ECE 495B - Entrepreneurship for Engineers

Note:

Approved as unrestricted elective 9/4/03.

Course Details

Lecture Hours: 3 Credits: 3

Counts as:

Experimental Course Offered:

Spring 2004 (cancelled)

Catalog Description:

Entrepreneurial hands-on class that is focused on educating engineers how to identify new business opportunities, evaluate the market, create a business plan, acquire funding, and grow a business from the ground up.

Required Text(s):

  1. Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure , Jerry Kaplan , Replica Books , 2001 , ISBN No. 014-025-7314
  2. The Entrepreneur's Guide to Finance and Business: Wealth Creation Techniques for Growing a Business , Roza Makonnen, Steve Rogers, Steven Rogers , McGrow-Hill , 2002 , ISBN No. 007-138-0817

Recommended Text(s):

  1. Case Packets and Presentations provided at the first class and available online
  2. Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies , Tom Copeland, Tim Koller, Jack Murrin , John Wiley & Sons , 2000 , ISBN No. 047-100-9938

Learning Outcomes:

A student who successfully fulfills the course requirements will have demonstrated:
  1. Understanding of what it takes to be an entrepreneur. [h,j,k]
  2. Ability to assess markets to identify new business opportunities. [a,h,j]
  3. Fundamentals of Finance & Marketing. [e,k]
  4. How to put together a successful business plan. [b,g,j]

Lecture Outline:

Week(s) Lecture Topics
1 What it takes to be an entrepreneur
2 How to assess markets to identify new opportunities
1 How to value a new business idea
1 Fundamentals of Finance
1 Fundamentals of Marketing
1 How to protect intellectual property
3 How to put together a successful business plan
2 How to solicit funding
2 How to hire and grow a startup business
1 How to partner for success

Engineering Design Content:

  • Establishment of Objectives and Criteria
  • Synthesis
  • Analysis
  • Construction
  • Testing
  • Evaluation

Engineering Design Consideration(s):

  • Economic
  • Environmental
  • Ethical
  • Health/Safety
  • Manufacturability
  • Political
  • Social
  • Sustainability

Assessment Method:

Students will be expected to have prepared for each class by reviewing the relevant case material. Classroom participation will be graded , as well as in-class quizzes that cover the material from the previous classes.

A mid-term will be given to assess the fundamental understanding of the course material regarding finance, marketing, and business valuation.

The final exam will consist of students working in teams to put together a business plan regarding their idea to seek funding. This will be presented to the class.