Time Schedule:
John R Castle
ENTRE 530
Seattle Campus
Provides an overview of the major decisions entrepreneurs face when creating a business. Covers the startup lifecycle from idea generation and opportunity recognition to entry strategy, growth, and exit. Prerequisite: B POL 509; B A 501. Offered: W.
Class description
This course is for students who intend to participate in the business creation process. It provides a rigorous and realistic experience in the process necessary to prepare a business plan that will attract stakeholders to your venture. The plan may be for starting a new business, or for buying, growing or franchising an existing business. While the course reviews the basic entrepreneurial process, students are expected to show the passion and commitment required of entrepreneurs when they defend their ideas to other businesspeople.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
The course will emphasize collection and organization of the fundamental information necessary to prove the viability of a business idea and establish that it can become a self-sustaining company. There will be heavy emphasis on knowing the customers intimately, understanding the external environment and how it can affect your business and careful analysis of all the potential competitors. Your products and support services should be designed to use your strengths to develop a convincing competitive advantage. Additional topics will include defining the brand and positioning the company in the competitive landscape. 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.
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
