Description
On this brief criteria in regard to adjunct associate professor columbia business school.
B8705 – 001 LAUNCHING NEW VENTURES FALL 2012
- 1 -
Management B8705 – Section 002
Launching New Ventures Fall 2012
Uris Hall Room 303
Tuesdays, 2:15- 5:30
Professor: Brendan M. Burns
Adjunct Associate Professor Columbia Business School
Office: Uris 318, Eugene Lang Entrepreneurial Center (Cliff Schorer’s Office)
Home: 1921 Dublin Road
Richmond, MA 01254
Cell: 917-602-8043
E-mail: [email protected]
Dave Lerner
Adjunct Associate Professor Columbia Business School
Office: 80 Claremont Ave, 4
th
Floor
Cell: 347-387-4063
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @davidblerner
Blog: http://www.davidblerner.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/davelerner
Class Mentors: Please note this class will include “special” mentors who will frequently attend class and
offer select office hours. The executives and their contact information will be posted
subsequently.
TA: TBA
Prerequisite: No formal prerequisite but it is important to have a business concept of some kind prior to joining
the class. It is entirely permissible to change projects after the class has started but a starting idea is important.
The class may be taken concurrently with Entrepreneurial Finance (B8399-006).
This course focuses on the evaluation, development and potential launch of a new business. For each business,
key issues are addressed in, roughly the following order: idea development, customer discovery, value
proposition, in-depth market analysis, product or service design, development of a sales and marketing
(channel) model, the team (human capital), financing, legal and fundraising, cost structure and revenue streams.
Over the course of the class you will continually seek to refine (a) your core value proposition, (b) customer
approach, and (c) your business model. The professors will pursue a Lean Startup and Minimum Viable
Product approach and will bring other practitioners into the class from various industries and professional
disciplines.
Working individually or in teams (of no more than four), students spend the entire term developing an effective
and comprehensive presentation of a real business concept, and ideally, proof of concept including customer-
based market validation. Industry mentors and a "board of directors" composed of other class participants
provide a reality check as students refine their business opportunity into a written and oral presentation ready to
seek funding from appropriate sources and commence operations.
Projects can be based upon students’ own ideas or, in some cases, other start-ups that have requested
assistance from Columbia MBA students. If a project is based upon a student’s idea, then unless a written
agreement states to the contrary, the ownership of the idea and the work done during the semester is the
property of the student who had the original idea.
By the second week of class, all students are expected to have a concept they wish to pursue or have
joined another team. Projects should reflect a student's genuine interest, but do not need to be tech-
centric, venture capital-type projects or even "for profit" (many successful non-profits have taken LNV).
B8705 – 001 LAUNCHING NEW VENTURES FALL 2012
- 2 -
Grading:
The course is not graded on a distribution curve and all students who actively participate and put
together a quality business plan and presentation will receive a grade based on merit.
Final Business Model/Execution Plan 30%
Minimum Viable Product/Prototype 20%
Final Presentation 20%
Active Class Engagement & Participation 30%
(Includes office hours participation, weekly assignments, classroom participation, board contributions, etc.)
Final comment: This is a lab course where you are in control. The course is structured around your
projects. The professors’ role is to facilitate your work, and to provide guidance and counsel. While
some new material will be presented, this course is primarily an opportunity to apply the learnings from
the core courses (but in a start-up context) coupled with your own personal experiences and work,
along with feedback from mentors and classmates.
Class Topics
Description Assignments Due Recommended
Reading prior
to each class
Class 1
9/4
Welcome & Course
Overview
Introduction of Mentors
Why Are You Here ?
Being An Entrepreneur
(entrepreneurial culture)
Choosing An Idea
Seeking Success: The
Pursuit of a Good
Business Model
Outlining of entire course,
description of class process &
rules, the deliverables and our
goals.
Where do ideas come from? How
to take the first steps from “idea” to
Company
Discussion of Business Model
Creation
Be prepared to give a standing 2
minute talk to the class that
describes 1) YOU (your
background, domain expertise,
and relevant aspects of your life,
and 2) Your idea for your
business- (problem you are
solving and the solution your
business would provide)
*NO SLIDES OR NOTES
PERMITTED
**YOU MUST ANSWER THE
KEY QUESTION FROM THE
CUSTOMER’S POV: WHY
SHOULD I CARE?
Deliverable #1: 1 page
description of your idea: Use
Template: One Pager
Administrative:
Non- Disclosures
Office Hour Sign Ups – Google
docs
TBD
Student Talks: (*NO
SLIDES or NOTES)
LECTURE:
Customer Development
and Value Proposition
Description of
Deliverables for Class 2
All students will deliver their 2
minute talk.without notes or slides
B8705 – 001 LAUNCHING NEW VENTURES FALL 2012
- 3 -
Class Topics
Description Assignments Due Recommended
Reading prior
to each class
Class 2
9/11
Discussion of Prior
Week’s Findings
Review of Customer
Development & Value
Proposition
LECTURE:
Understanding Your
Market and
Competitive
Landscape
Understanding your
competitive/collaborative
ecosystem is the key to
differentiation. The relationship
between differentiation and value
proposition drives efficient
marketing and customer
acquisition/retention.
(a) 10 Customer Discussions
(b) Deliverable #2: Current
Hypothesis for Value
Proposition – Focus is
on the “what” and “why
should I care”
TBD
LECTURE:
Keys to Succeeding As A
Student Entrepreneur
BOD Session
Deliverables for Class 3
Discussed
Frank discussion of approaching
entrepreneurship for long-term
success.
Class 3
9/18
Discussion of Prior
Week’s Findings
LECTURE:
Customer Relationship
and Channels
Student Presentations
Customer Acquisition Process:
(a) Identification &
segmentation
(b) Practical sales approach
for a startup
(c) Utilizing others
(d) Sales & Bus Dev.
(e) The channel
(a) 10 Customer Discussions
(b) (b) Deliverable #3: Market &
Competitive Analysis
TBD
LECTURE: Intro to Cost
Structure/Revenue
Model
Deliverables for Class 4
Discussed
Discussion of unit economics
Class 4
9/25
Discussion of Prior
Week’s Findings
LECTURE:
Product & Services
Amit Klein: product development,
tools, instrumentation, wireframing,
prototyping, MVP
Other Guest Speakers
(a)10 Customer Discussions
(b) Deliverable #4: Basic Unit
Economic Model
TBD
B8705 – 001 LAUNCHING NEW VENTURES FALL 2012
- 4 -
Class Topics
Description Assignments Due Recommended
Reading prior
to each class
Deliverables for Class 5
Discussed
Class 5
10/2
Discussion of Previous
Week’s Findings
LECTURE:
People
Team Building, Co-Founders,
Hiring, Firing, Compensation,
Vesting, Skills, Personalities,
Expectations, Equity Sharing
Deliverable #5: Basic MVP or
Drawing
TBD
Student Presentations
BOD session
Deliverables for Class 6
Discussed
Class 6
10/9
Discussion of Previous
Week’s Findings
LECTURE:
Key Partners, Activities,
Resources
Student
Presentations/BOD
Deliverable:
10 Customer Discussions
TBD
LECTURE:
Bootstrapping
Deliverables for Class 7
Discussed
Class 7
Discussion of Previous
Week’s Findings
LECTURE:
Raising Capital
Friends & Family, Angel and VC
Deliverable #6: Progress report
memo, initial “key metrics” to
track progress in your business
TBD
B8705 – 001 LAUNCHING NEW VENTURES FALL 2012
- 5 -
Class Topics
Description Assignments Due Recommended
Reading prior
to each class
10/23
BOD or Student
Presentations
Lecture: Corporate
Hygiene
Deliverables for Class 8
Discussed
Incorporation, governance, vesting,
equity, minutes, 83B filings,
Intellectual Property Assignments,
Insurance,etc.
Outline & best practices for
investor decks
Class 8
10/30
Discussion of Previous
Week’s Findings
PANEL: Angel & VC
Discussions
Deliverable #7: Your investor
ready pitch & demo (first draft)
TBD
Students Pitch to
Investors
Deliverables for Class 9
Discussed
Pitches, Critiques, Discussion
Class 9
11/13
Discussion of Previous
Week’s Findings
LAB: Financial Model
Detailed Assumptions
Monthly P&L thru break-even
Simple Cash Flow
Guest Mentors
TBD
Deliverables for Class
10 Discussed: The
Execution Timeline
Class
10
11/20
Open Forum
Deliverable #8: Execution
Timeline
*Please note, you may hand in
your final deliverables at any
time between weeks 10-12
TBD
Work Groups
B8705 – 001 LAUNCHING NEW VENTURES FALL 2012
- 6 -
Class Topics
Description Assignments Due Recommended
Reading prior
to each class
Class
11
11/27
Bringing it All Together
Final Presentations are scheduled
during the last two weeks of
classes. Each student/group will
make a short presentation of their
project and product/service
Prototypes/MVP
7 minute Pitch
5-10 Page Final Plan
TBD
Class
12
12/4
Conclusion Final Presentations continued
Final remarks by Profs. Burns &
Lerner
TBD
doc_897500001.pdf
On this brief criteria in regard to adjunct associate professor columbia business school.
B8705 – 001 LAUNCHING NEW VENTURES FALL 2012
- 1 -
Management B8705 – Section 002
Launching New Ventures Fall 2012
Uris Hall Room 303
Tuesdays, 2:15- 5:30
Professor: Brendan M. Burns
Adjunct Associate Professor Columbia Business School
Office: Uris 318, Eugene Lang Entrepreneurial Center (Cliff Schorer’s Office)
Home: 1921 Dublin Road
Richmond, MA 01254
Cell: 917-602-8043
E-mail: [email protected]
Dave Lerner
Adjunct Associate Professor Columbia Business School
Office: 80 Claremont Ave, 4
th
Floor
Cell: 347-387-4063
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @davidblerner
Blog: http://www.davidblerner.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/davelerner
Class Mentors: Please note this class will include “special” mentors who will frequently attend class and
offer select office hours. The executives and their contact information will be posted
subsequently.
TA: TBA
Prerequisite: No formal prerequisite but it is important to have a business concept of some kind prior to joining
the class. It is entirely permissible to change projects after the class has started but a starting idea is important.
The class may be taken concurrently with Entrepreneurial Finance (B8399-006).
This course focuses on the evaluation, development and potential launch of a new business. For each business,
key issues are addressed in, roughly the following order: idea development, customer discovery, value
proposition, in-depth market analysis, product or service design, development of a sales and marketing
(channel) model, the team (human capital), financing, legal and fundraising, cost structure and revenue streams.
Over the course of the class you will continually seek to refine (a) your core value proposition, (b) customer
approach, and (c) your business model. The professors will pursue a Lean Startup and Minimum Viable
Product approach and will bring other practitioners into the class from various industries and professional
disciplines.
Working individually or in teams (of no more than four), students spend the entire term developing an effective
and comprehensive presentation of a real business concept, and ideally, proof of concept including customer-
based market validation. Industry mentors and a "board of directors" composed of other class participants
provide a reality check as students refine their business opportunity into a written and oral presentation ready to
seek funding from appropriate sources and commence operations.
Projects can be based upon students’ own ideas or, in some cases, other start-ups that have requested
assistance from Columbia MBA students. If a project is based upon a student’s idea, then unless a written
agreement states to the contrary, the ownership of the idea and the work done during the semester is the
property of the student who had the original idea.
By the second week of class, all students are expected to have a concept they wish to pursue or have
joined another team. Projects should reflect a student's genuine interest, but do not need to be tech-
centric, venture capital-type projects or even "for profit" (many successful non-profits have taken LNV).
B8705 – 001 LAUNCHING NEW VENTURES FALL 2012
- 2 -
Grading:
The course is not graded on a distribution curve and all students who actively participate and put
together a quality business plan and presentation will receive a grade based on merit.
Final Business Model/Execution Plan 30%
Minimum Viable Product/Prototype 20%
Final Presentation 20%
Active Class Engagement & Participation 30%
(Includes office hours participation, weekly assignments, classroom participation, board contributions, etc.)
Final comment: This is a lab course where you are in control. The course is structured around your
projects. The professors’ role is to facilitate your work, and to provide guidance and counsel. While
some new material will be presented, this course is primarily an opportunity to apply the learnings from
the core courses (but in a start-up context) coupled with your own personal experiences and work,
along with feedback from mentors and classmates.
Class Topics
Description Assignments Due Recommended
Reading prior
to each class
Class 1
9/4
Welcome & Course
Overview
Introduction of Mentors
Why Are You Here ?
Being An Entrepreneur
(entrepreneurial culture)
Choosing An Idea
Seeking Success: The
Pursuit of a Good
Business Model
Outlining of entire course,
description of class process &
rules, the deliverables and our
goals.
Where do ideas come from? How
to take the first steps from “idea” to
Company
Discussion of Business Model
Creation
Be prepared to give a standing 2
minute talk to the class that
describes 1) YOU (your
background, domain expertise,
and relevant aspects of your life,
and 2) Your idea for your
business- (problem you are
solving and the solution your
business would provide)
*NO SLIDES OR NOTES
PERMITTED
**YOU MUST ANSWER THE
KEY QUESTION FROM THE
CUSTOMER’S POV: WHY
SHOULD I CARE?
Deliverable #1: 1 page
description of your idea: Use
Template: One Pager
Administrative:
Non- Disclosures
Office Hour Sign Ups – Google
docs
TBD
Student Talks: (*NO
SLIDES or NOTES)
LECTURE:
Customer Development
and Value Proposition
Description of
Deliverables for Class 2
All students will deliver their 2
minute talk.without notes or slides
B8705 – 001 LAUNCHING NEW VENTURES FALL 2012
- 3 -
Class Topics
Description Assignments Due Recommended
Reading prior
to each class
Class 2
9/11
Discussion of Prior
Week’s Findings
Review of Customer
Development & Value
Proposition
LECTURE:
Understanding Your
Market and
Competitive
Landscape
Understanding your
competitive/collaborative
ecosystem is the key to
differentiation. The relationship
between differentiation and value
proposition drives efficient
marketing and customer
acquisition/retention.
(a) 10 Customer Discussions
(b) Deliverable #2: Current
Hypothesis for Value
Proposition – Focus is
on the “what” and “why
should I care”
TBD
LECTURE:
Keys to Succeeding As A
Student Entrepreneur
BOD Session
Deliverables for Class 3
Discussed
Frank discussion of approaching
entrepreneurship for long-term
success.
Class 3
9/18
Discussion of Prior
Week’s Findings
LECTURE:
Customer Relationship
and Channels
Student Presentations
Customer Acquisition Process:
(a) Identification &
segmentation
(b) Practical sales approach
for a startup
(c) Utilizing others
(d) Sales & Bus Dev.
(e) The channel
(a) 10 Customer Discussions
(b) (b) Deliverable #3: Market &
Competitive Analysis
TBD
LECTURE: Intro to Cost
Structure/Revenue
Model
Deliverables for Class 4
Discussed
Discussion of unit economics
Class 4
9/25
Discussion of Prior
Week’s Findings
LECTURE:
Product & Services
Amit Klein: product development,
tools, instrumentation, wireframing,
prototyping, MVP
Other Guest Speakers
(a)10 Customer Discussions
(b) Deliverable #4: Basic Unit
Economic Model
TBD
B8705 – 001 LAUNCHING NEW VENTURES FALL 2012
- 4 -
Class Topics
Description Assignments Due Recommended
Reading prior
to each class
Deliverables for Class 5
Discussed
Class 5
10/2
Discussion of Previous
Week’s Findings
LECTURE:
People
Team Building, Co-Founders,
Hiring, Firing, Compensation,
Vesting, Skills, Personalities,
Expectations, Equity Sharing
Deliverable #5: Basic MVP or
Drawing
TBD
Student Presentations
BOD session
Deliverables for Class 6
Discussed
Class 6
10/9
Discussion of Previous
Week’s Findings
LECTURE:
Key Partners, Activities,
Resources
Student
Presentations/BOD
Deliverable:
10 Customer Discussions
TBD
LECTURE:
Bootstrapping
Deliverables for Class 7
Discussed
Class 7
Discussion of Previous
Week’s Findings
LECTURE:
Raising Capital
Friends & Family, Angel and VC
Deliverable #6: Progress report
memo, initial “key metrics” to
track progress in your business
TBD
B8705 – 001 LAUNCHING NEW VENTURES FALL 2012
- 5 -
Class Topics
Description Assignments Due Recommended
Reading prior
to each class
10/23
BOD or Student
Presentations
Lecture: Corporate
Hygiene
Deliverables for Class 8
Discussed
Incorporation, governance, vesting,
equity, minutes, 83B filings,
Intellectual Property Assignments,
Insurance,etc.
Outline & best practices for
investor decks
Class 8
10/30
Discussion of Previous
Week’s Findings
PANEL: Angel & VC
Discussions
Deliverable #7: Your investor
ready pitch & demo (first draft)
TBD
Students Pitch to
Investors
Deliverables for Class 9
Discussed
Pitches, Critiques, Discussion
Class 9
11/13
Discussion of Previous
Week’s Findings
LAB: Financial Model
Detailed Assumptions
Monthly P&L thru break-even
Simple Cash Flow
Guest Mentors
TBD
Deliverables for Class
10 Discussed: The
Execution Timeline
Class
10
11/20
Open Forum
Deliverable #8: Execution
Timeline
*Please note, you may hand in
your final deliverables at any
time between weeks 10-12
TBD
Work Groups
B8705 – 001 LAUNCHING NEW VENTURES FALL 2012
- 6 -
Class Topics
Description Assignments Due Recommended
Reading prior
to each class
Class
11
11/27
Bringing it All Together
Final Presentations are scheduled
during the last two weeks of
classes. Each student/group will
make a short presentation of their
project and product/service
Prototypes/MVP
7 minute Pitch
5-10 Page Final Plan
TBD
Class
12
12/4
Conclusion Final Presentations continued
Final remarks by Profs. Burns &
Lerner
TBD
doc_897500001.pdf