2011-2012 Academic Catalog

Dec 26, 2024

2011-2012 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

CAP 5802 - Entrepreneurship

In this capstone course we examine the idea of entrepreneurship, its symbiotic existence with much larger organizations, the origin of new (company) concepts, setting up the new legal entity, raising funding from outside investors or donors, developing and writing a comprehensive business plan, and pitching your concept to a panel of seasoned investors or potential donors. Some key topics include: (1) demographics for small businesses, (2) conceiving and understanding a sound ‘business model’, (3) financial forecasting and modeling for new start-ups, (4) cash flow management in start-ups, (5) term sheets, (6) the venture capital business, (7) multiple funding rounds, (8) start-up company valuations, (9) liquidation preferences, (10) leveraging strategic alliances, (11) the role of the Board of Directors, (12) restricted stock, stock options, and 83(b) elections, and (13) creating and leveraging your Advisory Board.

Course assignments include graded individual assignments as well as team assignments. Assignments involve both qualitative and quantitative problem solving.

Each individual (or team) will conceive and develop a new business concept during the course and write a comprehensive ‘investor quality’ business plan for the concept as well as an investor (or donor) presentation that will be delivered to a panel of professional investor/donors at the conclusion of the course.

CAP5802 will be delivered as a combination of lecture and discussion. The instructor demands active participation from the class members.

Prerequisites: All core classes. If you are in your final semester and need to take a prerequisite concurrently, you should inform the instructor and ask for a registration override.