Essentials of Entrepreneurship

Course goals

Learning objectives 
Entrepreneurs identify and exploit opportunities to create value, for example, when they start ventures or develop products for existing businesses. This course introduces you to their most important methods and skills. These are useful if you want to

1. start a business,
2. work as a corporate entrepreneur, or
3. develop your entrepreneurial ability in general.

Learning objectives:

• Understand, apply and analyse entrepreneurial methods to identify and exploit value-creation opportunities.
• Understand, apply and analyse the skills that enable effective opportunity pursuit.

Content

People like Jitse Groen, Steve Jobs, Muhammad Yunus, Jack Ma, and many other successful entrepreneurs have changed the way we live and work today. In this course, students learn about entrepreneurship from both the theoretical and practical perspectives. The course introduces you to academic-but-actionable methods, like business model generation tools such as the lean business model canvas, design thinking, customer validation methods, and more.

Alongside learning about and discussing academic approaches to entrepreneurship, students will also go through experiential learning by working on an entrepreneurial assignment. You cannot be an entrepreneur without doing. Anticipate working intensively with others on the pragmatic challenges that entrepreneurs face.

Choose any period to fit your schedule 
The course is offered in each period. Students can enrol in any period, regardless of their background. No prior knowledge is needed.

Minor Entrepreneurship 
Essentials of Entrepreneurship is the first course of the Minor Entrepreneurship for non-economic students. After completing this course students can continue with the compulsory courses Principles of Corporate Finance (EC1PCF) and Venture Marketing (EC2VM). Elective courses in the minor Entrepreneurship (for non-economic students) are Innovation Management (ECB3IM), Business, Sustainability and Innovation (GEO3-2122) and the internship Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ECB2IEI).

Effort requirements 
Students are expected to be present and well prepared at both lectures and tutorials (required attendance 75% each) and have to hand in all individual and group assignments on time. Active participation during tutorials is compulsory. To be eligible for the retake, you need to fulfil these effort requirements.
 
This is an intensive course, which requires the average student about 20 hours of work per week for individual assignments and group work, including contact moments. It is not advised to follow this course if one wants to complete more than two courses in one period.

In addition to this effort requirement, it is required that students are present in weeks 1 and 2 as teams will be formed. Students are not allowed to enter the course after the first lecture.

In case online access is required for this course and you are not in the position to buy the access code, you are advised to contact the course coordinator for an alternative solution. Please note that access codes are not reusable meaning that codes from second hand books do not work, as well as access codes from books with a different ISBN. Separate or spare codes are usually not available.