Venture Accelerator

by Dr. S. Michael Camp and Kevin Gadd

The Venture Accelerator curriculum is based on the concepts in “The Lean Startup”, “Business Model Canvas” and “The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Customer Development”.  The curriculum combines solid, easy to understand content, technology tools (such as the online Business Model Canvas), and relevant resources from around the Internet.  Educators start with the basic course curriculum, then customize it to meet specific needs of your classroom and university.  Students and educators access all material from any Internet connected device.

Module 1: Entrepreneurship

This module focuses on: the how & why to create new ventures; the relationship between personal motivations and new venture formation; and business model creation best practices.

Module 2: Project Management

This module focuses on the various tools and concepts that are important to the management of the complex project of creating a new business model.  The concept of the Learning Maps, and how to use them, is a central focus of this module.

Module 3: Innovative Business Models

This module focuses on the Business Model Canvas.  Each section of this powerful, visual tool is covered and students make an initial hypothesis for each section.

Module 4: Lean Startup Approach

This module covers various concepts and terminology from the popular book “The Lean Startup”.

Module 5: Customer Discovery

This module covers customer discovery practices and theories.

Module 6: Market Research

This module focuses on defining the target market for the new venture.

Module 7: Business Development

This module focuses on marketing and selling the new products or services.

Module 8: Financial Modeling

This module focuses on understanding and creating financial projections for a new venture. Topics covered will include: review and discussion of the various financial projection parts, review of real world financial projections from a venture.

Module 9: The Art of the Pitch

This module focuses on various topics and skills required for pitching the completed business model to investors, or other stakeholders.