Career Focus

Global Entrepreneurship (GE) is designed for many types of students:

1. Those who will start companies outside the US – mostly in emerging markets.
2. Those who will start companies in the US and have the vision to expand globally.
3. Those who will join early-stage startups based outside the US.
4. Those who will invest in startups outside of the US.
5. Those who will launch venture capital funds outside the US.
6. Those who will work in venture capital outside the US.
7. Those interested in learning more about startup ecosystems outside the US, either as consultants, bankers or as competitors to startups.

The class will focus on bringing the lessons learned in The Entrepreneurial Manager (TEM) from RC in a global context.

Educational Objectives

The course takes TEM as a foundation and introduces the concepts and lessons of that course in a context outside the US. GE will cover the nuances and challenges that entrepreneurs and investors face when launching and investing in startups abroad, especially in developing and emerging economies.

The uncertainties faced by global startups and investors are different from the ones faced in the US. In addition, the opportunities abroad are contrasting because the pain points and the needs are quite divergent from the US. The course will look to generate a better understanding of different contexts, such as macro trends and access to talent, for entrepreneurs and venture capitalists when operating abroad.

The course will consider how the business model design, and especially the founders, team, investors and partners involved, need to be adjusted for developing and emerging markets. Entrepreneurs in these markets often need to build the missing infrastructure (for example, payments and logistics) needed for their ventures to thrive. The nature of competition and government interaction also differs dramatically. These challenges, which also include regulations and laws and culture drift, are often faced by US startups when they expand globally.

When operating outside the US, financial capital needs and strategies require to be adjusted for markets where venture capital and funding sources is less developed. This lack of funding in those markets present important choices. One of those choices is the path for exit.

GC helps students learn important lessons to be a successful entrepreneur and startup investor outside the US.

Grading

Grading is based on class participation (50%) and the final project (50%).