98635 - TECH VENTURING LABORATORY

Learning outcomes

"The Tech Venturing Lab aims at creating a setting for students to experience the entrepreneurial process. Students are provided with tools and techniques to develop a business plan and are exposed to stimuli and inspirational moments coming from real entrepreneurs who are asked to coach students all along a work project that are assigned by the instructor. By the end of the course, the students develop awareness of what an entrepreneurial process is based on hands-on experiences hand-in-hand with real tech-based ventures. They acquire knowledge, tools and enthusiasm for getting involved in a new venture that is taking a breakthrough technology to the market."

Course contents

This course introduces the key concepts, tools and principles of new venture creation with a focus on digital and tech. It offers a framework for understanding the entrepreneurial process and exposes students to the challenges faced by entrepreneurs who start new ventures in a digital domain. While previous knowledge of concepts related to accounting, marketing, operations or sales is desirable, no prior knowledge of the subject nor experience in founding or working for a digital venture is needed. The approach used in the course is active experiential learning as you will be asked to actively engage in class conversations and discussions as well as to work with peers. The methodological approach that will be followed is that of the lean start-up, an "almost" scientific approach to experimentation and validation for tech startups.

Ultimately, this course will expose students to the following critical theoretical and practical aspects related to tech venturing:

• Identification and exploitation of new venture opportunities
  
• Business model experimentation
• Business model configurations
• Product and customer development
• Competition in platform ecosystems

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1 (CORBO)

FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS: Teaching material prepared by the Professor (lecture slides, readings, and case studies) and uploaded on Virtuale. See the syllabus for details.

FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: Teaching material prepared by the Professor (lecture slides, readings, and case studies) and uploaded on Virtuale. See the syllabus for details.

COMPANION BOOKS

- Maurya, A. (2022). Running lean. O'Reilly Media, Inc. Pages 1-144 (compulsory for all).

Module 2 (GIACHETTI)

- Osterwalder, A., & Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business model generation. John Wiley & Sons.

- Additional readings in the form of academic articles, which will be downloadable from the Virtuale online platform.

- Slides prepared by the instructor, uploaded at the end of each week on the Virtuale online platform.

IMPORTANT: To be considered an attending student, it is necessary to have a minimum of 70% attendance rate and to participate in the class activities and the group assignments.

Teaching methods

The approach used in this course is active experiential learning (i.e., learning by doing). The instructor will use a combination of presentations, videos, case studies, articles, and papers to stimulate students during and beyond class hours. Class participation in a relaxed atmosphere will be used to facilitate interaction and free thinking. Part of class time will be devoted to analysis and discussion of cases related to new venture creation in the digital domain. Students will work in teams with the goal to produce a New Venture Plan (NVP) based on the ideas selected during session 2. The NVP will be presented by the teams at the end of the course.

Assessment methods

Attending students

Individual (30% of the final grade)

• Written test

Group (70% of the final grade)

• NVP written document and oral presentation

Non-attending students

• Written test (100% of the final grade)

The final grading (grading scale 0-30) will follow the criteria indicated below:

• <18 insufficient
• 18-23 sufficient
• 24-27 good
• 28-30 very good
• 30 e lode excellent

Please refer to the extended Syllabus of the course for additional information. Students with specific learning disorders (SLD) or temporary/permanent disabilities should contact the appropriate University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) immediately and agree with the teacher the most effective strategies for attending the lectures and preparing for the exam.

Teaching tools

Teaching material prepared by the Professors (lecture slides, readings, case studies) and uploaded on Virtuale, guest talks.

Office hours

See the website of Leonardo Corbo

See the website of Claudio Giachetti