Time Schedule:
John R Castle
ENTRE 440
Seattle Campus
Enables students interested in new venture creation to explore their entrepreneurial aptitude, formulate their ideas, validate the opportunity, develop a business plan, and demonstrate the depth of their knowledge by preparing an executive summary and competing in the UW Business Plan Competition. Credit/no credit only. Offered: W.
Class description
This course teaches students how to estimate the market potential for their technologies and business ideas and learn how to build successful companies around them. It provides a rigorous and realistic experience in the process necessary to prepare a business plan that will attract investors to a venture.
The course will emphasize collection and organization of the fundamental information necessary to prove the viability of your business idea and establish that it can become a self-sustaining company. There will be heavy emphasis on knowing the customers intimately; on careful analysis of all the potential competitors; and on understanding the external environment and how it can affect your business. Your products and support services should be designed around the customers’ needs and should use your strengths to develop a convincing competitive advantage. The plan must thoroughly explain how all these factors have been taken into consideration in designing your business strategy. Finally all these elements must be reflected in your financial projections.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Lectures and interactive discussions.
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
Students will regularly present oral progress reports on the status of their business plan.
Business Plan Content and Form 65% Weighting of Business Plan Sections: Organization of Plan 5 % Industry Analysis 15 % Market and Customers 25 % Sales Plan 15 % Operations 10 % Financial Projections 10 % Telling your story well 20 %
Meaningful class participation 35%
