In the E&I Venture Building course, students support the development and growth of startups and corporations seeking to build new ventures or explore new markets. This course combines elements of entrepreneurship, business development, and consulting, offering a practical, hands-on experience. Students work directly with real founders to help them overcome challenges and accelerate their growth. 

Throughout the course, students will engage in understanding the current situation, defining and analyzing problems, setting objectives, and structuring projects. Examples of activities include conducting customer and market analyses, testing hypotheses, and developing strategic growth plans, all while providing specific and actionable recommendations based on thorough data collection and analysis.

A key focus of the course is providing guidance and valuable insights to assist in venture building. Students help identify and bridge gaps in the startups' or corporations' strategies, facilitating their growth and development by conducting well-founded analyses, including primary data collection through surveys, interviews, or prototype testing, and secondary data analysis from sources such as market reports. They use these insights to create innovative concepts that address identified problems. This comprehensive approach ensures effective and practical solutions for their project partners.

Click here to watch the E&I Venture Building Course Intro!

The aim of the course is to understand the component of new venture creation based on theoretical input and practical application. This is one of the most important pillars in entrepreneurship training. To achieve the learning outcome, students will closely work together with real entrepreneurs and start-ups and provide advice based on thorough analysis. Through the interaction with lecturers, external coaches, and project partners, students get insights into the field of entrepreneurship and innovation.

After successfully completing the project course "Venture Building", students will have learned and/or applied the following competences and skills:

• Conceptualize innovative business ideas
• Analyze and assess market potential
• Develop viable business models
• Craft comprehensive project and financial plans
• Independently manage complex innovation projects collaboratively
• Enhance proficiency in professional written and oral communication, using advanced tools for research and data acquisition

In addition, participants expand their soft skills (communication, presentation, project and time management) by working with team members, coaches and external partners.

As the interaction with other students as well as external stakeholders is an integral part of this course, active participation in-person is important.

Students must attend at least 80% of all classes and events to successfully complete the course. However, due to their importance in reaching the course goals, 100% attendance is required for the kick-off, mid-term and final presentations as well as the E&I Touchdown event. For the kickoff, absences (up to maximum of 1,5h) due to a scheduled written exam at WU can be excused if the course instructors are notified with a proof of examination before the kickoff.

During the E&I Innolab course, each team will have four coaching sessions (approx. 1 hour each) to be scheduled in advance with the lecturer. Additionally, each team must arrange individual time slots with the lecturer and the project partner for both the mid-term and final presentations (1 hour each).

In general, all absences in the course must be notified to the course instructors via email (if possible in advance) and confirmation (for example a medical certificate, or in case of an exam a note confirming the date of the written examination) must be submitted as soon as possible. Absences can result in additional compensation work to ensure the course's learning outcomes.

Except for the kick-off, all other dates shown are subject to change! More detailed information can be found at the introductory event and at the kick-off. Most dates are either arranged individually with course instructors and project partners or take place externally. This is not unusual for innovation projects. Exact dates for the presentations, workshops and coachings will follow at the Kick-off.

• Real-world projects completed with mentoring from course instructor and external coache
• Teamwork during the semester
• Collaboration and Milestone meetings with the project partner
• Skills workshops and practical input from externals
• Presentation and discussion of results
• A written report and a final presentation

Performance is assessed based on individual as well as group work throughout the semester.

Grading system:

• 60% Group-based performance
  • 10% Midterm presentation
  • 10% Midterm report
  • 15% Final presentation
  • 20% Final report
  • 5% Touchdown (adherance to deadlines, implementation of feedback and quality of pitch)
• 40% Individual performance
  • 10% Kickoff Comprehension Test
  • 25% ongoing participation and project management (presenting and participation during Q&A; contributions in kickoff, coaching and workshops)
  • 5% Reflection task

Additionally, there will be mid-term and end of term peer ratings of the team members which may result in individual up- or downgradings.

Attendance: In order to successfully pass this course, your absence is limited to 20% of our appointments. Please note that the attendance of the kick-off, the presentations with our project partners and the E&I Touchdown is obligatory! Therefore, make sure being available at the course dates!

Note on the use of generative AI-tools: AI-applications, specifically GPTs, can be used to enhance creativity and overall research and project outcomes. During the course, you are free to use such tools. However, you will be required to make the use of such tools transparent for your project partners, peers, and the course instructors. For instance, when using ChatGPT to generate ideas, cite the prompts you used accordingly to ensure transparency. 

Students enrolled in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Specialization Program.

Please note that course registration is binding. The moment your registration is received, it is regarded as a clear commitment on your part. Students cannot transfer to another course (once the add/drop period is over) with no exceptions, as it would be unfair to other students (who might not have gotten into the course of their choice because of the spot you registered for). The number of students accepted to the course will only be expanded if there is no space in any other course 4/5.

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Office hours via mail to: diana.lauer@wu.ac.at