90% of Tech-Startups Fail!
Why? Because they do not create a product that will sell. More specifically: because they do not have a solid business model.
Yet, there is an efficient framework to test if an idea is solid enough to start a business. The 'Lean LaunchPad' framework was developed by Steve Blank in Silicon Valley and is creating successful companies, such as Roominate, Citrix Online, Dropbox, Groupon, IGN
Entertainment, The Ladders, IMVU, Votizen, Next Big Sound,Grockit, Rackspace,KISSMetrics.
EAS 590 provides real world, hands-on learning on what it's like to actually start a high-tech company. We do that by using the Lean LaunchPad framework for Web start-ups. This class is not about how to write a business plan. Instead you will be getting your hands dirty talking to customers, partners, competitors, as you encounter the chaos and uncertainty of how a start-up actually works.
You'll work in teams learning how to turn a great idea into a great company. You'll learn how to use a business model to brainstorm each part of a company. The idea can be yours or someone else's. Each week will be new adventure as you test each part of your business model and then share the hard earned knowledge with the rest of the class.
The end result is not a start-up company or a PowerPoint slide deck for a VC presentation. The core focus of the class is to learn a methodology and business aspects that will help you with entrepreneurial activities in your career.
The emphasis of this class is on proving an idea works by developing a business model. This is not a technical class and no technical skills are taught in it. Moreover, the technical, software implementation aspects of the project play a minor role. Part of the business model is the Minimum Viable Product (MVP), which may or may not involve coding. Every project should have at least a splash page and a mockup or wire-frame of and app or web site. If the MVP entails a physical device, a basic prototype is expected.
Why? Because they do not create a product that will sell. More specifically: because they do not have a solid business model.
Yet, there is an efficient framework to test if an idea is solid enough to start a business. The 'Lean LaunchPad' framework was developed by Steve Blank in Silicon Valley and is creating successful companies, such as Roominate, Citrix Online, Dropbox, Groupon, IGN
Entertainment, The Ladders, IMVU, Votizen, Next Big Sound,Grockit, Rackspace,KISSMetrics.
EAS 590 provides real world, hands-on learning on what it's like to actually start a high-tech company. We do that by using the Lean LaunchPad framework for Web start-ups. This class is not about how to write a business plan. Instead you will be getting your hands dirty talking to customers, partners, competitors, as you encounter the chaos and uncertainty of how a start-up actually works.
You'll work in teams learning how to turn a great idea into a great company. You'll learn how to use a business model to brainstorm each part of a company. The idea can be yours or someone else's. Each week will be new adventure as you test each part of your business model and then share the hard earned knowledge with the rest of the class.
The end result is not a start-up company or a PowerPoint slide deck for a VC presentation. The core focus of the class is to learn a methodology and business aspects that will help you with entrepreneurial activities in your career.
The emphasis of this class is on proving an idea works by developing a business model. This is not a technical class and no technical skills are taught in it. Moreover, the technical, software implementation aspects of the project play a minor role. Part of the business model is the Minimum Viable Product (MVP), which may or may not involve coding. Every project should have at least a splash page and a mockup or wire-frame of and app or web site. If the MVP entails a physical device, a basic prototype is expected.
Qualifies for Credit as Follows
Undergraduates
SEAS Master Students
Undergraduates
- EENT Minor Elective
- TBS categoty elective
- free elective
- closed to freshmen
- registration requires premission, please email your transcript to me
SEAS Master Students
- for CSI/MSE as an a Non-CIS Course Elective
- for CIS/MCIT as an Approved Non-CIS course elective
- as an elective, to enroll submit a petition to MBA programs