Title: Entrepreneurship for Computer Science
Units: 12
Pre-requisite: 15-112 (i.e., Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science)
Description:
This course aims at developing fundamental entrepreneurship skills for students with no background in business and a little background in computer programming. It promotes a systematic end-to-end paradigm to translate ideas into sustainable innovation-based enterprises. More precisely, it focuses on: (1) generating ideas with business potentials, (2) testing leap-of-faith assumptions through market research and a beachhead market strategy, (3) founding or co-founding a company smartly and safely, (4) designing and developing a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) through the lean approach and measuring progress via actionable analytics, (5) designing a business model to monetize and price your MVP, (6) bootstrapping your MVP and raising angel and professional money, (7) building team synergy and an enabling culture, (8) marketing and operating your business, (9) scaling your business, and (10) exiting your business through either an M&A or an IPO.
The course encompasses a balance of lectures, case studies, hands-on experience, and encounters with entrepreneurs, investors, and business professionals. The students will be exposed to real-world perspectives on entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership. In addition, they will work on a semester-long project to fully implement MVPs and write comprehensive business plans for their own startups.