MBA with Concentration in Entrepreneurship

Covers the process of gathering ideas, recognizing opportunities, and shaping them into venture plans. Teams of approximately three students generate venture ideas, evaluate the feasibility, pitch the merits, and create a business plan that they defend in a contest. Aimed at students who aspire to launch their own start-up, those who would like to investigate start-up as a career option, or those who wish to familiarize themselves with the concepts, issues, and techniques of new venture creation and entrepreneurship. Prerequisite: All required first year courses must be completed or taken concurrently.

Entails the development and implementation of a market opportunity analysis for an entrepreneurial venture. Normally performed by a small team in consultation with the instructor, identified experts, and other participants. Deliverables include a research proposal and the completed research report that must be philosophically sound and practically oriented. Prerequisite: MBA 6303 or equivalent and permission from the instructor. MBA 6313 preferred but not required.

Examine issues pertaining to the theory and practice of financing of entrepreneurial firms. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following areas organizing and financing of new ventures; financial planning; firm valuation at different stages of the development such as seed, start up, expansion, buyout or turnaround; characteristics of entrepreneurial ventures, including associated agency problems, at different stages of development; financial contracting with asymmetric information; fundraising from venture capital organizations such as labour-sponsored corporations; limited partnerships and corporate venture capital entities; other financing alternatives such as angel investing and government financing programs; planning exists through public offerings, divestitures, buy backs, or write-offs. Prerequisite: MBA 6403.

Covers recognition of opportunities, resource requirements, and venture financing. Provides an introduction to mature and emerging technologies and the entrepreneurial opportunities arising from those technologies. Examines evolution of technology-intensive industry sectors, assessment of technological risk from an entrepreneurial perspective and the economic and social impacts of technology on society. Prerequisites: All first year required courses.