Planning your own business 2600-MSMdz2pzsPWB
This course takes students from the academic world directly into the startup ecosystem. Instead of traditional lectures, students participate in real industry events: pitch contests, demo days, and startup conferences, observing how founders present their projects to investors, mentors, and audiences. On this basis, they learn critical analysis of startup presentations – evaluating the problem, solution, business model, target market, competitive advantage, and team. A key element of the course is direct contact with entrepreneurs. Students conduct interviews with founders or startup team members, thereby deepening their understanding of the practical aspects of planning and running their own business – from monetization strategies, through the biggest challenges in project development, to reflection on received feedback. The culmination of the course is the preparation and submission of a complete application to a selected incubation/grant program. Students work individually or in teams of up to three on a real application, which – in the ideal scenario – is submitted to one of the currently available support programs (e.g., BEST by Futuremakers, Innovation Laboratory, Startup Platform – Mazovian StartUPolis). The condition for passing is submission of a real application or presentation of complete documentation ready for submission. Wednesday classes at 8:00–9:30 take the form of team consultations arranged with the instructor. The detailed event schedule is updated on an ongoing basis and published on the Kampus platform.
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
S5_W01 The graduate knows and understands advanced terminology in entrepreneurship and startup management within the discipline of management and quality sciences and in supplementary disciplines.
S5_W03 The graduate knows and understands, at an advanced level, economic theories and models relating to startup management and entrepreneurship.
S5_W05 The graduate knows and understands complex technological, social, political, legal, economic and ecological processes and phenomena, including fundamental dilemmas of contemporary civilization and their impact on entrepreneurship and startup management.
S5_U02 The graduate is able to correctly interpret complex technological, social, political, legal, economic, ecological processes and phenomena and their impact on startup management and entrepreneurship.
S5_U04 The graduate is able to formulate and test hypotheses related to simple research problems in the area of startup management and entrepreneurship.
S5_U07 The graduate is able to lead and take a leading role in team activities and cooperate within them.
S5_U08 The graduate is able to improve qualifications and is capable of self-education.
S5_K02 The graduate is ready to acknowledge the significance and value of scientific knowledge in solving complex problems and to seek expert opinions.
S5_K03 The graduate is ready to initiate activities that benefit the community, society, or the environment.
S5_K04 The graduate is ready to think and act entrepreneurially.
S5_K05 The graduate is ready to observe, enforce and develop professional ethical standards in business relations.
Assessment criteria
Assessment methods: (1) Mandatory participation in at least 3 pitch contest / demo day events. (2) Assignment 1 – Investor analysis: group analysis (2–3 pages) of at least 3 startups presented during a selected pitch contest, covering problem, solution, business model, market, competitive advantage, and team. (3) Assignment 2 – Interview with a selected startup: conducting an interview with a founder/team member, report (1–2 pages) with three key conclusions and reflection. (4) Assignment 3 – Preparation of a complete application to a selected incubation/grant program (individually or in a team of up to 3). The condition for passing is submission of a real application or presentation of complete documentation ready for submission.
Grading scale: 100% – 5!, 90% – 5, 80% – 4.5, 70% – 4, 60% – 3.5, 50% – 3, below 40% – 2. Two absences permitted without justification.
Bibliography
Bland, D. J., & Osterwalder, A. (2019). Testing Business Ideas: A Field Guide for Rapid Experimentation. Wiley.
Maurya, A. (2012). Running Lean. O'Reilly.
Thiel, P. A., & Masters, B. (2014). Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future. Crown Business.
Ries, E. (2011). The Lean Startup. Crown Business.
Kawasaki, G. (2015). The Art of the Start 2.0. Portfolio.