Value Proposition Design & Market Judgment

Catalog description

Launching a startup is daunting. Creating a new business within an existing company can be just as difficult. In either case, succeeding takes vision, grit, and luck. However, innovators who can clearly describe how their business model is meant to create value, and test their assumptions, can significantly improve their chances of success. Value Proposition Design & Market Judgment is a hands-on course that teaches students how to build viable, durable early-stage ventures. Through experiential learning, students will break down the elements of value creation, identify and test the assumptions that distinguish success from failure, and apply market judgement to evaluate and accelerate promising innovations. Students will engage directly with innovators, entrepreneurs, and domain experts who will help bring key concepts to life. As the centerpiece of the course, students will advise and support entrepreneurs participating in an accelerator program - a partnership among Creative Destruction Labs, CWRU, and University Hospitals. Whether students aim to launch a startup or innovate within an existing organization, this course provinces a practical foundation for designing impactful, sustainable businesses.