This course is part of the Technology Entrepreneurship Specialization

John E. Thomas

Offered By

Part of the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management degree
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Technology Entrepreneurship SpecializationUniversity of Colorado Boulder

About this Course

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The course starts by exploring entrepreneurial ecosystems and systems thinking. The Technology Adoption Life Cycle is introduced to help explain market dynamics and support developing business strategy. Market research concepts and tools are presented that learners will apply to their course projects. Founder, key manager, and board member considerations are examined, and the qualities of effective leadership are reviewed. The operational structures and processes of a tech startup are identified, and the Balanced Scorecard is presented as a tool for tracking critical performance metrics. Learners will create a first draft of Product, Market, and Management & Operations Plans for their new product or service ideas.
Creating a Startup Company can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 2 of 3 in the

Technology Entrepreneurship Specialization

Beginner Level

No particular background necessary, though we recommend successful completion of the first course in the Technology Entrepreneurship specialization.

Approx. 34 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

By successfully completing this course, you will be able to describe the meaning of entrepreneurial systems thinking.
You will be able to identify the roles and responsibilities of founders, key management, and the board of directors.
You will also be able to summarize the components of operations in a technology startup and the value of tools for tracking metrics.
Lastly, you will be able to create Product, Market, and Management & Operations business plans.

Skills you will gain

Engineering
Engineering management
Startups
Entrepreneurship
technology

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 2 of 3 in the

Technology Entrepreneurship Specialization

Beginner Level

No particular background necessary, though we recommend successful completion of the first course in the Technology Entrepreneurship specialization.

Approx. 34 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

John E. Thomas

Scholar in Residence

Lockheed Martin Engineering Management Program

523 Learners

3 Courses

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

Start working towards your Master's degree

This course is part of the 100% online Master of Engineering in Engineering Management from University of Colorado Boulder. If you are admitted to the full program, your courses count towards your degree learning.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

7 hours to complete

Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

7 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 70 min), 12 readings, 2 quizzes

7 videos

Business Models & Ecosystems6mEntrepreneurial Systems Thinking8mIntegral Entrepreneurship--A Holistic Approach15mValue Chains & Supply Chains13m Technology Adoption Life Cycle Introduction12mTechnology Adoption Life Cycle Stages6m Navitating the Technology Adoption Life Cycle7m

12 readings

Welcome and Where to Find Help10mEntrepreneurial Systems Thinking1hBusiness Ecosystem3mSystems Thinking20mEntrepreneurial Ecosystem40mSystems & Technology Entrepreneurship45mValue Chains & Supply Chains30mValue Chains & Supply Chains6mCrossing the Chasm5mTechnology Adoption Lifecycle30mWhole Product Concept12mTechnology Adoption Life Cycle20m

1 practice exercise

Business Ecosystems15m

Week2

Week 2

6 hours to complete

Business Models, Concept Pitch & the Lean Business Plan

6 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 57 min), 9 readings, 2 quizzes

6 videos

Constructing Business Models9mBusiness Model Lean Canvas7mConcept Quick Pitch-Is this idea worth pursuing?9m Introduction to Business Planning11mBusiness Planning is a Process11mA Lean Business Plan7m

9 readings

Aligning Business Models with Purpose30mBusiness Model Lean Canvas25mCreating a Business Model Lean Canvas9mGuy Kawasiki on Pitch Decks3mInvestor Pitch14mBusiness Planning20mHow to Write a Business Plan45mBusiness Plan Overview35mLean Startup and Business Model40m

1 practice exercise

Business Models and Planning15m

Week3

Week 3

7 hours to complete

Product & Market

7 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 85 min), 9 readings, 2 quizzes

8 videos

Defining & Segmenting Your Target Customer8mConstructing a Target Customer Persona6mDesign Thinking, Protytotyping, & Testing10mTarget Customer Focus Groups, Surveys, & Interviews20mMarket Segmentation & Sizing9mMarket Segmentation & The Beach Head Market 7mMarket Research & Competitive Analysis10mOperational Dynamics: Porter's Five Forces11m

9 readings

Customer Segmentation15mCreating a Customer Persona30mPrototyping & Design Thinking45mCustomer Interviews30mEmpathy Maps5mBeachhead Market5mBeachhead Market 5mCompetitive Analysis45mSWOT Analysis10m

1 practice exercise

Customers and Markets15m

Week4

Week 4

7 hours to complete

Management & Operations

7 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 74 min), 11 readings, 2 quizzes

7 videos

Identifying Founders' Key Roles & Responsibilities13mLeading with Authenticity8mBoard of Directors and Advisors13mRecruiting and Retaining Board Members, Officers, & Key Management18mFive Practices of Effective Leadership8mLeading with Emotional Intelligence6mBusiness Plan Outline: Product, Market, Management & Operations5m

11 readings

Creating the Founder Team40mFounder Authenticity10mWhat is Authentic Leadership13mStartup Board of Directors20mCreating a Startup Board of Directors30mStartup Employee Compensation15mFive Practices of Exemplary Leadership30mLearning How to Lead30mLeadership and Emotional Intelligence45mWhy EQ is More Important than IQ8mIntroduction to Business Planning10m

1 practice exercise

Leadership and Boards in Startups15m

About the Technology Entrepreneurship Specialization

A new paradigm in entrepreneurship has replaced the model of the Silicon Valley startup garage with laptop computers and distributed networks. In this new paradigm, founders, partners, and critical startup resources may be accessed and acquired anywhere anytime. New technologies can be readily deployed to customers, markets, and distribution channels across the globe with the same infrastructure and underlying entrepreneurial principles and practices. Technology Entrepreneurship will empower learners with the knowledge, skills, and methods needed to create and launch a new technology company and to successfully compete in this new paradigm.

This specialization will be of interest to learners who: have always wanted to start a technology business are interested in joining a technology startup company are tired of working at traditional jobs and making money for other people and want to learn more about entrepreneurship are looking for a greater sense of purpose and are passionate about making the world a better place The Technology Entrepreneurship specialization can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Creating a Startup Company

About this Course

What you will learn

Skills you will gain