Content
Module 1: Onboarding & Team Formation (team roles, strengths, weaknesses, opportunity
recognition, team canvas); Module 2: Opportunity Discovery & Empathy Research (Futures
Thinking, empathy interviews, immersions, observations, market research); Moduel 3: Problem-
Solution Fit (HMW questions, Ideation techniques, Four Lenses, Persona, POV statement);
Module 4: Prototyping & Testing (Rapid Prototyping, assumptions & hypothesis, testing interviews,
iteration); Module 5: Market and Business Model (market size, TAM SAM SOM, competitor
analysis, BMC, pricing strategy); Module 6: Storytelling & Pitching (narratives, presenting style,
different forms of pitches); Moduel 7: Next Steps (introduction to ecosystem, funding & financing,
reflection, team retro); Deep Dive 1: Lean Startup Methodology (the importance of validation and
assumptions in every step); Deep Dive 2: Team Culture (The Power of Retros, High Performing
Teams, Hiring)
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Identify and validate
opportunities: Systematically analyze real-world problems and validate customer needs through
structured field research and interviews; Design and iterate business models: Apply modern
business design tools to create, assess, and refine viable and scalable business models;
Communicate and pitch effectively: Clearly and convincingly communicate their venture’s vision,
progress, and potential to diverse audiences; Apply the Lean Startup methodology: Use Lean
Startup principles across multiple contexts and stages of venture development; Reflect critically
on learning processes: Evaluate their own learning journey as well as the team’s development and
collaboration dynamics.
Examination
The examination consists of the completion of a semester-long startup project as a team. It is
designed to reflect the iterative and multi-faceted process of building a venture - step by step.
Students will submit 7 homework assignments throughout the semester that make up the final
grade:(1)Assignment: Description of Opportunity & Team Canvas (to show relevance of problem
field & set foundation as team 15%); (2) Assignment: Proof of Empathy Research with pictures,
quotes, arguments (to show validation of opportunity field 15%); (3) Assignment: POV statement
+ proof of ideation + arguments for chosen idea (to highlight the problem-solution fit 15%); (4)
Assignment: Value Proposition + iterations of prototype, insights from testing (to proof prototyping
and iterative approach after testing 15%); (5) Assignment: TAMSAMSOM, BMC, compeitor
analysis (to show they understood the market 15%), (6) Assignment: Pitch Video (to evaluate
the presentation style, slides, and story 15%), (7) Assignment: Reflection Paper (to improve their
critical thinking on the learned, the team, and themselves 10%)
Prerequisites
Prior Experience in entrepreneurship & innovation
Teaching & learning methods
Self-paced learning: Every two weeks, a new module is unlocked, giving participants access to
new learning content. This ensures that they follow the Design Thinking process step by step; Bi-
weekly assignments: At the end of each module, students are required to submit an assignment to
demonstrate how they apply what they have learned; Coaching sessions: In addition, one coaching
session per module is offered, where participants can receive targeted and individual feedback;
Deep dives: Key topics are explored in greater depth through dedicated deep dives to ensure a
holistic understanding; Peer exchange: Through forums and communication channels, participants
are encouraged to regularly exchange ideas and learn from one another.
Media & reading list
Readings, videos and podcasts for all course materials to address diverse learner needs
Collaborative tools like Miro, Slack, and Notion for team communication and project management
Prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Canva, or relevant low-code/no-code platforms)
Custom AI Coaching Assistant for on-demand support
International Resource Panel (2024): Global Resources Outlook.; Ellen MacArthur Foundation
(2015): Growth Within: A circular economy vision for a competitive
Europe.; Binder & Braun (2024): The Circular Business Revolution.; Breugst, N. (2023).
Entrepreneurial teams. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Business and Management. Oxford
University Press.; Joni, S.-n. A., & Beyer, D. (2009). How to pick a good fight. Harvard Business
Review, 87(12), 48-57.; Read, S., Sarasvathy, S., Dew, N., Wiltbank, R., & Ohlsson, A.-V.
(2011). Effectual entrepreneurship. New York: Routledge.; Wasserman, N. (2012). Founder's
dilemmas: Anticipating and avoiding the pitfalls that can sink a startup. Princeton: Princeton
University Press.; Ries, E. (2011). The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous
Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses. Crown Business.; Blank, S. (2013). The
Four Steps to the Epiphany: Successful Strategies for Startups that Win. K&S Ranch.; Moore,
G. (2014). Crossing the Chasm (3rd edition). HarperCollins.; Maurya, A. (2012). Running Lean:
Iterate from Plan A to a Plan That Works. O'Reilly Media.; Osterwalder, A. & Pigneur, Y. (2010):
Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers.
John Wiley & Sons.; Kawasaki, G. (2004). The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened
Guide for Anyone Starting Anything. Portfolio.; Shepherd & Majchrzak (2022): Machines
augmenting entrepreneurs: Opportunities (and threats) at the Nexus of artificial intelligence and
entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Venturing.
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