This course is designed to stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit of the best students of the New University of Lisbon. Its aim is to provide participants with the basic tools so they can devise a business initiative and turn it into reality. Therefore, it covers the basics of entrepreneurship and business management within an applied perspective. The participants, beyond participation in the classes should work together in preparing and presenting a business plan to run for Nova Idea competition. Students will be selected from all university, Portuguese and foreigner, with the requirement that the composition of work teams comprising students with the greatest possible diversity of backgrounds. Each school will recognize credits to this mastercourse within their master's programs. The University will spend a specific diploma of participation in this course.

 

 

 1-What are companies and how are they formed

2-Evolution of a company’s organizational structure as it grows from an entrepreneurial venture to a mature organization

3-Analysis of an entrepreneurial opportunity

4-Analysis of markets and competitor firms and products

5-Marketing principles and value creation

6-Marketing strategy: segmentation, positioning and targeting

7-Managing the technology innovation process

8-Protecting and monetizing Intellectual Property

9-Organizing and managing entrepreneurial teams

10-Managing production

11-Business plan preparation

12-Financing new ventures

13-The social entrepreneurship perspective

 

 Course aims

 

This course has been designed to attract the best and most entrepreneurial master students from all UNL schools and departments. No previous formal education on business is required. It was designed to foster and develop entrepreneurial skills and knowledge among a small number of exceptionally qualified participants. Thus, although this is a course about business foundations, it has a strong emphasis on the development of students’ abilities and skills, especially on these more directly related with the forming of corporate and social ventures.

 

The broad basis of students profiles – spreading from all campuses and departments of the university – is expected to contribute to a cross fertilization between participants, providing them with a multi-cultural experience and to demand them to work in groups formed with students from different UNL schools. Such purpose is enhanced by purposely promoting this course with foreign Erasmus/Socrates students. Multi-culturally is also enhanced by a diverse faculty profile, ranging from most UNL departments. To provide students with a different perspective, the course will close with a session on social entrepreneurship.

 

Hands-on approach will be motivated with a clear emphasis on the development of a business plan. Students will be motivated to – in groups – participate in Nova Idea Competition, the business plan competition of Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

 

 

 Please refer to your school website

 
 

 

The course will have 12 3-hour classes on a weekly basis. Every other week, class will be followed by a 1-hour lecture by an invited speaker. Besides the formal classes, students will participate in  Nova Idea Competition, the business plan competition of Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

 Students will be organized in groups. Each group will have 4 people from different UNL schools. Groups will work on assigned case-study reports and develop and prepare a business plan to participate in Nova Idea. Each group will be assigned a business plan coach among the course’s teaching staff.

 

 

 

Student’s grade will be based upon the following:

 

Individual report on case-study:  50% (  this will be done on a "take-home" basis)
 
Assignment during the course:  10% - case-study 

 

Group presentation:  30% - Nova idea Competition
 
Individual participation at the Elevator Pitch:  10% -  Nova idea Competition
 

 

 

This year the students need to fill a questionnaire to submit their candidature to the mastercourse. These five answers intend to profile the student to determine their eligibility. Submissions are open until 31 January when the admissions will be published.

 

15-Fev	5pm - 8pm	Managing the Innovation Process
29-Fev	5pm - 8pm	Marketing Principles
06-Mar	5pm - 8pm	Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Process
14-Mar	5pm - 8pm	Product Design and Manufacturing
28-Mar	5pm - 8pm	Business Planning
11-Abr	5pm - 8pm	Creating and Managing Entrepreneurial Teams
18-Abr	5pm - 8pm	Financing New Ventures
26-Abr	5pm - 8pm	Social Entrepreneurship
02-Mai	5pm - 8pm	Marketing of Innovative Products and Services
09-Mai	5pm - 8pm	Managing Growth
16-Mai	5pm - 8pm	Managing and Protecting Intellectual Property
TBA	TBA	Group Presentation - Elevator Pitch Nova Idea Competition

 * To be Confirmed

 

 

Each group will prepare a business plan to participate in UNL’s contest Nova Idea Competition. The members of each group should make a pitch where they are expected to put themselves in the shoes of a top manager who wants to convince a group of investors that the ideas supporting their project are outstanding and should be financed by them.

Students should have in mind that on both the business plan and the final elevator pitch the three main key criteria to be taken into account are:

 

 

1- Team- The quality of the team, dynamism, potential, commitment, previous experience and/or knowledge of the industry/market that the participants wish to enter.

 

2- Market- The dimensions of the targeted market (local, national, European, Global?) that the product has the possibility to reach while taking into account the limitations of the proposed project, such as the existence of alternative products, trade barriers etc.

  

3- Product- The innovative property of a solution, technology and approach to the suggested markets. The capacity to create a sustainable and competitive advantage. Capacity to protect the intellectual property. Difficulty for competition to copy the product, etc.

 

Students should be ready to answer for the following questions:

 

a)      What is the overall quality of the promoting team?

b)      Degree of diversity (cultural, background, professional experience)?

c)      Know-how about the industry/market?

d)      Network of contacts and key partnerships?

e)      Partners and VCs: Protection and exit strategies?

 

 

a)      Who will be the first clients? Are you sure they will buy?

b)      Justification of market existence?

c)      Which market needs have not been satisfied?

d)      Is the solution/technology/service superior to competitors regarding these particular dimensions?

e)      To what extent is the solution/technology/service appropriate to the market?

f)       Is it targeted to a Blue Ocean or is it capable of offering sustainable competitive advantage (i.e. profit+ growth) in a Red Ocean?

g)      Market size: Is the target the World, Europe, Portugal, Lisbon or Campolide?

h)      Market potential: Is the target “high ceiling” or “low ceiling” industries?

i)        How to create value for the final consumer while considering the SWOT analysis? How to transform weaknesses into strengths? How to transform threats into opportunities?

 

 

a)      Is it a “unique” solution/technology/service?

b)      IP protection? Is easy to replicate by competitors?

c)      Is it already completed and tested in the proposed scenario?

d)      How do you compare its attributes to solutions provided by direct and indirect competitors?