching.
Build a great brand for your new business.
Learn how to raise a seed funding round no matter where you are in the world.

Syllabus

Welcome to the 8 Step Business Launch Program | New for 2025

What’s Coming Up: a Short Introduction to the Course

Access All Course Templates, Guides, and Special Resources

Master the fundamentals of prompt engineering in just 5 minutes! Perfect for entrepreneurs and professionals who want to quickly understand how to write effective prompts for ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI models.

In this concise crash course, you'll learn:

What prompts and AI prompts are
How to use delimiters to structure your prompts
Techniques for referencing content within delimiters
Best practices for using markdown in prompts
BONUS: Access to an interactive prompt engineering simulation

Whether you're new to AI or looking to enhance your prompt writing skills, this quick-start guide will give you the essential knowledge you need to start writing better prompts immediately. Join over 400,000 professionals who have already learned from Eazl's world-class business courses.

Get hands-on experience with our interactive simulation at easl.link/psim and start transforming the way you work with AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Bard, and other large language models.

You can use this AI prompt with ChatGPT or Claude (both generative AI models offer nice free tiers). You can also use this with Meta's Llama and Google's AI models (for example, PaLM and Gemini) through the Eazl AI app (account required).

Eazl typically recommends using ChatGPT's generative AI models as the first choice and, for longer prompts, Claude from Anthropic (available at claude.ai).

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Employs a step-by-step approach to launching a business, which can be particularly helpful for individuals who are new to entrepreneurship and seeking a structured path

Includes AI prompts for entrepreneurs to generate business plans and customer profiles, which can accelerate the planning process and provide a competitive edge

Offers specialization tracks in services, physical products, and web applications, allowing learners to focus on the areas most relevant to their business ideas

Features real-world examples of business launch tools in action, providing learners with practical insights and actionable strategies they can implement immediately

Recommends using ChatGPT and Claude AI models, which may require learners to create accounts and familiarize themselves with these platforms to fully utilize the course materials

Includes content upgrades as recent as November 2023, indicating that the course is actively maintained and updated with current tools and strategies

Reviews summary

Practical startup guide: design thinking & launch

According to learners, this course offers a highly practical and actionable 8-step framework for starting a business. Students frequently highlight the value of the real-world examples and case studies, finding them essential for understanding how to apply concepts like human-centered design and MVP testing. The course is seen as a strong foundation, particularly beneficial for those new to entrepreneurship. Recent updates, like the inclusion of AI prompts for business planning, are noted as valuable additions, keeping the content relevant. While generally well-received for its clear structure and engaging video lectures, some learners suggest it could delve into greater depth on specific advanced topics.

Includes practical AI prompts for business planning and profile development.

"The new section on AI prompts for entrepreneurs is a fantastic, timely addition!"

"Used the provided AI prompts to quickly draft initial versions of my business plan and customer profile."

"This felt very current and provided useful tools for leveraging modern technology."

Provides a solid foundation, ideal for those new to entrepreneurship.

"This course is perfect if you're just starting out with no prior business experience."

"Gave me a solid understanding of the fundamentals needed to launch my idea."

"As a beginner, I found the concepts explained clearly and easy to follow."

Focuses on understanding customers using design thinking principles.

"The human-centered design module completely changed how I think about product development."

"Learning how to effectively interview potential customers was a key takeaway for me."

"The emphasis on validating ideas before investing heavily is crucial and well-taught."

Features helpful case studies and examples throughout the content.

"Seeing the real customer interviews and case studies was incredibly insightful and practical."

"The examples helped ground the theoretical concepts in reality."

"Found the glimpses into launched businesses really motivating and educational."

Provides a clear, actionable framework for launching a business.

"The 8-step structure made tackling the startup journey feel much less overwhelming."

"I really appreciated the step-by-step approach that guided me through each phase of starting my business."

"Helped me break down the complex process into manageable, actionable phases."

May not provide sufficient depth on complex or advanced topics.

"For someone with prior business knowledge, some parts felt a bit basic."

"I wished they went into more depth on specific financial modeling techniques."

"Could use more advanced content for those past the initial startup phase."

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 Start a Business: Design Thinking & Entrepreneurship [2024] with these activities:

Review Design Thinking Principles

Show steps

Reviewing design thinking principles will provide a solid foundation for understanding the course's human-centered approach to entrepreneurship.

Browse courses on Design Thinking

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Read articles or watch videos explaining the core principles of design thinking.
Reflect on how these principles can be applied to business development.

Read 'The Lean Startup'

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Reading 'The Lean Startup' will provide a practical framework for validating business ideas and building a minimum viable product, aligning with the course's core principles.

View The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book 'The Lean Startup' by Eric Ries.
Identify key concepts such as MVP, validated learning, and pivot.
Consider how these concepts can be applied to your own business ideas.

Develop a Business Concept Sentence

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Developing a business concept sentence will help you clarify your business idea and identify your target market, as emphasized in the course.

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Brainstorm potential business ideas based on your interests and skills.
Write a concise sentence describing your business concept and target audience.
Refine your business concept sentence based on feedback from others.

Four other activities

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Create a Customer Persona

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Creating a customer persona will help you understand your target audience's needs and motivations, enabling you to design better products and services.

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Conduct market research to gather information about your target audience.
Identify key characteristics, behaviors, and motivations of your ideal customer.
Create a detailed customer persona that represents your target audience.

Conduct Mock Customer Interviews

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Practicing customer interviews will improve your ability to gather valuable insights and validate your business ideas.

Show steps

Prepare a list of questions to ask potential customers.
Role-play customer interviews with friends or colleagues.
Record and review your mock interviews to identify areas for improvement.

Read 'Value Proposition Design'

Show steps

Reading 'Value Proposition Design' will provide a structured approach to creating compelling value propositions that resonate with your target audience.

View Business Model You: The One-Page Way to... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book 'Value Proposition Design' by Osterwalder and Pigneur.
Understand the Value Proposition Canvas and its components.
Apply the Value Proposition Canvas to your own business idea.

Create a Pitch Deck

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Creating a pitch deck will help you communicate your business idea effectively and attract potential investors.

Show steps

Research successful pitch decks from other startups.
Develop a compelling narrative that highlights your business's value proposition.
Design a visually appealing pitch deck that effectively communicates your message.

Career center

Learners who complete Start a Business: Design Thinking & Entrepreneurship [2024] will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Startup Founder

The role of a startup founder involves conceiving, launching, and managing a new business venture. This course is explicitly designed for those aspiring to become startup founders. The 'Start a Business' course provides a structured approach with its 8-step program for launching a business, drawing from real startup experiences and research from institutions like MIT and Stanford. The course will reduce the risks associated with entrepreneurship by validating your ideas before launching. The practical guidance on building a minimum viable product, securing early customers, and raising seed funding equips startup founders with the tools they need to succeed.

See salaries and explore the career path for Startup Founder

Business Consultant

A business consultant advises organizations on how to improve their efficiency, profitability, and overall performance. This course, with its focus on the 8-step journey to becoming a successful business owner, helps aspiring business consultants understand the real-world challenges and opportunities that their clients face. The course emphasizes reducing risk and accelerating business growth, which are critical areas where a business consultant can make a significant impact. The course's emphasis to craft an offering that people will pay for helps build a foundation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Consultant

Market Research Analyst

Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. A market research analyst will find the 'Start a Business' course to be helpful, as it focuses on finding specific audiences for ideas. The course also focuses on developing human-centered design skills that enable one to create great products and services. This is an important skill for a market research analyst, as it allows them to predict consumer behavior.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

Business Strategist

Business strategists help companies determine where they want to go and how to get there. Their goal is to improve their client's competitive advantage. The course, 'Start a Business' provides useful insight for business strategists. The course's emphasis on real startup journeys and institutions like MIT, Y Combinator, and Stanford help enable the business strategist's ability to accelerate clients' journey forward. This is a role that typically requires an advanced degree.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Strategist

Innovation Manager

An innovation manager fosters a culture of creativity and experimentation within an organization, identifying and developing new products, services, and business models. This course, with its emphasis on design thinking and entrepreneurship, fits perfectly into this role. The course's focus on human-centered design skills enables innovation managers to create solutions that truly meet customer needs. For an innovation manager, the rapid prototyping elements of the course may be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Innovation Manager

Product Manager

Product managers are responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition of a product or product line. The emphasis on human-centered design in this course may be useful for product managers, as it helps them focus on creating products that meet user needs and preferences. The course's focus on validating ideas before launching can help product managers make data-driven decisions about which features to prioritize. In addition, the course's specialization tracks, such as web applications and digital technologies, may be useful for product managers working in those areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

E-commerce Manager

An e-commerce manager oversees a company's online sales channels, from website design and user experience to marketing and customer service. The 'Start a Business' course emphasizes building a brand and securing early customers. In particular, the ability to develop a minimum viable product will help the e-commerce manager understand which products to focus on. This course should help the e-commerce manager accelerate the company's growth.

See salaries and explore the career path for E-commerce Manager

Content Strategist

A content strategist helps organizations plan, create, and manage their content marketing efforts. This might include blog posts, social media updates, email newsletters, and website copy. The 'Start a Business' course may be helpful for content strategists. The ability to write a compelling business description helps enable the content strategist's goal. In addition, the course's focus on identifying target audiences and understanding customer needs helps content strategists tailor their content to the right people.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Strategist

Business Development Manager

Business development managers identify new business opportunities, develop strategies to pursue those opportunities, and build relationships with potential partners. The focus on market research and validation in the course helps business development managers identify promising markets and validate new business ideas. Furthermore, the course's specialization tracks allow business development managers to focus on specific industries or types of businesses. Specifically, this course can help a business development manager create strong external partnerships.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Social Media Manager

Social media managers are responsible for a company's online presence across various social media platforms. The 'Start a Business' course may be useful for social media managers, as it focuses on understanding customer needs and motivations. The course's focus on understanding the customer journey and building a brand story helps social media managers craft compelling content that resonates with their target audience. The social media manager will find value from getting social proof from early customers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers plan, direct, and coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Learners may find the course helpful, since it focuses on building a brand, crafting a business story, and getting first paying customers. Understanding how to select a launch market and collect research to create an offering that people will pay for helps create an effective marketing campaign for a marketing manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Brand Manager

A brand manager is entrusted with shaping the public's perception of a company through strategic initiatives. The 'Start a Business' course may be useful to a brand manager, as its focus on brand building will help them in their career. The brand manager may find the sections detailing logo creation and color palettes particularly useful. The course enables brand managers to think analytically and creatively to make important decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Brand Manager

Sales Manager

Sales managers direct the sales teams for an organization. This course may be useful for those who want to become sales managers, since it focuses on building relationships with early customers and attracting growth capital. Understanding the power of visual learning and the thrill of building something awesome helps the sales personnel sell the company's brand and mission. Learning how to raise a seed funding round is important in helping the company grow, therefore potentially expanding the sales team.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

User Experience Designer

A User Experience Designer focuses on creating positive and effective experiences for users of a product or service. User experience designers need to understand what the user wants, and the 'Start a Business' course can help with this. The course focuses on developing human-centered design skills. A user experience designer may find the section pertaining to the construction of customers' 'Buying Center' particularly useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Chief Executive Officer

A chief executive officer, as the highest ranking officer in a company, is responsible for overseeing the overall management of the organization. This course should be helpful for a chief executive officer. The 8-step journey that is crafted through the founding team's real startup journey will certainly be helpful for the applicant. The chief executive officer would find it helpful to get an inside look at data tracking Eazl's growth from a concept to a six-figure business in its first year.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Executive Officer

Start a Business

Design Thinking & Entrepreneurship [2024]

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical startup guide: design thinking & launch

Activities

Career center

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