LFU:online

This lecture introduces students to the skills and mind-set necessary to become an entrepreneurs. Setting up a plan how to build an own company, first steps of realization of an own company and building of real entrepreneurs will be the goal of this class. Upon completion of this course, students should consider becoming an entrepreneur as an attractive career choice.

Goal of the lecture  

First steps of setting up an own company

Developing an entrepreneurial mind-set

This entrepreneurship lecture intends to provide an application-oriented approach to starting and running a business.

Because of this practical focus, the transfer of knowledge does not happen academically only. Speakers and guest lecturers from the entrepreneurship scene contribute to the practical approach of this lecture. A direct link between theory and practice is shown wherever possible. We endeavour to make our students internationally competitive by means of the best education possible. Our scholarly activities and research go hand in hand with public and private economy, and by providing students with this connection we hope to promote their courage and the readiness for entrepreneurship.

Students will be introduced to entrepreneurial tools such as the business model canvas or the lean start-up approach which will help them to translate their learned skills interest into a commercially viable business idea.

This lecture takes students through each phase of founding a real new business venture. The lecture combines some theoretical background with “trial and error” learning taught by experienced entrepreneurs with some academic skills. That means that this seminar does not only teach entrepreneurship but give some practical guidelines how to build an own company considering the most important strategic issues involved in starting and maintaining a venture while providing students with the tools and mapped out process necessary to cultivate a new business venture. At the end of the seminar each group will present their business plan as well as their first hands-on experiences. All participants of the lecture can contribute their own business-ideas.

In the course of this lecture students will develop a business idea and write a business plan in a small team (2-4 students). At the end of the course students will create a video with their business idea and upload it on a platform.

In each lecture a special topic relevant for setting up a business is presented. After the presentation, the topic will be discussed how to apply the new insights to the business ideas developed by students.

Besides students are asked to register on an online entrepreneurship platform and complete various tasks. They are invited to comment on and discuss each other’s ideas on the platform. The peer-to-peer review will also be used to evaluate students’ work.

Students will be graded based on 5 different dimensions.

·         Active participation on the online entrepreneurship platform

·         Online assignments

·         Presentation of the business idea through self-produced video

·         Peer-to-peer review

Kaplan and Warren (2009) Patterns of Entrepreneurship

Timmons (2004) Business Plans that Work

Sarasvathy, S. D. (2008) Effectuation – Elements of Entrepreneurial Expertise

Baron and Shane (2008) Entrepreneurship – A Process Perspective

Osterwalder & Pingeur (2010) Business Model Generation

Requirements

Entrepreneurial spirit!  

Desire to become an entrepreneur

Own business idea welcome but not obligatory

Please check regularly your mail account since the exact time schedule, extra reading, tasks and deadlines will be communicated via e-mail.