In E&I Venture Building, students engage in the practical implementation of entrepreneurial concepts, focusing on business planning and the Lean Startup method. Students support real founders and entrepreneurs in creating a new business. Based on thourough analysis (e.g. customer analysis, market analysis, hypothesis testing), the students will provide specific and actionable recommendations to their project partner.

For this purpose, students will be engaged in analyzing secondary data (e.g. market reports) and  in collecting primary data (e.g. via surveys, interviews or prototype testing).

The course starts with a kick-off event. During the kick-off, students form teams, select a project, get to know their project partner, learn about theory and tools useful for a venture creation, directly applying them to projects. The aim is to understand the importance of the build-measure-learn cycle, and which elements constitute it.

During the semester, the teams work independently. All teams will receive indidual feedback in coaching sessions from the lecturers and external coaches. Coaching sessions are agreed upon individually with the lecturers and external coaches. Additionally, there are four topic-specific workshops (e.g. marketing or finance). The project results will be presented in form of an final presentation to the lecturers and the project partner at the of the semester.

As the interaction with other students as well as external stakeholders is an integral part of this course, active participation in-person is important.

Students must attend at least 80% of all classes and events to successfully complete the course. However, due to their importance in reaching the course goals, 100% attendance is required for the kick-off, mid-term and final presentations as well as the E&I Touchdown event. For the kickoff, absences (up to maximum of 1,5h) due to a scheduled written exam at WU can be excused if the course instructors are notified with a proof of examination before the kickoff.

In general, all absences in the course must be notified to the course instructors via email (if possible in advance) and confirmation (for example a medical certificate, or in case of an exam a note confirming the date of the written examination) must be submitted as soon as possible. Absences can result in additional compensation work to ensure the course's learning outcomes.

E&I Venture Building consists of classes for all students and individual team coaching sessions.

Other than the coaching session, there is no class taking place on these days.

Furthermore, there will be a mid-term and a final presentation of the project. Each team individually schedules a time slot with the lecturer and the project partner.

Except for the kick-off, all other dates shown are subject to change! More detailed information can be found at the introductory event and at the kick-off. Most dates are either arranged individually with course instructors and project partners or take place externally. This is not unusual for innovation projects. Exact dates for the presentations, workshops and coachings will follow at the Kick-off.

 

Performance is assessed based on individual as well as group work throughout the semester.

Grading system:

60% Group-based performance

• 10% Midterm presentation
• 10% Midterm report
• 15% Final presentation
• 20% Final report
• 5% Touchdown

40% Individual performance

• 10% Kickoff Comprehension Test
• 25% Ongoing participation and project management
• 5% Reflection task