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Entrepreneurship II: Preparing for Launch

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Entrepreneurship II: Preparing for Launch

This course is part of Innovation: From Creativity to Entrepreneurship Specialization

Instructor: Thomas E. Parkinson

44,679 already enrolled

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

769 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

769 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

Design a go-to-market strategy to approach initial customers.
Develop financial projections for the new venture.
Develop a plan for raising equity capital for the new venture.
Operate and monitor the new venture’s health and scalability.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

17 assignments

Taught in English

91% of learners achieved a positive career outcome

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Innovation: From Creativity to Entrepreneurship Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

This course builds on previous concepts and outlines strategies and tactics for forming, financing, and launching a new venture. Topics to be addressed will include building the new venture’s initial management team, identifying and reaching out to early customers, developing financial plans, raising startup and initial growth financing, and preparing for and managing rapid growth.

You will be able to: - Develop an understanding of what is required in a new venture - Create a plan to identify and approach your first customers - Build financial projections for the new venture - Understand how to raise equity capital for the new venture - Monitor the health and scalability of a new venture This course is part of Gies College of Business’ suite of online programs, including the iMBA and iMSM. Learn more about admission into these programs and explore how your Coursera work can be leveraged if accepted into a degree program at https://degrees.giesbusiness.illinois.edu/idegrees/.

In this module will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course. We will then focus on go-to-market strategies.

What's included

7 videos9 readings5 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt1 plugin

7 videosTotal 60 minutes

Welcome from Professor Parkinson2 minutes
Learn on Your Terms1 minute
Go-To-Market Strategy14 minutes
Revenue Models15 minutes
Pricing Strategies11 minutes
Interview with Blair Pircon17 minutes
Like This Course? Learn More with the iMBA! (Optional)1 minute

9 readingsTotal 90 minutes

Syllabus10 minutes
Glossary10 minutes
Descriptions of Organizations and Brands10 minutes
Coursera Coach10 minutes
About the Discussion Forums10 minutes
Online Education at Gies College of Business10 minutes
Updating Your Profile10 minutes
Module 1 Overview10 minutes
Module 1 Readings and Resources10 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 108 minutes

Orientation Quiz30 minutes
Module 1 Lesson 1 Practice Quiz10 minutes
Module 1 Lesson 2 Practice Quiz8 minutes
Module 1 Lesson 3 Practice Quiz30 minutes
Module 1 Graded Quiz30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Module 1 Assignment – Go-To-Market Strategy120 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Getting to Know Your Classmates10 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

Demographic Survey15 minutes

In this module, we will discuss how to build financial projections for the startup company, in order to determine the potential size and scope of the business opportunity and the financing that may be required to successfully pursue that opportunity.

What's included

3 videos2 readings4 assignments

3 videosTotal 41 minutes

Projections: Financial Projections15 minutes
Projections: Presenting Financial Forecasts13 minutes
Startup Financing13 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Module 2 Overview10 minutes
Module 2 Readings and Resources10 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 70 minutes

Module 2 Lesson 1 Practice Quiz10 minutes
Module 2 Lesson 2 Practice Quiz30 minutes
Module 2 Lesson 3 Practice Quiz10 minutes
Module 2 Graded Quiz20 minutes

This module is focused on how startup companies raise capital from outside investors.

What's included

3 videos2 readings4 assignments1 peer review

3 videosTotal 61 minutes

Angels & Venture Capitalists22 minutes
Venture Capital Valuation18 minutes
Term Sheets and Negotiations21 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Module 3 Overview10 minutes
Module 3 Readings and Resources10 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 46 minutes

Module 3 Lesson 1 Practice Quiz8 minutes
Module 3 Lesson 2 Practice Quiz8 minutes
Module 3 Lesson 3 Practice Quiz10 minutes
Module 3 Graded Quiz20 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Module 3 Assignment - Funding120 minutes

This module is focused on growth – metrics that can be used to help manage it, and alternatives to consider if the company is not growing as it needs to.

What's included

4 videos4 readings4 assignments

4 videosTotal 50 minutes

Growth Metrics13 minutes
Pivots10 minutes
Soft Landings9 minutes
Interview with Florence Fresh and Camilo Martinez, Leal19 minutes

4 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Module 4 Overview10 minutes
Module 4 Readings and Resources10 minutes
Congratulations on completing the course!10 minutes
Get Your Course Certificate10 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 120 minutes

Module 4 Lesson 1 Practice Quiz30 minutes
Module 4 Lesson 2 Practice Quiz30 minutes
Module 4 Lesson 3 Practice Quiz30 minutes
Module 4 Graded Quiz30 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Build toward a degree

This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(149 ratings)

Thomas E. Parkinson

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

6 Courses76,023 learners

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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Reviewed on Apr 19, 2018

i am more than honored to have studied this course, the material is very well done and the lecturer is the best that i seen so far.... love from uganda

Reviewed on Jan 30, 2022

Loved the course. Learned a lot from this course. Had interactions with the entrepreneur which helped me to lift up my ideas of starting a new start up.

Reviewed on Jul 24, 2022

Full marks to the excellent trainer. The course delivery was very smooth and the interviews added a lot of value to the entire journey of learning to launch

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