I Heart Startups: An Entrepreneurship Incubator

Course Description

This course is designed specifically for English Language Learners interested in further developing their English skills in a challenging college-level academic setting.

This course is focused on giving students a an introduction to the startup environment. We will look at the entrepreneurial process while continually developing the skills needed to succeed as a "thought leader" in a constantly evolving atmosphere. This class requires a large amount self-direction and hands-on participation. We will explore different aspects of innovation, asking questions like, what makes good innovation? How do I turn an idea or innovation into a viable business or product? How can this be done in the leanest, most efficient way? Over the course students will work individually on developing their own startup while simultaneously working together as a class to develop and launch a venture by the end of the session.

In this class you'll learn how the entrepreneurial process can work, we will look at and put into practice lean principles, while learning about different tools and methods for staying organized, prioritizing, and side-stepping procrastination. We will map out the process of innovation within companies like Amazon, Snapchat, Twitter. Students will practicing problem solving and agile decision making and hone the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing environment. Students will have two major projects: (1) working together as a class to develop and launch a venture of their choosing and (2) developing an original idea individually and pitching it in class on "Demo Day". As well, students will be expected to complete daily reading assignments, participate in morning group discussion, multi-media sessions, co-working, lab projects, local excursions, individual presentations, research, group feedback, and mentor hours. This is immersive "workshop" style class, students are expected to come ready to participate in a fun, highly rigorous, hands-on environment.

By the end of the course, student will be knowledgeable with core methodologies used in entrepreneurship and the lean startup, such as creating MVP's, Value Propositions, and understanding Channels. Participants will have the tools to incubate, develop, and launch their own ventures, and will be prepared to identify opportunities for innovation and growth in both new and old markets.

Prerequisites: Students will need to be able to work independently and willing to collaborate within a team for group projects. Students are asked to come with a few ideas for businesses they would like the explore.