INNO9013 Finding Backers & Champions: Pitching for Finance, Resources and Support GE

2019

4.5

1 x 3-hour workshop weekly

INNO3003 has been successfully completed

None

Core topic

Every entrepreneur falls in love with their idea, but how do you translate passion into a pitch that generates financial and management supporters? Working as teams, students are challenged to “think like an investor" and thoroughly demonstrate the commercial and financial viability of a new venture, whether a start-up or a company internal initiative. Though resourcing is addressed broadly, particular focus is paid to the investment decision - how to persuade an investor or supporter to part with their precious money. Through exposure to a wide variety of potential funding resources, including equity and non-equity options, crowdfunding, government grants, VC and Angel investors, sudents gain insights into factors that influence the viability and financial health of a business and steps they can take to increase venture valuation. Students use these insights to hone their value proposition, business model, competitive positioning and communication skills to build a professional pitch deck and presentation, tailored to their target audience.

This course develops the analytical, financial, conceptual and critical communication skills required to attract financial and organisational support for a new venture. Students will be challenged to address the weaknesses of their proposed business and correct the flaws inherent in their business plan prior to developing a pitch, with a sharp focus on financial acumen.

In addition, students will learn to distinguish among the various sources of capital available to identify what financial agreements best suit their business model and situation. They will gain experience in seeing businesses through an investor’s or supporter’s lens and identifying what makes a venture more or less attractive to adoption and capital.

Through in-class engagement, students will work individually and in teams to learn to present their business case, solicit and incorporate feedback, and gain tactical insights for increasing the effectiveness of their appeal.

On successful completion of this topic students should be able to:

• Understand the importance of different types and sources of support for a new venture and select those most likely to contribute to the future success of a specific proposal
• Identify and navigate the various channels available for financial and organisational support
• Solicit meaningful feedback and decide what to incorporate to enhance the pitch
• Apply multi-functional, analytical, and critical thinking skills to the search for flaws in a business case and refine the business case to withstand professional scrutiny by investors/backers
• Construct financial models and projections that speak to the viability of the venture
• Build an effective and persuasive case for the feasibility of your business concept, through a written report as well as an oral presentation