Young Entrepreneurs in Science

Young Entrepreneurs in Science' (YEiS) will enable students at the intersection of management and technology - and in particular those interested in entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, business development, or R&D in science-based industries - to take an essential part during the early stage of a science-based entrepreneurial iniative from a company in the Munich area (such as from a TUM start-up or an established firm from the Munich Metropolitan area) and beyond (such as globally active science-based firms in industries like chemistry, electronics, or pharma), to consult them, and to take an active part in their establishment and growth. Specifially, as a team of up to five students, participants in YEiS will be tasked to support one science-based entrepreneurial initiative in one crucial problem it is currently facing and to design and possibly implement at least one solution alternatives for that issue. To be able to do that, all YEiS participants will receive a solid introduction into the topic of science-based entrepreneurship, as well as to proven methods and tools for designing and evaluation entrepreneurial initiatives in this context.

Having completed the module, students will be capable of understanding crucial elements of the entrepreneurial journey and apply them to the context of entrepreneurship & intrepreneurship in science-based industries. In addition, students will be able to evaluate information and alternative pathways for action in science-based entrepreneurship/intrapreneurship. Furthermore, students will be able to analyze existing opportunities, projects, and initiatives for science-based entrepreneurship/intrapreneurship and develop preliminary alternative designs. Finally, students will be able to hone their social skills, team-working skills, and consulting skills.

The final examination consists of two components, each carrying 50% of the final course grade: (a) a final report of ca. 22,200 characters due exactly four weeks after the presentation day and (b) a 15 minute presentation in the final course meeting. On (a): Each team of students will be required to document its constant collaboration with its case-giver, to update the course about the progress in several blocked meetings, and to discuss the progress with an assigned coach. The focus of the evaluation will lie on whether and how participants work to develop creative solutions to the ventures' problems, and make progress in implementing those successfully. All information gathered by the participants should be collected and presented in a systematic fashion to be able to pass it on to the partnering firms after the course, such as in a business plan. In doing so, students will showcase their ability to structure and prioritize information, and communicate this information clearly and effectively so that it is actionable. If no separate final report is handed in, any intermittently produced documents will be treated as such. Any report should not exceed 22,200 characters. It is to be handed in by precisely four weeks after the final presentation. Any changes to this will be announced at least three weeks prior to the date of final presentation. On (b): The final presentation is expected to last 15 minutes, any changes to this will be announced at least three weeks prior to date of the final presentation. Its key contents are the purpose and explanation of the problem-solutions created by the teams (irrespective of whether the ventures chose to implement them), which are to be communicated understandably to all course participants. As such, the presentation should focus on the outputs achieved (how should the problem be solved?), not the process through which it was generated. Of particular interest is students' understanding of interdependencies between the aspects of their problem-solutions, and their creating of an internally consistent problem-solution that takes those interdependencies into account, which would be a testimony to students' ability to develop their own strategy to found a start-up.

- Recommended (but not mandatory): Basic understanding of the entrepreneurial process, acquired e.g., through an introductory lecture on entrepreneurship - Recommended (but not mandatory): Basic understanding systematic firm and market analysis tools, acquired e.g., through an introductory lecture on strategy - Recommended (but not mandatory): Initial experience in science industries, for example through a major or minor in a science discipline in a B.Sc. degree, or work experience

Presentations, discussion, project work, feedback. Each methods will be chosen in accordance with the content to be communicated. For example, new material may be introduced in short presentations by subject matter experts or through videos, then discussed in teams or by the entire course, and then applied in the project work. The group-level feedback meetings ('coachings') help to ensure that all materials have been understood and applied correctly (including potential adaptations). Required skills will further be showcased through the final presentation (with feedback) and report (feedback upon request).