75310 - New Venture Financing Lab

Learning outcomes

The course is designed to provide a practical introduction to understand how new ventures are managed and developed, focusing on the opportunities and challenges businesses are faced with beyond their start-up stage. At the end of the course the student will be able to: - implement simulation models, financial statements and cash flow forecasting; - understand the indexes for the evaluation of a project.

Course contents

This course focuses on new venture development by exploring several key aspects that have an impact on company success, with particular regard to early stage dynamics. This includes market validation, business modelling, unit economics as well as assumption-driven financial projections and company valuation. The course topics are addressed both in theoretical terms and with a strong practical perspective, by leveraging case studies, business simulations and other action learning activities relevant to the course curriculum.

The course is thought for individuals who are willing to pursue an entrepreneurial path as venture founders or an intrapreneurial, creative career in a corporate setting. Due to the unconventional perspective presented for several traditional business concepts, the course will also inspire possible academic paths as business scholars able to challenge the status quo of business knowledge.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students

• Reading/Case study package
  
• Sllides and other material shared on Virtuale

• Suggested (optional for attending students) textbooks:

1. Andrew Metrick, Ayako Yasuda: “Venture Capital and the Finance of Innovation”, 2nd or 3rd edition - Selected chapters that will be indicated on Virtuale
2.  Bill Aulet: “Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup”, Wiley (2013)

Non-attending students: All items above, with indicated textbooks as mandatory material

Teaching methods

The course is built around thorough interaction. Participation is essential and is a focal part of the learning process as well as the final assessment. The course encompasses the following elements:

- Lectures

- Readings and videos

- Case study analysis and discussion

- Business simulations

- Presentation by guest entrepreneurs

The most crucial pedagogical objective is to empower students with a critical thinking approach toward analysing and deploying common business frameworks and knowledge. When relevant, each topic will be presented taking into account the several nuances available in literature as well as in business practice, in order to enhance the student’s ability to develop a holistic perspective rather than a rigid understanding of notions.

Assessment methods

Your final grade will be calculated taking into account the frequency and quality of individual class participation as well as the assessment of group assignments. The latter will take the form of written reports plus class presentations.

Detailed instructions, including breakdown of grading system, will be provided in class.

Office hours

See the website of Massimo Aliberti