INNO3003 Funding your Ideas: Pitching & Funding Corporate & Entrepreneurial Ventures

2017

4.5

1 x 3-hour workshop weekly

None

Core topic

In this course students will complete a concise business plan and funding pitch for their venture. Students will work through the financial viability of their venture and learn to look at their new venture concept with the eyes of an investor. Ultimately, every pitch requires a feasible business idea but whether you head to Kickstarter to produce a crowdfunding video pitch, present your business plan to a bank, apply for a government grant, present to the powers-that-be inside an existing organisation, or pitch to the angels and VC investors that will be invited as guests to the class, will depend on the type of business idea you have. This course discusses a range of equity and non-equity financing options available to organisations today. One of the biggest problems for entrepreneurs is financing their ideas-although securing funding is always difficult, this course helps you appreciate several options you have and the implications for each. Once you have a feasible and pitch-worthy concept you will get out of the classroom and pitch a source (or sources) in order to find funding for your (or your team’s) business idea. A special focus will be paid to the investment decision (i.e., what does it take to persuade an investor to part with their hard earned money) and students will gain insights into factors that influence the viability and financial health of a business as well as the steps that can be taken to increase venture valuation.

This course is about developing the analytical and conceptual skills required to test the feasibility of a business concept. The process of feasibility analysis involves identifying, evaluating, and determining whether to exploit an opportunity. It should be noted that a business plan would be developed after a feasibility analysis has determined that the business concept can be successfully exploited. This course prepares students to develop the skills required to test the feasibility of a new venture business concept and pitch this concept to internal or external funders so that they can eventually create a successful venture.

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

• Acquire and apply entrepreneurial techniques and skills for gathering and analysing key industry, market, competitor, and customer information.
• Develop multi-functional, analytical, and critical thinking skills through the process of completing a feasibility analysis for a new venture.
• Build an effective and persuasive case for the feasibility of your business concept, through a written report as well as an oral presentation before a panel of judges from the market.