Early Venture Planning and Launch

This unit guides students through translating a business idea into a tested, fundable early-stage venture plan. Students will learn ownership choices, basic financing and forecasting, go-to-market strategy and quick testing methods, and how to identify and mitigate operational, legal, and market risks to prepare for implementation in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze and compare business ownership forms, advisory structures, and funding sources (including friendly capital, angel investment, and bootstrapping) to recommend an appropriate organizational and financing approach for a given venture concept
• Apply financial tools to construct projected financial statements, forecast startup expenses, and calculate key financial ratios to evaluate short-term viability and resource needs
• Develop and test a lean business model and go-to-market plan by identifying target customers, mapping value chains and channels, articulating benefits versus features, and designing a quick concept/MVP test
• Evaluate potential risks, competitive factors, intellectual property considerations, and exit options, and propose mitigation strategies and a growth or exit pathway aligned with venture goals