Overview

Module 1: Explore the fundamentals and core business concepts of startups. Learn about factors that can lead to success and failure.
In this module, you'll:
- Consider whether you're in a position to invest the time and effort that's needed for a startup.
- Inform yourself about factors that help startups succeed.
- Learn about mistakes that cause startups to fail.
Module 2: Explore various ways to validate your startup idea with customers. Learn about tools and strategies for testing your startup assumptions.
In this module, you'll:
- Identify the value that your product creates for your customers.
- Learn about tools that you can use to design a value proposition.
- Explore experiments that you can use to test assumptions that you've made about your startup.
- See how to interview customers effectively.
Module 3: Learn about the most common startup revenue models. See practical tips on how to get your startup to start generating revenue.
In this module, you'll:
- Learn about the wide range of revenue models that are available to startups.
- Find out how to identify assumptions that you've made and test them with customers.
- See which type of customer to focus on initially.
- Understand how to develop strong sales capabilities.
Module 4: Learn how to choose a good name for your startup and create a strong brand.
In this module, you'll:
- Learn the importance of naming and branding for startups.
- See principles that help you choose an effective name for your startup.
- Learn practical tips for strengthening your personal brand.
Module 5: Find out how to build your startup team and find cofounders. Learn how to benefit from diversity in teams, mentors, and risk management measures.
In this module, you'll:
- Learn about personal attributes that are valued in startup team members.
- See how to bring in a co-founder.
- Understand the functional roles that need to be filled in your startup.
- Find out about the advantages of co-founder agreements and founder investing.
Module 6: Learn how to raise money from investors such as angels and venture capital funds. See practical tips for asking potential investors for funding.
In this module, you'll:
- Understand external funding and bootstrapping.
- Familiarize yourself with different types of investors.
- See tips for asking potential investors for funding.
- Learn strategies for raising funding rounds.
- Appreciate the growth and scale needed to generate an acceptable return to investors.
Module 7: In this module, you'll learn how to pitch your startup to investors, discover what makes a pitch effective, and get tips for delivering compelling pitches.
In this module, you'll:
- Learn about types and formats of pitches.
- Understand what makes a pitch effective.
- Get valuable tips for delivering compelling pitches.

Syllabus

Module 1: Module 1: Startup fundamentals
- Introduction
- Should you found a startup?
- What makes startups succeed?
- What makes startups fail?
- Knowledge check
- Summary
Module 2: Module 2: Validate your startup idea with customers
- Introduction
- Articulate your idea
- Test assumptions
- Test assumptions with customers
- Use the power of experiments
- Knowledge check
- Summary
Module 3: Module 3: The path to revenue
- Introduction
- Revenue models
- Generate early revenues
- Knowledge check
- Summary
Module 4: Module 4: Naming and branding
- Introduction
- How to name your company
- The importance of personal brand
- Knowledge check
- Summary
Module 5: Module 5: Build your team
- Introduction
- What does an ideal startup team look like?
- Risk management in startup teams
- Build diverse teams
- Make use of mentors
- Knowledge check
- Summary
Module 6: Module 6: Fundraising for your startup
- Introduction
- How investment works
- Different types of investors
- Raise a funding round
- Knowledge check
- Summary
Module 7: Module 7: How to pitch your company
- Introduction
- Principles of pitching
- What should go in my pitch deck?
- Deliver a compelling pitch
- Knowledge check
- Summary