Entrepreneurship in the Information Industry

SI 663

Fall 2008

Office Hours, etc

Course Objective

The course helps to prepare students to start businesses in the information industry or to work effectively in new start-up businesses. It discusses all the aspects of creating a business and expects students to develop an idea into a business plan that could be used to either guide the creation of the business or secure funding for a new business. Non-profit organizations often require the same entrepreneurial skills as start-up businesses.

Business Plans that are submitted will be carefully checked for plagiarism. Any violations of the Rackham rules will be dealt with severely. Neatness counts in all submitted work, just as it would in the business world. Class attendance will be taken. Grades will be affected by attendance and lateness. Participation in class discussions will be appropriately rewarded.

Fall 2008 Class Schedule

The class sessions are arranged to roughly parallel the sections of a business plan, covering the topics that must be considered in starting a business. Guest lecturers will be invited as appropriate.

• (Sept. 8) Introduction and discussion of the characteristics of an entrepreneur.
  

  Background Viewing: Film: "Startup.com" available at Film and Video Library

• (Sept. 15) The Idea for an entrepreneurial venture



• (Sept. 22) Additional background and discussion on the topic of entrepreneurship.
(Business Plan proposals due)


• (Sept. 29) The business plan
Business Plan - Road Map to Success, Small Business Administration
MiniPlan Tool, WSJ.com StartUp Journal
Money at Work: Millions are about more than numbers, Clare Gascoigne
Growthink Venture Capital Survey Identifies Why Business Plans Fail, Growthink


• (Oct. 6) Accounting for business plans: projecting revenues, expenses, and cash flows.
  
  Making It All Add Up: The Financial Section of a Business Plan, INC.com
  Avoid These Common Startup Finance Hazards, WSJ.com StartUp Journal
  
  
• (Oct. 13) Financing the business 1: Investment financing

Financing Basics: Debt vs. Equity, CCH Business Owner's ToolKit
Debt Financing, CCH Business Owner's ToolKit
Deals & Deal Makers: Entrepreneurs Find Investors Are Venturing Less Capital, Lisa Bransten
Raising Money: Trying to find cash for a new venture is a full-time job, Kara Scannell
The VC Game: Charles River Ventures gets over 1,000 requests a year, looking for money; How does it choose? David Armstrong
Finance and Economics: Under water, Economist
VC lacking? Get touched by an angel; Where venture capital falls, some see angels, Eric Convey

(Oct. 20) Fall Study Break


• (Oct. 27) Financing the business 2: Grant financing (SBIR)
Small Business Investment Corps, CCH Business Owner's ToolKit
Equity Financing, CCH Business Owner's ToolKit


• (Nov. 3) Starting a Web/software business
  E-Business -- Boom Town: Tech's Lessons in Coping, Kara Swisher
  
  
• (Nov. 10) Legal aspects of starting a business
What legal aspects do I need to consider? Small Business Administration


• (Nov. 17) Competitive analysis
The New Competitor Intelligence: CI Strategies; Understanding Intelligence, Fuld & Co.
Internet Information Does Not Equal Competitive Intelligence, Information Advisor
Divide and conquer: Patent research, Peter Vanderheyden


• (Nov. 24) Marketing and product development Developing a marketing plan.
The Marketing Your Business For Success Workbook, Small Business Administration
Marketing Your Product, CCH


• (Dec. 1) The unique problems of marketing in a small business.


• (Dec. 8) "Buying the Porsche" (cashing out)
  Getting Out of Your Business, CCH