B5687 - Project Management and Entrepreneurship M

Learning outcomes

The course focuses on the development of entrepreneurial behaviours in a variety of settings. In particular, it presents the fundamentals of developing an effective business plan, teaching the basic principles of developing plans for the sales, marketing, product or service operations, financials and management of a new venture. It assumes some prior knowledge of the subject area and will equip students with much of the knowledge required to launch and manage a high potential new venture. The course allows students to deepdive in emerging digital technologies and learn how to turn technology into business. The activities are themed around major societal and industrial challenges in the global digital economy: Digital Cities, Digital Finance, Digital Industry, Digital Tech and Digital Wellbeing. Participants learn, e.g., how to develop different business models and are challenged by delivering their ideas.

Course contents

The course operates as a practical laboratory, taking students step-by-step from idea generation to startup launch.

Introduction & The Entrepreneurial Opportunity: Understanding what a company and a startup are, the importance of the entrepreneurial team, and how to identify an idea.

The Deep-tech Startup Journey: Exploring the differences between deep-tech and regular-tech startups, the innovation ecosystem, key roles in a startup, and cap table composition.

Value Proposition & Market Analysis: Customer segments, Value Proposition Design, finding the problem-solution fit, and market sizing (TAM, SAM, SOM).

Business Model & Validation Strategy: The Business Model Canvas, validation approaches, and the Lean Startup methodology.

Financials & Fundraising: Developing a financial and economic plan, understanding funding sources, and exploring fundraising strategies.

From Business Model to Business Plan: Operationalizing assumptions, defining corporate strategy, and understanding the structure of a complete Business Plan.

Pitching Strategy: Learning how to successfully present a project, culminating in the "Final pitches" module.

Readings/Bibliography

The following textbooks are strongly recommended for a clear comprehension of the topics presented during the course:

Preparing Effective Business Plans: An entrepreneurial approach. Bruce Barringer, 2014, Pearson New International Edition, 1st Edition, ISBN-13: 978-1-292-03991-6

Osterwalder, A., & Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers. John Wiley & Sons, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8126533671

Alongside this textbooks, a series of slides, case studies, problems and exercises will also be presented throughout the course.

Teaching methods

The course is designed as an interactive "laboratory" rather than a traditional lecture-based class. Teaching methods include:

• Theoretical frameworks and interactive lectures combined with real-world case studies.

• Guest lectures and testimonials from entrepreneurs, investors, patent attorneys, and startup accelerators.

• Practical Teamwork and Check-ins (SAL): Extensive group work (both autonomous and supervised) where students apply concepts to their own startup ideas.

• Pitching Sessions: Hands-on practice in presenting startup projects, focusing on communication and strategy. Active participation, class interaction, and continuous teamwork are fundamental to successfully passing the course.

Office hours

See the website of Shiva Loccisano

See the website of

See the website of Riccardo Fini