Intended learning outcomes

The objective of the course is to enable the student to start a business of her/his own. After the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand and demonstrate knowledge of important issues faced when starting a new firm
• Manage important issues faced when starting a new firm
• Argue for critical processes and steps required when starting a new firm
• Be aware of resources required when starting a new firm
• Assemble resources for starting a new firm
• Conduct a market analysis
• Present a business model
• Conduct a basic financial analysis of a new venture Content

The course focuses on supporting the student in her or his decisions and other action in the new business venture. Students entering the course should have an intention in pursuing a business idea in a company of their own.

The outline of the course is built on experience from active entrepreneurs and follows the typical stages in a new venture, starting with the evaluation and refinement of the existing business idea, moving on to practical steps in setting up a firm, assembling resourcing (external capital, internal resources etc.), market and communication plans.

The course will focus on:

• Strategy (What?) –i.e. markets, offer, business idea, getting-started and establishing a network
• People (Who?) – i.e. entrepreneurial team, recruitment and motivation
• Operational work (Let’s do it!) – i.e. resource gathering, sales/marketing, production and negotiation.

Theoretically, the course connects to the opportunity-based models of entrepreneurship and business creation, as well as to a contextual approach to the venture creation process (i.e. the idea that the character of the venture creation process depends on the type of business and industry)

Teaching and learning activities

During the course we will go through the practical steps of launching a new venture.

A blend of teaching methods including lectures, exercises and presentations, project work and group discussions will be used for the course. This is an intense course and commitment is necessary. Students will be expected to actively work with their venture idea from day 1 in the course. The course examination is based on the execution of a real business idea in groups of 2-5 students.

There will be mandatory group presentation during and at the end of the course and there is also a written exam.

Grades and form of assessment

Examination

The student’s grade will depend on three factors:

• Assignments and presentations (group/individual)
• Final executive summary (group)
• Written exam (individual)

Students will be required to satisfactory complete all of the course assignments in order to receive a passing grade.

Attendance 
Attendance is mandatory.

Additional information

The course language is English.

The course is offered within the framework of the Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship.

Responsible institution: Stockholm School of Economics (SSE)

Literature and teaching aids

Literature will be announced in connection to the start and communicated to enrolled students.