15.390A New Enterprises
Fall 2007
Instructors: Ken Zolot, Howard Anderson
TA: Joseph R. Bamber
Lecture: MW4-5.30 (E51-335)
Information:
In 15.390, we not only study entrepreneurs, we become entrepreneurs. Students will, over the course of the semester, create a technology-based enterprise and all the essential parts of a business plan and investor pitch. Students will work in teams to launch companies, working through issues of market analysis, technology viability assessment, competitive positioning, team-building, product life-cycle planning, marketing strategy, sales channel analysis, and a strong emphasis on the entrepreneur as a sales person. We'll map the practical steps of organizational and legal issues associated with forming a brand new company, and we'll address the strategic considerations for creating companies that can quickly define and dominate a new category or disruptive technology. The course features a prestigious line-up of guest speakers and hands-on mentors who have deep and recent experience starting and building companies.
Announcements
Final Business Plan and Class Exercise
Important reminder:1. Please post your final plan to Stellar homework page (please do not use docx format), and also bring a hard copy to class
2. Important! - Bring your laptops to class for the in-class exercise. If you want to review the directions, they are on the slides from the last class: https://stellar.mit.edu/S/course/15/fa07/15.390/courseMaterial/topics/topic10/lectureNotes/21_final_conclusions/21_final_conclusions.ppt
If you cannot attend the last class, email me asap to schedule
your make-up exercise.
3. Please fill out the final class survey as this is important
feedback for us:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=tG8C9huaai3dLK5ulBFryQ_3d_3d
It has been a pleasure working with you, I will see you
tomorrow!
- Joseph
Announced on 12 December 2007 12:29 a.m. by Joseph Bamber
Class 21 Wrapup
3 important reminders:1. Final business plans due on Wednesday; please bring both a hard copy and do an online submission. Make sure that you have addressed feedback and weak points from earlier sections.
2. Bring your laptops on Wednesday, make sure you have a power cord as well.
3. Please do the final course survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=tG8C9huaai3dLK5ulBFryQ_3d_3d
Thanks!
Announced on 10 December 2007 4:30 p.m. by Joseph Bamber
Class 20 Wrapup
Hi,I hope you enjoyed Howard's talk; here is the survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=TmLCtkHUr0L3h1RYVjzcZQ_3d_3d
We will have a few select teams present their business ideas in class tomorrow, and I apologize if the syllabus did not explain this correctly. If you have already created a presentation, send it to me and I will pick among the best ones that I receive. If you have been presenting to investors / advisors and have a good pitch, those slides would be fine as well. This is not for a grade, just the honor to present in front of your classmates.
See you tomorrow!
- Joseph
Announced on 04 December 2007 10:30 p.m. by Joseph Bamber
Class 19 Wrapup - Frank van Mierlo (Bluefin)
I hope you enjoyed Frank's talk today; here is the survey:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=NSHn54_2fyBnGIas8rL_2f3MtA_3d_3d
This is a reminder that Assignment #8: Financing and Ownership is due on Monday. This is a great time to dig into Excel, but don't forget to write out your assumptions and reasons behind your projections as well. I will post blank excel templates under materials as well.
- Joseph
Announced on 28 November 2007 5:12 p.m. by Joseph Bamber
Class 18 Wrapup - Jonathan Seelig
Hey, I hope you enjoyed Jonathan Seelig's talk today. Here is the survey:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=DMYYY2MROYFROnDm96a8nw_3d_3d
As a reminder, older surveys are still available on the stellar site. If you have filled out a survey before and use the same browser, Survey Monkey will give you a warning if you try to answer the same survey twice.
See you on Wednesday!
- Joseph
Announced on 26 November 2007 5:13 p.m. by Joseph Bamber