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

In this Capstone project, you will be assembling a pitch deck for a new venture, including the key deliverables (e.g., customer needs, concept description, financials, and so forth). You will review your peers' projects according to a rubric develop by Wharton Entrepreneurship and practice applying the same criteria VC’s use in evaluating potential investments.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Start Here
Welcome to the Entrepreneurship Capstone Project! This project-based course is designed to provide you with the resources and tools you need to develop a pitch deck for a start-up, which you will submit as your Capstone Project. Please study the readings below, which provide you with the resources and timeline you need to complete a successful pitch deck. Then, please take the Project Scope Quiz. You must score 100% to pass the quiz, but you have multiple opportunities to retake the quiz until you score 100%. If you're looking for some inspiration, you can learn about how some entrepreneurs got their ideas off the ground. We've also reposted lectures from the courses that will be particularly helpful for you to review.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Core audience is students interested in entrepreneurship
Teaches how to build a pitch deck
Taught by five experienced professors
Provides opportunities to receive feedback from peers
Provides a solid foundation in entrepreneurship
Requires a significant time investment

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Reviews summary

Building a startup pitch deck

According to learners, the Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone is a highly practical course focused on the critical task of developing a comprehensive pitch deck. Many found the course structure, particularly the emphasis on peer reviews, to be extremely valuable. While some highlighted the usefulness of revisiting materials from the Specialization, others noted the lack of substantial new content beyond project assembly. The course appears to be well-organized and provides a clear framework, although some reviewers suggested the feedback process could be improved for greater depth.
Course is well-structured and organized.
"The week-by-week structure makes it easy to follow and build the project incrementally."
"The guidelines for the pitch deck were very clear."
"I found the course organization logical and the steps easy to follow."
Helps consolidate previous learning.
"This capstone project is great as it's a chance to pull all information from the first 4 courses together in a Pitch Deck."
"It serves as an excellent culmination of the entire Entrepreneurship Specialization."
"A good way to use all the information learned in the specialization to build a pitch deck."
Peer feedback is a key component.
"The peer reviews were very useful and provided great insights into my pitch deck."
"Reviewing others' decks helped me see ways to improve my own."
"The peer grading process was insightful and essential for refining my presentation."
Central task is creating a pitch deck.
"This capstone project is great as it's a chance to pull all information from the first 4 courses together in a Pitch Deck."
"The course helps students create a clear and comprehensive pitch deck."
"Building the pitch deck itself was the most useful part for me."
Quality of peer feedback is inconsistent.
"Some peer reviews were detailed and helpful, while others seemed rushed and not very constructive."
"The feedback I received was very minimal and didn't offer specific suggestions for improvement."
"Review quality varies significantly among peers."
Relies heavily on prior course material.
"There wasn't much new content introduced; it was primarily about applying what was already taught."
"I wish there had been more guidance or new lectures specific to the capstone process itself."
"If you've completed the prior courses, much of this will be review."

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 Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone with these activities:
Review financial analysis techniques
Reviewing these techniques will help you build a strong foundation for the course.
Browse courses on Financial Analysis
Show steps
  • Review the basics of financial statements.
  • Practice calculating key financial ratios.
  • Analyze a company's financial performance using these ratios.
Learn how to use a financial modeling software
This will help you develop practical skills that are highly valued by employers.
Browse courses on Financial Modeling
Show steps
  • Choose a financial modeling software and find tutorials for it.
  • Follow the tutorials to learn the basics of the software.
  • Practice building financial models using the software.
Participate in a peer review session
This will help you get feedback on your work and improve your understanding of the material.
Browse courses on Peer Review
Show steps
  • Find a peer who is also taking the course.
  • Schedule a time to meet and review each other's work.
  • Provide constructive feedback and suggestions.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Attend a workshop on entrepreneurship or finance
This will provide you with an opportunity to learn from experts and network with other entrepreneurs.
Browse courses on Entrepreneurship
Show steps
  • Find a workshop that interests you.
  • Register for the workshop.
  • Attend the workshop and participate in the activities.
Develop a financial plan for a new business
This project will allow you to apply the concepts you learn in the course to a real-world scenario.
Browse courses on Financial Planning
Show steps
  • Identify the business opportunity and goals.
  • Research the market and competition.
  • Develop financial projections.
  • Write a financial plan.
Start a business simulation project
This project will allow you to apply the concepts you learn in the course to a simulated business environment.
Show steps
  • Choose a business simulation platform.
  • Create a team and develop a business plan.
  • Manage the business and make decisions.
  • Analyze the results and learn from your experience.
Create a compilation of resources on entrepreneurship or finance
This will help you organize and synthesize the information you learn in the course.
Browse courses on Entrepreneurship
Show steps
  • Identify the topics you want to cover.
  • Gather resources from various sources.
  • Organize the resources into a coherent format.
Contribute to an open-source project related to entrepreneurship or finance
This will allow you to gain practical experience and contribute to the community.
Browse courses on Open Source
Show steps
  • Find an open-source project that interests you.
  • Identify an area where you can contribute.
  • Make a pull request to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Product Manager
A Product Manager is responsible for the development and marketing of a product or service. They work with engineers, designers, and marketers to bring a product to market and ensure its success. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate product opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to pitch your product ideas to stakeholders.
Startup CEO
A Startup CEO is the founder and leader of a startup company. They are responsible for all aspects of the business, including product development, marketing, sales, and finance. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate business opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to pitch your business ideas to investors and customers.
Entrepreneur
An Entrepreneur starts and operates a business or organization. They are responsible for all aspects of the business, including product development, marketing, sales, and finance. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate business opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to pitch your business ideas to investors and customers.
Private Equity Investor
A Private Equity Investor invests in companies that are not publicly traded. They provide funding and guidance to help these companies grow and succeed. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate investment opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to pitch your investment ideas to potential investors.
Venture Capitalist
A Venture Capitalist invests in early-stage companies with high growth potential. They provide funding and guidance to help these companies grow and succeed. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate investment opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to pitch your investment ideas to potential investors.
Management Consultant
A Management Consultant provides advice and guidance to businesses and organizations on a wide range of topics, including business strategy, operations, and technology. They help these organizations improve their performance and achieve their goals. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate business opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to convey your insights and recommendations.
Market Research Analyst
A Market Research Analyst studies market trends and customer behavior to help businesses and organizations develop and market their products and services. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the research and analytical skills to evaluate market opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to convey your insights and recommendations.
Financial Analyst
A Financial Analyst studies financial data to make recommendations on investments and business decisions. They provide insights into financial performance and risk. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate business opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to convey your insights and recommendations.
Project Manager
A Project Manager plans and executes projects to achieve specific goals and objectives. They work with stakeholders to develop project plans, budgets, and timelines. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate project opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to convey your project plans and progress to stakeholders.
Sales Manager
A Sales Manager leads and motivates a sales team to achieve sales targets. They develop and implement sales strategies and provide training and support to their team. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate sales opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to pitch your sales strategies to clients.
Consultant
A Consultant provides advice and guidance to businesses and organizations on a wide range of topics, including business strategy, operations, and technology. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs, by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate business processes, and by strengthening your communication skills. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to convey your insights and recommendations.
Strategy Consultant
A Strategy Consultant provides advice and guidance to businesses and organizations on a wide range of topics, including business strategy, operations, and technology. They help these organizations develop and implement strategies to achieve their goals. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate business opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to convey your insights and recommendations.
Business Analyst
A Business Analyst studies business needs and processes to improve efficiency. They provide recommendations for process development and technological system improvements. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate business processes. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to convey your insights and recommendations.
Growth Marketer
A Growth Marketer is responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies to drive growth for a company. They work with product, engineering, and sales teams to develop and implement marketing campaigns. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate marketing opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to pitch your marketing strategies to stakeholders.
Investment Banker
An Investment Banker provides financial advice and services to corporations and governments. They help these organizations raise capital and manage their investments. A Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone course can help prepare you for this role by providing insights into customer needs and by helping you develop the financial and analytical skills to evaluate business opportunities. The course may also help you develop the presentation skills to pitch your investment ideas to clients.

Reading list

We've selected 13 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 Wharton Entrepreneurship Capstone.
Must-read for anyone interested in starting a new business. It provides a practical framework for testing and validating your ideas before you invest too much time and money. This book provides background knowledge on lean startup principles and methodologies commonly used in entrepreneurship.
Provides a unique perspective on business and innovation. Thiel argues that the most successful businesses are those that create new markets. As such it provides additional insights into creating novel and disruptive new ventures.
Provides a practical framework for developing and testing your business model. The Business Model Canvas great tool for visually representing and communicating your business model.
Explains why large companies often fail to innovate. Christensen argues that large companies are too focused on protecting their existing businesses and are therefore unable to see new opportunities.
Provides a framework for marketing and selling your product or service to mainstream customers. Moore argues that there chasm between early adopters and mainstream customers and that you need to use different marketing strategies to reach each group.
Provides practical advice for building and running a successful startup. Horowitz shares his experiences as the co-founder and CEO of Opsware.
Provides a framework for developing and evaluating your strategy. Rumelt argues that a good strategy is clear, focused, and aligned with your resources.
Provides a framework for making the tough decisions that all founders face. Wasserman identifies the seven most common dilemmas that founders face and provides advice on how to resolve them.
Provides a practical guide to developing and launching your product. Olsen shares his experiences as the co-founder and CEO of The Lean Product Company.
Provides a comprehensive guide to starting and running a successful startup. Blank and Dorf share their experiences as entrepreneurs and investors.
Provides practical advice for starting and growing your business. Kawasaki shares his experiences as a venture capitalist and entrepreneur.

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