Entrepreneurship Outside the Valley

Course Number 1631

Professor Paul Gompers

Spring; Q3Q4; 3.0 credits
Qualifies for Management Science Track Credit

Course Objectives

Entrepreneurial activity has been a potent source of innovation and job generation in the global economy. In developed economies, the majority of new jobs are generated by new entrepreneurial firms. The ability of high potential startups to raise economic well-being globally has become a dominant trend in many countries. Over the last decade, new entrepreneurial ecosystems have emerged in places where it had not existed. These new entrepreneurial ecosystems, whether in emerging markets or in new geographies in developed markets, need to overcome historical impediments to high potential entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Outside the Valley will examine these impediments from the perspective of entrepreneurs, investors, and policy makers. These barriers include depth of the talent pool, access to financing, access to markets, infrastructure, legal and regulatory environment, culture, and exits. The course will explore the different strategies around addressing these barriers and how they affect the firms that operate in those markets.

Audience

This course develops financial and managerial skills that are important for students who are interested in pursuing careers in an entrepreneurial setting, particularly students interested in these new entrepreneurial ecosystems. This group includes individuals who might be interested in starting a company, purchasing a business, financing startups in a venture capital setting, or anyone interested in providing support for such firms.

Course Content and Organization

The course will be organized around the barriers to high potential entrepreneurship, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the issues confronting entrepreneurs, investors, and policy makers. The course will highlight firms from the start-up phase through exploitation of growth opportunities to exiting, restructuring, and renewal of the firm.

The predominant pedagogical approach will be case discussion. Cases will be set in many different countries globally and cover geographies from many different markets. Cases will be supplemented with technical notes, outside readings, and guest speakers. The content of this course will differ from Entrepreneurial Finance in its focus on emerging markets and new entrepreneurial ecosystems.