Creating a Technology Startup Company

Creating a Technology Startup Company

This course is part of Technology Entrepreneurship Specialization

Instructor: John E. Thomas

2,564 already enrolled

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

14 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

4 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

Build toward a degree

Learn more

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

14 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

4 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

Build toward a degree

Learn more

What you'll learn

By successfully completing this course, you will be able to describe the meaning of entrepreneurial systems thinking.
You will be able to identify the roles and responsibilities of founders, key management, and the board of directors.
You will also be able to summarize the components of operations in a technology startup and the value of tools for tracking metrics.
Lastly, you will be able to create Product, Market, and Management & Operations business plans.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

6 assignments

Taught in English

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Technology Entrepreneurship Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

The course starts by exploring entrepreneurial ecosystems and systems thinking. The Technology Adoption Life Cycle is introduced to help explain market dynamics and support developing business strategy. Market research concepts and tools are presented that learners will apply to their course projects. Founder, key manager, and board member considerations are examined, and the qualities of effective leadership are reviewed. The operational structures and processes of a tech startup are identified, and the Balanced Scorecard is presented as a tool for tracking critical performance metrics. Learners will create a first draft of Product, Market, and Management & Operations Plans for their new product or service ideas.

Creating a Startup Company can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.

The first session presents the startup business environment as a complex ecosystem. Entrepreneurial systems thinking is introduced along with a whole company perspective. Value chains and supply chains are reviewed, and the five stages of the technology adoption life cycle are examined.

What's included

8 videos13 readings1 assignment1 peer review

8 videos Total 79 minutes

Introduction 6 minutes
Business Models & Ecosystems 5 minutes
Entrepreneurial Systems Thinking 11 minutes
Integral Entrepreneurship — A Holistic Approach 15 minutes
Value Chains & Supply Chains 13 minutes
Technology Adoption Life Cycle Introduction 12 minutes
Technology Adoption Life Cycle Stages 9 minutes
Navigating the Technology Adoption Life Cycle 7 minutes

13 readings Total 282 minutes

Course Updates and Accessibility Support 1 minute
Non-Credit Students: Welcome and Where to Find Help 10 minutes
Entrepreneurial Systems Thinking 60 minutes
Business Ecosystem 3 minutes
Systems Thinking 20 minutes
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem 40 minutes
Systems & Technology Entrepreneurship 45 minutes
Value Chains & Supply Chains 30 minutes
Value Chains & Supply Chains 6 minutes
Crossing the Chasm 5 minutes
Technology Adoption Lifecycle 30 minutes
Whole Product Concept 12 minutes
Technology Adoption Life Cycle 20 minutes

1 assignment Total 15 minutes

Business Ecosystems 15 minutes

1 peer review Total 60 minutes

Creating and Sustaining Value 60 minutes

The second session takes a detailed look at business models and introduces tools for constructing them. A Concept Quick Pitch is reviewed, and the core messages are defined. Business planning is presented as a dynamic process of processes with uses that may be internal or external to the firm.

What's included

6 videos9 readings1 assignment1 peer review

6 videos Total 63 minutes

Constructing Business Models 9 minutes
Business Model Lean Canvas 8 minutes
Concept Quick Pitch — Is this idea worth pursuing? 9 minutes
Introduction to Business Planning 12 minutes
Business Planning is a Process 11 minutes
The Lean Business Plan 14 minutes

9 readings Total 221 minutes

Aligning Business Models with Purpose 30 minutes
Business Model Lean Canvas 25 minutes
Creating a Business Model Lean Canvas 9 minutes
Guy Kawasiki on Pitch Decks 3 minutes
Investor Pitch 14 minutes
Business Planning 20 minutes
How to Write a Business Plan 45 minutes
Business Plan Overview 35 minutes
The lean Startup Framework 40 minutes

1 assignment Total 15 minutes

Business Models and Planning 15 minutes

1 peer review Total 60 minutes

Business Model and Concept Pitch 60 minutes

This session presents the concepts and methods of market segmentation and sizing, identifying target customers, and constructing a customer persona. SWOT analysis is presented as a tool for examining competitive threats. Porter’s five forces are introduced to explain the operational dynamics of a firm.

What's included

8 videos10 readings1 assignment1 peer review

8 videos Total 84 minutes

Defining & Segmenting Your Target Customer 8 minutes
Constructing a Target Customer Persona 7 minutes
Design Thinking, Prototyping, & Testing 10 minutes
Target Customer Focus Groups, Surveys, & Interviews 21 minutes
Market Segmentation & Sizing 10 minutes
Market Segmentation & The Beach Head Market 8 minutes
Market Research & Competitive Analysis 10 minutes
Operational Dynamics: Porter's Five Forces 11 minutes

10 readings Total 220 minutes

Customer Segmentation 15 minutes
Creating a Customer Persona 30 minutes
Prototyping & Design Thinking 45 minutes
Customer Interviews 30 minutes
Empathy Maps 5 minutes
Calculating Market Size 30 minutes
Market Sizing 5 minutes
Beachhead Market 5 minutes
Competitive Analysis 45 minutes
SWOT Analysis 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 15 minutes

Customers and Markets 15 minutes

1 peer review Total 120 minutes

Customer Definition and Market Sizing 120 minutes

In this session, the roles and responsibilities of founders, key management, and board of directors are introduced. Some of the important considerations and strategies for recruiting and retaining key management and boards are presented. The importance of effective leadership that includes authenticity and emotional intelligence is reviewed.

What's included

7 videos11 readings1 assignment1 peer review

7 videos Total 80 minutes

Identifying Founders' Key Roles & Responsibilities 14 minutes
Leading with Authenticity 8 minutes
Board of Directors and Advisors 14 minutes
Recruiting and Retaining Board Members, Officers, & Key Management 18 minutes
Five Practices of Effective Leadership 14 minutes
Leading with Emotional Intelligence 7 minutes
Business Plan Outline: Product, Market, Management & Operations 5 minutes

11 readings Total 251 minutes

Creating the Founder Team 40 minutes
Founder Authenticity 10 minutes
What is Authentic Leadership 13 minutes
Startup Board of Directors 20 minutes
Creating a Startup Board of Directors 30 minutes
Startup Employee Compensation 15 minutes
Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership 30 minutes
Learning How to Lead 30 minutes
Leadership and Emotional Intelligence 45 minutes
Why EQ is More Important than IQ 8 minutes
Introduction to Business Planning 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 15 minutes

Leadership and Boards in Startups 15 minutes

1 peer review Total 90 minutes

Management Strategy and Founder Roles 90 minutes

The last session looks at some of the practical operational questions and considerations faced by a new technology startup. The productization process is summarized and the concept and use of a minimum value product is introduced. The Balanced Scorecard is presented as a method and tool for tracking critical performance metrics. Product, Market, Management & Operations business plan outlines are presented.

What's included

7 videos9 readings2 assignments1 peer review

7 videos Total 77 minutes

What Are Operations in a Technology Startup? 10 minutes
Location and Facility 10 minutes
From Product Concept to Production 7 minutes
Planning, Resources, & Time Management 20 minutes
Balanced Scorecard 17 minutes
Product & Market Plan Outline 7 minutes
Management & Operations Plan Outline 6 minutes

9 readings Total 225 minutes

Startup Operations 10 minutes
Operations Management 35 minutes
Startup Company Location 20 minutes
From Prototype to Production 30 minutes
Minimum Viable Product 10 minutes
Project Resource Management 10 minutes
Resource Planning 30 minutes
Measuring Performance with the Balanced Scorecard 40 minutes
Product Marketing 40 minutes

2 assignments Total 50 minutes

Operations and Planning 15 minutes
Creating a Technology Startup Company 35 minutes

1 peer review Total 90 minutes

Management & Operations Plan 90 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Build toward a degree

This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Colorado Boulder. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹

Instructor

John E. Thomas

University of Colorado Boulder

6 Courses 8,229 learners

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

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Reviewed on Oct 15, 2023

Amazing. Comprehensive course on entrepreneurship.

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Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.