GRA 3113 Start-Up Development
GRA 3113 Start-Up Development
In this course the students will learn the actual process of starting and growing a new business. Knowledge and tools related to the entrepreneurial process, including leadership, market segmentation, business modelling and funding, are central to the successful development of profitable new companies. This course will provide the students with models and tools for developing start-up companies, as well as practical experience in starting a company and developing a convincing business plan. Methods related to the “Disciplined Entrepreneurship” approach will be central. Through the course, students may prepare an application to the STUD-ENT through the Norwegian Research Council, and a presentation / pitch.
An active learning form is introduced through student presentations, problem solving, discussions, practical exercises including interviews with end users, customers and key partners.
After finishing the course, the students will:
- have a basis for advanced studies in the field
- have deep knowledge about business development in start-up companies
- have a framework for starting and scaling new companies
- have knowledge to analyze complex problems in start-up companies
- have knowledge of how to get early stage funding for their start-up
The students will obtain the skills for:
- starting and scaling a new venture
- developing a convincing business plan
- designing, testing, implementing and reflecting upon the company's business model
- reflecting upon themselves as entrepreneurs, team members and leaders
- presenting and communicating business ideas in an effective and convincing manner
- The students will reflect upon the process from starting to scaling a young company
- The students will be able to analyze customer and end-user insight and develop a realistic plan for implementation
- Motivation, commitment and team
- Market segmentation and "Beachhead" market
- Product Specification and Value Proposition
- Core and Competitive Position
- Customers Decision-Making
- Process of Acquiring Paying Customers
- Business Model
- Pricing Framework
- Minimum Viable Business Product (MVBP)
- Developing a Product Plan
- Early stage funding
- Entrepreneurial leadership and coaching
At the beginning of the course, students are required to submit a business idea, that is an idea of a need that is currently not met in a satisfactory manner and a way of addressing that need. This can either be the student's own idea, or a business idea under development by one of the other students. Pursuing this idea through a “Disciplined Entrepreneurship process” is a central teaching technique. Students are strongly encouraged to consider ideas even prior to the beginning of the course in order to get full effect of the teaching.
The teaching is structured with a high degree of interactivity - through presentations, discussions, exercises, group work and interviews with external.
Requirements in the course will be the following:
- Personal weekly log based on the learning from the implementation of the steps from the scale-up methodology.
- Answers to the 24 steps from the scale-up methodology.
It is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class that is not included on it'slearning or the text book.
Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class.
This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades when the course start.
At re-sit all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 50 Grouping: Group/Individual (1 - 3) Duration: 1 Semester(s) Exam code: GRA 31131 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 20 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Essay. The essay is an individual self-assessment (about 5 pages) that will reflect on learning during the semester. Exam code: GRA 31131 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Oral examination Weight: 30 Grouping: Individual Duration: 30 Minute(s) Comment: The final oral exam will be based on the pitch/presentation of the business plan that has been made during the semester, and questions will be asked which test the candidate's understanding and learning during the semester. Exam code: GRA 31131 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Teaching | 12 Hour(s) | |
Seminar groups | 24 Hour(s) | |
Prepare for teaching | 140 Hour(s) | |
Group work / Assignments | 50 Hour(s) | |
Submission(s) | 254 Hour(s) |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore acourse of 18 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 480 hours.
The business plan must be based on the company they have worked on throughout the semester.