ASEEDER - Creating A New Business

Course Overview

This course will guide students through the process of creating a new business. It will cover
essential business concepts, strategies, and practical steps required to start and grow a
business. Each session will include interactive lectures, group activities, and individual tasks to
ensure a hands-on learning experience.

Course Objectives

● Understand the fundamentals of entrepreneurship

● Identify and evaluate business opportunities
● Develop a business plan
● Learn the basics of marketing, finance, and operations
● Understand legal and ethical considerations in business
● Prepare to launch and manage a business

Course Structure:

● 10 sessions, each 3 hours in length.

● Session is broken up into 4 sections with builtin breaks
● Activities include lectures, group work, individual exercises, and interactive discussions.
SYLLABUS:
Day 1:
● Course Objective Review
● ‘Who Am I?’ - Instructor Introduction
● ‘Why Are You Here?’ - Students Goals
● Class Business Idea

Session 1: Introduction to Entrepreneurship

Objective: Understand what entrepreneurship is and its importance.

1. Introduction to Entrepreneurship (45 mins)

● Lecture: Definition and importance of entrepreneurship
● Discussion: Famous entrepreneurs and their journeys
2. Characteristics of an Entrepreneur (45 mins)
● Activity: Identify traits of successful entrepreneurs
● Group Activity: Create a profile of an ideal entrepreneur
3. Idea Generation (45 mins)
● Brainstorming: Students generate business ideas
● Sharing: Discuss and refine ideas in groups
4. SWOT Analysis (45 mins)
● Lecture: Introduction to SWOT analysis
● Activity: Perform a SWOT analysis on a chosen business idea
5. Goal Setting (Take Home)
6. Pitching Your Business
a. Class will prepare a 1 minute Elevator pitch
b. Class will prepare a 10 minute Investor presentation

Session 2: Identifying Business Opportunities

Objective: Learn how to identify and evaluate business opportunities.

1. Opportunity Research (45 mins)

● Lecture: Identifying market needs and gaps
● Activity: Research and identify market gaps
2. Evaluating Opportunities (45 mins)
● Lecture: Criteria for evaluating business opportunities
● Activity: Evaluate business ideas using criteria
3. Feasibility Study (45 mins)
● Lecture: Components of a feasibility study
● Group Activity: Conduct a basic feasibility study on selected ideas
4. Guest Speaker (45 mins)
● Guest Entrepreneur: Share experiences and insights
● Q&A Session
Session 3: Business Models and Value Proposition
Objective: Understand different business models and how to create a value proposition.

1. Business Models (45 mins)

● Lecture: Overview of different business models
● Discussion: Pros and cons of each model
2. Value Proposition (45 mins)
● Lecture: What is a value proposition?
● Activity: Create a value proposition for a business idea
3. Case Study (45 mins)
● Case Study: Analyze a successful business model and value proposition
● Group Discussion: Lessons learned from the case study
4. Quiz 1 (45 mins)
● Multiple-choice quiz covering Sessions 1-3

5. Elevator Pitches

Session 4: Market Research and Customer Segmentation

Objective: Learn the importance of market research and how to segment customers.

1. Market Research Basics (45 mins)

● Lecture: Methods of market research
● Activity: Conduct a simple market research survey
2. Customer Segmentation (45 mins)
● Lecture: Types of customer segments
● Activity: Identify and describe customer segments for a business idea
3. Analyzing Data (45 mins)
● Lecture: How to analyze market research data
● Group Activity: Analyze survey results and present findings
4. Interactive Exercise (45 mins)
● Exercise: Role-play as different customer segments
● Discussion: Insights gained from role-playing
Session 5: Developing a Business Plan
Objective: Understand the components of a business plan and how to develop one.

1. Introduction to Business Plans (45 mins)

● Lecture: Importance and components of a business plan
● Activity: Review sample business plans
2. Cost Structures (45 mins)
● Lecture: Detailed walkthrough of each section
● Activity: Start drafting a business plan for a business idea
3. Business Model Creation (45 mins)
● Lecture: Key aspects to Business Model Canvas
● Activity: Create Basic Business Model Canvas
4. Group Activity (45 mins)
● Activity: Present business plans to the class
● Feedback: Constructive critique from peers and instructor

Session 6: Marketing and Branding

Objective: Learn the basics of marketing and how to create a strong brand.

1. Marketing Principles (45 mins)

● Lecture: Introduction to marketing principles
● Activity: Develop a basic marketing strategy
2. Branding Basics (45 mins)
● Lecture: Key elements of a strong brand
● Activity: Create a brand identity for a business idea
3. Digital Marketing (45 mins)
● Lecture: Overview of digital marketing strategies
● Activity: Plan a digital marketing campaign
4. Quiz 2 (45 mins)
● Multiple-choice quiz covering Sessions 4-6

5. Elevator Pitches
Session 7: Financial Management
Objective: Understand financial planning and funding options for a business.

1. Financial Statements (45 mins)

● Lecture: Introduction to financial statements
● Activity: Create a basic income statement and balance sheet
2. Budgeting (45 mins)
● Lecture: Importance of budgeting
● Activity: Develop a budget for a business idea
3. Funding Options (45 mins)
● Lecture: Types of funding options
● Group Activity: Evaluate pros and cons of different funding options
4. Pitching Your Business(45 mins)
● Exercise: Pitching for investment
● Discussion: Feedback on pitches

Session 8: Legal and Ethical Considerations

Objective: Learn about legal structures and ethical considerations in business.

1. Legal Structures (45 mins)

● Lecture: Different business legal structures
● Activity: Choose an appropriate legal structure for a business idea
2. Intellectual Property
● Lecture: Discuss the criteria for Intellectual Property
● Activity: Select the IP in each business case
3. Ethical Considerations (45 mins)
● Lecture: Common ethical dilemmas in business
● Group Discussion: How to handle ethical dilemmas
3. Compliance and Regulations (45 mins)
● Lecture: Importance of compliance and regulations
● Activity: Research regulations relevant to a chosen business
4. Case Study (45 mins)
● Case Study: Analyze a real-world ethical dilemma
● Group Discussion: Solutions and lessons learned
Session 9: Preparing to Launch
Objective: Learn the steps needed to prepare for a business launch.

1. Leadership vs. Management (45 mins)

● Lecture: Discuss key characteristics of effective Leaders
● Activity: Create a Management Team criteria list
2. Team Building (45 mins)
● Lecture: The importance of building a performance team
● Activity: Create an Organizational chart for your business
3. Conflict Management (45 mins)
● Lecture: The process for conflict management
● Group Activity: Work through conflict scenarios
4. Quiz 3 (45 mins)
● Multiple-choice quiz covering Sessions 7-9

Session 10: Managing and Scaling Your Business

Objective: Understand how to manage and scale a business.

1. Launching a Business (45 mins)

● Lecture: Key stages of a launch plan
● Activity: Create 3 phase business launch plan
2. Customer Journey(45 mins)
● Lecture: Define aspects of customer journey
● Activity: Map out ideal customer journey and experience
3. Measuring Success(45 mins)
● Lecture: Key performance indicators (KPIs)
● Activity: Identify and track KPIs for a business idea
4. Scaling Your Business (45 mins)
● Activity: Discuss how to sustain and grow business
● Feedback: Constructive critique from peers and instructor

BONUS Sections: Class Pitch Presentations

● Based on the Students level of ability will propose a 10 minute presentation
● The presentations will be worked into Class sessions 9 and 10