15.390  New Enterprises

last chance to rate your team members

1. All class members are required to fill out this team peer review survey: https://survey.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_24SNcxG8zUNUOON
Please do this by the end of the day.

2. Howard recommends this article: http://www.informationweek.com/strategic-cio/executive-insights-and-innovation/jeff-bezos-chats-up-james-watt/d/d-id/1113021

Announced on 11 December 2013  9:52  a.m. by Julia Gitis

REQUIRED: Team Peer Review Survey

All class members are required to fill out this team peer review survey: https://survey.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_24SNcxG8zUNUOON

This is meant for the teaching staff to better understand, in case of disparities, who on each team contributed more/less throughout the semester.

Announced on 09 December 2013  7:12  p.m. by Julia Gitis

important note about final pitches and business plans- schedule and more

Hi everyone,

1. Here is the order of final pitches next week:
Monday Section A: BIT, Big Data Academy, ZeeVest, MicroCam, Moxy, and Smart Sole
Monday Section B: SynTravel, DreamHome, QuikAnalytics, Corridor Clothiers, Younited, GC&F
Wednesday Section A: Active Connection, MUSES, Hire-Right, NovaGen, eYouPhoto, Presto, Flashlight
Wednesday Section B: PrepMe, SkyChat, Automatic Falafel Fryer, DriverAlert, Drug4U, ExaStore

2. Upload your pitch deck (preferably in PDF format) by 11pm Sunday for Monday presentations and 11pm Tuesday for Wednesday presentations HERE.

3. Pitches should be 7 minutes followed by Q&A for 3 minutes. Time limits will be strictly enforced so we can get through all the presentations. We recommend no more than 2 people present per team, but it is up to you.

4. All students are expected to attend both classes next week.

5. All final business plans are due next Wednesday at the beginning of class. Please note that Bill and Howard will be grading all final business plans. The 20 page limit is strictly enforced and includes all charts and appendices.

6. Bill would like to share the following article with both sections:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2013/11/12/stanford-vs-mit-how-marketing-trumps-technology-in-startups/

7. Sharing GFSA Demo Day Pitches: http://e40-160.mit.edu/demoday13/
Highlight of Amanda’s Thyme Labs performance:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xmcimiw8ojhzl82/60733956001_2680193493001_Thyme.mp4

Good luck with the end of the semester! We're looking forward to seeing your pitches next week.

- Your friendly TAs

Announced on 06 December 2013  12:09  a.m. by Julia Gitis

go-to-market should be in exec summ and pitch

Hi everyone,

While the grading rubrics for the executive summary re-write and the pitch deck do not include a go-to-market section, please keep in mind that you will need a go-to-market (sales & marketing& bizmodel) section for the final versions of the business plan/executive summaries you submit next week as well as the pitch decks for those of you selected to present in front of the class.

Apologies for this oversight in the grading rubrics- you won't get marked down in the assignment, but we wanted to let you know that will be important next week.

Thanks,
Your friendly TAs

Announced on 02 December 2013  10:13  a.m. by Julia Gitis

important reminders

Hi everyone,

A few reminders:

1. No class this Wednesday. Happy Thanksgiving!

2. Reminder that class participation is 25% of your grade, which includes attendance. More than 2 unexcused absences will reduce your final grade.

3. Howard recommends this article: http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2010/01/06/the-quest-for-mits-next-billion-dollar-idea/

4. Reminder that your "Take an Entrepreneur to Dinner" assignment is due next Wednesday. This is an INDIVIDUAL (not a team) assignment. If you haven't invited an entrepreneur for a meal, this weekend would be a good time to do so!

5. No laptops in class.

6. Please note a typo on page 186 of the book. Thank you to students in Section B for pointing it out- it will be fixed in the next version. The book states that you calculate profit each year using: Present value each year = Profit (1- cost of capital) ; it should be PV = FV / (1+r)^t.

7. Some entrepreneurship resources that Bill mentioned during class today:
Disciplined Entrepreneurship: www.d-eship.com
Expansive List of Startup Resources: http://steveblank.com/tools-and-blogs-for-entrepreneurs/
Free Legal Resources: http://www.foundersworkbench.com/
Entrepreneurship Essays: http://paulgraham.com/

8. Gobble gobble.

- Your friendly TAs

Announced on 25 November 2013  4:39  p.m. by Julia Gitis