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Michel Fleuriet and Philippe Tibi

The course aims at providing knowledge and experience to entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs generally start with a mission, a new idea that they want to bring to the world. If the idea is original, it is probably not expected by the market, which has to be educated. This is a very costly experience. Entrepreneurs need to gather capital at the start of the journey. They need to articulate clear plans, define objectives and resources and raise money accordingly. They also need to manage cash for two reasons: i) because the better it is managed, the less you need to raise with outsiders; ii) because generation of cash flow is the pillar of the valuation of the company. And we should add that the practical reason why a company gets bankrupted is because it runs out of cash..

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The course aims at providing knowledge and experience to entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs generally start with a mission, a new idea that they want to bring to the world. If the idea is original, it is probably not expected by the market, which has to be educated. This is a very costly experience. Entrepreneurs need to gather capital at the start of the journey. They need to articulate clear plans, define objectives and resources and raise money accordingly. They also need to manage cash for two reasons: i) because the better it is managed, the less you need to raise with outsiders; ii) because generation of cash flow is the pillar of the valuation of the company. And we should add that the practical reason why a company gets bankrupted is because it runs out of cash..

The course is based on this belief. We look at the myth of the balance sheet and explain the dynamics of cash flows and the way they should be managed. We also investigate the basics of venture capital and provide a practical roadmap to entrepreneurs.

Many courses are dedicated to the same topic. Our originality is that we operate in the advisory board of the private equity firm, Xerys and are board members of their venture companies. In addition, Michel was the country head for Merrill Lynch in France while Philippe served in the same function at UBS. The former as head of investment banking, the latter as head of global markets.

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What's inside

Syllabus

HOW TO READ A BALANCE SHEET
Welcome! This first week will help you understanding the different types of financial documents and the information each contains with one goal in mind: make more informed decisions about your venture.
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VALUE CREATION AND CASH FLOW
In this module you will learn: How does your venture create wealth? What is a business plan? What is wealth? What are the main financial metrics of wealth creation? How does your venture create cash? What is the Burn rate? Why should you finance your venture through equity? And why not debt?
GROWTH AND MARKET POWER
Understand that growth and size do influence market power and cash flows/profits as a consequence
THE ENTREPRENEUR AND THE FINANCIERS
Understand the details of the relation between the entrepreneur and the financier, private equity in the first stages, then the public market at the time of the IPO. Understand the expectations, the documentation and the basis of price discovery
VENTURE CAPITAL FINANCING
Understand via real life examples the respective objectives of the entrepreneur and the financiers. Examine the trade off between ownership and growth and get an understanding of the different stages of investment.
Case Study

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores key financial concepts and their relevance to building and scaling startups
Taught by experienced professionals with expertise in venture capital and investment banking
Provides a practical roadmap and insights for entrepreneurs seeking funding
Examines the dynamics of cash flows and emphasizes its importance in valuing ventures
Utilizes real-life case studies to illustrate concepts
Provides guidance on the relationship between entrepreneurs and financiers

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Reviews summary

Venture financing with focus

Learners say that How to finance your venture ? is a good course that will help you to understand the basics of financing. Students appreciate the easy-to-follow coursework and helpful explanations provided in this course, but note that you will need to be focused and committed to succeed. Key topics covered in this course include entrepreneurship and funding your venture.
Helpful explanations
"good course. Miss the explanation sometimes"
Easy to understand
"easy to understand."
"easy to folllow"
Long waits
"And you generally have to wait for months to get your assignment peer-reviewed."
Challenging
"The final peer-reviewed assignment is way too difficult for a six-week course."

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 How to finance your venture ? with these activities:
Review financial analysis techniques
Build a solid understanding of the fundamentals before diving into the course material.
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  • Review the basics of accounting, including the balance sheet and income statement.
  • Practice using financial ratios to evaluate companies.
  • Build a simple financial model to understand how changes in assumptions affect company value.
Attend a startup pitch competition
Gain insights into the startup ecosystem and meet potential investors and entrepreneurs.
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  • Attend the pitch competition and listen to the presentations.
  • Network with other attendees.
Solve financial modeling case studies
Apply your knowledge by working through real-world financial modeling exercises.
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  • Identify the key assumptions and drivers of value in a given case study.
  • Build a financial model to forecast future financial performance.
  • Estimate the company's value using appropriate valuation techniques.
Three other activities
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Show all six activities
Volunteer as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs
Share your knowledge and experience while helping others succeed in their entrepreneurial journeys.
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Show steps
  • Find a mentoring program or organization.
  • Sign up to be a mentor.
  • Meet with your mentees regularly and provide guidance and support.
Contribute to an open-source financial modeling library
Gain practical experience and contribute to the financial modeling community.
Browse courses on Financial Modeling
Show steps
  • Identify an open-source financial modeling library.
  • Find an issue or feature that you can contribute to.
  • Contribute your code to the library.
Develop a business plan for your own startup idea
Apply your learning by creating a comprehensive business plan for a real-world startup idea.
Browse courses on Entrepreneurship
Show steps
  • Identify a problem or opportunity in the market.
  • Develop a solution and business model.
  • Conduct market research and analysis.
  • Create financial projections.
  • Write a business plan.

Career center

Learners who complete How to finance your venture ? will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Founder/CEO
Entrepreneurs often start a company with a mission and a need for financing. They need to be able to articulate clear plans, define objectives and resources, and raise money accordingly. This course provides a roadmap for entrepreneurs to help them get the financing they need to start and grow their businesses.
Venture Capitalist
Venture capitalists invest in early-stage companies with high growth potential. To do this, they must be able to assess the company's financial health and its potential for success. They must also be able to raise capital to invest in these companies. This course provides Venture Capitalists with a variety of tools and frameworks to use in their day-to-day work.
Private Equity Investor
Private equity investors invest in companies that are not publicly traded. To do this, they must be able to assess the company's financial health and its potential for success. They must also be able to raise capital to invest in these companies. This course provides Private Equity Investors with a variety of tools and frameworks to use in their day-to-day work.
Investment Banker
Investment bankers must be able to perform due diligence on a company before it goes public. This requires them to understand financial statements, such as the balance sheet, cash flow statement, and income statement. This course provides students with a deep dive into these very subjects.
Portfolio Manager
A portfolio manager is responsible for managing a portfolio of investments. They must be able to analyze financial statements and make investment decisions. This course will give you the tools and frameworks you need to be successful as a Portfolio Manager.
Credit Analyst
Credit analysts assess the creditworthiness of borrowers. They use financial statements and other information to determine the risk of default. The course teaches you how to read and analyze financial statements.
Corporate Finance Manager
A corporate finance manager is responsible for the financial planning and management of a company. They must be able to analyze financial statements and make financial decisions. This course provides the tools and frameworks you need to be successful as a Corporate Finance Manager.
Financial Advisor
Financial advisors must be able to understand a client's financial goals and needs, and to develop and implement strategies to help the client achieve those goals. To do this effectively, Financial Advisors must be able to analyze financial statements and to provide guidance on how to manage cash flow. This course provides a solid foundation in these concepts that are essential to the work of a Financial Advisor.
Chief Financial Officer
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for the financial health of a company. The CFO must be able to manage the company's finances, including its cash flow, balance sheet, and income statement. The CFO must meet with investors and discuss the company's financial results. A deep understanding of financial concepts is essential to become a CFO, and this course will help you with that.
Equity Analyst
An equity analyst assesses and values companies, providing forecasts on future growth potential. They focus on the company's financial statements, including the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. This course provides learners with a deep dive into the financial concepts that Equity Analysts use in their work.
Investment Fund Manager
Investment fund managers oversee the investment of funds on behalf of clients. One type of investment fund is a venture capital fund, which invests in early-stage companies with high growth potential. This course will teach learners how to assess the financial health and potential for success of early-stage companies, which is a skill that is essential for success as an Investment Fund Manager.
Marketing Manager
A Marketing Manager oversees the marketing activities of a company or organization. This course can benefit a current and potential Marketing Manager because of its focus on concepts such as business plans, projections, wealth creation, growth, and market power. Especially those who wish to go into marketing in the finance industry.
Economist
Economists study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. This course will give you the practical wisdom and knowledge you need to come to more informed and educated conclusions on economic matters.
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts study a company's financial history and project its future performance. To do these things, they must be able to obtain and analyze company financial statements, projection reports, plans for new products and services, and other documents. When evaluating a company's stocks or bonds, analysts must review the company's balance sheet, cash flow, and income statements. They also must be well versed in how a company creates wealth and cash flows. The course 'How to finance your venture?' offers an in-depth look at these financial concepts. Therefore, this course may be useful for a Financial Analyst.
Data Scientist
Data scientists use programming and statistical skills to turn raw data into useful information. Data scientists must be able to analyze financial information to identify and interpret trends, which are based on the concepts taught in this course.

Reading list

We've selected 12 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 How to finance your venture ?.
Provides a practical guide to building a successful startup. It is written by a leading expert in the field and provides a wealth of insights and advice.
Provides a practical guide to marketing and selling technology products to mainstream customers. It is written by a leading expert in the field and provides a wealth of insights and advice.
Provides a theoretical framework for understanding why successful companies often fail to innovate. It is written by a leading expert in the field and provides a wealth of insights and advice.
Provides a practical guide to developing and executing a good strategy. It is written by a leading expert in the field and provides a wealth of insights and advice.
Provides a theoretical framework for understanding how to build a successful startup. It is written by a successful entrepreneur and provides a wealth of insights and advice.
Provides a practical guide to getting customers for your startup. It is written by two successful entrepreneurs and provides a wealth of insights and advice.
Provides a step-by-step guide to building a successful startup. It is written by two successful entrepreneurs and provides a wealth of insights and advice.
Provides a practical guide to starting a successful business. It is written by a successful entrepreneur and provides a wealth of insights and advice.

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