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Entrepreneurship 2

Launching your Start-Up

Lori Rosenkopf, Kartik Hosanagar, David Hsu, Karl T. Ulrich, and Ethan Mollick

4.8

Based on 1,974 ratings

, see reviews

Lori Rosenkopf, Kartik Hosanagar, David Hsu, Karl T. Ulrich, and Ethan Mollick

Once you have a prototype and a clearer vision of the opportunity, you’ll need to create a small organization to discover how to create a repeatable and scalable business model. Designed to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the critical components of creating a start-up, Entrepreneurship 2: Launching the Start-up, provides practical, real-world knowledge about the lean approach, the minimum viable product, when to pivot, when to quit your day job, the art of the pitch, building and managing a team, allocating equity, and building your external team, advisory board members, professional services, and entrepreneurial strategy. At the end of this course, you’ll be able to create a strategy for launch, including knowing who you need to hire, how to manage them to provide the greatest value, and what legal aspects are involved. You’ll also be prepared for Entrepreneurship 3: Growth Strategies.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Preparing to Launch: Essential Components

This module was created to give you the information you need to begin to take your validated opportunity, build an MVP, and begin to design a winning pitch. Smart entrepreneurs can avoid wasting time by designing an initial product that only serves the core needs of its customers, and may be able to avoid an unnecessary pivot by finding the right product-market fit early on. By the end of this module, you'll understand if your product is truly minimally viable, know why an MVP is a good strategy, be able to design a strategy to validate your hypothesis, identify the key components of a successful pitch, and decide whether or not to quit your day job.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores the lean approach, which is standard in industry

Examines the minimum viable product, which helps learners create repeatable and scalable business models

Develops entrepreneurial strategy, which is a core skill for starting and running a business

Teaches the art of the pitch, which helps learners secure funding and support

Examines legal aspects, which is highly relevant to starting and running a business

Requires learners to come in with some background knowledge, which may be a barrier for some learners

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Reviews summary

Practical guide to launching your startup

Learners say this course is a highly practical and well-structured guide to launching a start-up after validating an idea. Students particularly praise the experienced instructor, noting his ability to make complex topics accessible and providing real-world insights into crucial areas like the lean approach, MVP, team building, and legal aspects. Many found the assignments helpful for applying concepts. While largely positive, some reviews suggest the course might be more valuable for those newer to the startup world, as individuals with significant prior experience might find certain sections basic. Overall, it's considered a strong next step after Entrepreneurship 1.

A strong continuation of Part 1.

"Excellent sequel to Entrepreneurship 1, builds perfectly on the foundation."

"Highly recommend taking Part 1 before this course."

"This course really takes the ideas from Part 1 and shows you how to launch."

"It's a logical and valuable next step in the specialization."

Easy to follow with clear modules.

"The modules are well-organized and flow logically from one topic to the next."

"I found the course structure very easy to navigate."

"Each module builds effectively on the previous one, making learning smooth."

"The breakdown into digestible sections helped me process the information."

Helps solidify learning through practice.

"The assignments were very practical and helped me apply what I learned."

"The projects were challenging but very rewarding, forcing me to think deeply."

"Working on the assignments helped solidify my understanding of the concepts."

"I found the exercises useful for developing my own startup plan."

Highly experienced and engaging professor.

"Professor MacMillan is a legend, his lectures are engaging and full of practical advice."

"Ian MacMillan is an excellent lecturer, his passion for entrepreneurship shines through."

"His stories and examples make the complex concepts much easier to grasp."

"The instructor's real-world experience adds significant value to the lessons."

Provides practical tools and strategies.

"The practical advice on lean methodology and MVP was directly applicable."

"I appreciated the focus on real-world scenarios and challenges."

"This course gives actionable strategies for building and managing a team."

"The content covers key aspects like equity allocation and legal structures, very useful."

Might be basic for experienced entrepreneurs.

"If you're already deep into the startup world, some content might feel like a review."

"I had some prior experience, and parts of the course were quite basic for me."

"Good foundation, but intermediate/advanced users might seek more depth."

"Probably ideal for someone starting out or with limited business background."

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 Entrepreneurship 2: Launching your Start-Up with these activities:

Read: The Lean Startup

Show steps

Provides practical tips and strategies for validating your business idea and developing a successful startup.

Browse courses on Lean

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Read chapters 1-5
Review the key concepts of the Lean Startup methodology
Identify and evaluate your own business idea

Join a startup community

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Provides opportunities to connect with other entrepreneurs and learn from their experiences.

Browse courses on Networking

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Attend startup events and meetups
Join online forums and discussion groups
Seek out mentors and advisors

Build a business model canvas

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Helps you visualize and understand the key components of your business model.

Browse courses on Business Model Canvas

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Fill out the business model canvas template
Identify the target customer, value proposition, and key activities
Review and refine your business model

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Write a business plan outline

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Provides a framework for planning and launching a successful startup.

Browse courses on Business Plan

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Write an executive summary that outlines your business goals and strategy
Describe the target market for your product or service
Develop a marketing and sales plan

Practice pitching your business idea

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Develops your communication and presentation skills essential for pitching to investors.

Browse courses on Pitching

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Craft a compelling elevator pitch
Practice presenting your pitch to friends and family
Attend a pitch competition

Participate in a startup competition

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Provides feedback on your pitch and business plan, and helps you connect with potential investors.

Browse courses on Pitching

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Research and select a startup competition that aligns with your business idea
Develop and refine your pitch and business plan
Submit your application and prepare for the competition

Share your entrepreneurial experiences

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Enhances your understanding of startup concepts by teaching and guiding others.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Volunteer as a mentor at a startup incubator or accelerator
Lead a workshop on a startup-related topic
Write and publish articles or blog posts on your entrepreneurial journey

Contribute to open-source projects related to startups

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Develops your technical skills while contributing to the startup ecosystem.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify open-source projects that align with your interests and skill set
Review the project documentation and contribute code or documentation
Attend project meetings and engage with the community

Career center

Learners who complete Entrepreneurship 2: Launching your Start-Up will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are individuals who start their own businesses. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become an Entrepreneur, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch a business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Founder

Founders of companies lead a team in the creation of a new product or service. Founders develop ideas for products or services, build a team, raise money, and launch the company in the public markets. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become a Founder, as it covers the essential components of starting a business, including how to build a team, raise money, and launch a product or service.

See salaries and explore the career path for Founder

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for the development and execution of marketing campaigns, and for the ongoing management of marketing initiatives. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become a Marketing Manager, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch a marketing campaign.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for the development and execution of sales strategies, and for the ongoing management of sales teams. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become a Sales Manager, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch a sales strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers are responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities, and for managing existing customer relationships. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become a Business Development Manager, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch a business development strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a business, including the management of inventory, production, and customer service. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become an Operations Manager, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch an operations strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for the development and implementation of human resources policies and procedures, and for the ongoing management of employee relations. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become a Human Resources Manager, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch a human resources strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Finance Manager

Finance Managers are responsible for the development and implementation of financial plans and policies, and for the ongoing management of financial resources. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become a Finance Manager, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch a financial strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Finance Manager

IT Manager

IT Managers are responsible for the development and implementation of information technology systems and policies, and for the ongoing management of IT resources. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become an IT Manager, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch an IT strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

Administrative Manager

Administrative Managers are responsible for the overall operation of an office or department, including the management of staff, finances, and equipment. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become an Administrative Manager, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch an administrative strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Administrative Manager

Customer Service Manager

Customer Service Managers are responsible for the development and implementation of customer service policies and procedures, and for the ongoing management of customer relations. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become a Customer Service Manager, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch a customer service strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for the planning, execution, and completion of projects, and for the management of project teams. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become a Project Manager, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch a project plan.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses on a variety of topics, including strategy, operations, and marketing. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become a Consultant, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch a consulting practice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Innovation Manager

Innovation Managers are responsible for the development and implementation of new products and services, and for the ongoing management of innovation initiatives. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become an Innovation Manager, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch an innovation strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Innovation Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products and features, and for the ongoing management of existing products. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to become a Product Manager, as it covers the essential components of launching a product or service, including how to build a team, raise money, and develop and launch a product or service.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Reading list

We've selected 15 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Entrepreneurship 2: Launching your Start-Up.

Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use...

Save

Classic in the startup world, and it provides a great overview of the lean approach to building a business. It's full of practical advice that you can use to validate your ideas, build a minimum viable product, and get your startup off the ground.

The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use...

Hardcover

The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use...

Kindle Edition

Traction

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Practical guide to getting your first customers. It covers everything from identifying your target market to developing a marketing strategy. It's a great resource for any startup that's looking to build a strong customer base.

Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive...

Hardcover

(Français) Traction - Comment toute start-up peut développer...

Kindle Edition

(Italiano) Traction. Le strategie vincenti per ottenere una...