Entrepreneurial Management and Finance

Catalog description

For graduate students and seniors only. Limited enrollment with priority for MS&E MS students during the first week of enrollment. Emphasis on managing high-growth, early-stage ventures, especially those with technology-intensive products and services. Students work in teams to develop skills and approaches necessary to become effective entrepreneurial leaders and managers. Key topics include understanding business models and unit economics, evaluating financing options and capitalization structures, negotiating fundraising term sheets and exit transactions, designing equity compensation and incentives, valuing private companies, managing board governance and leadership transitions, building and sustaining organizational culture, scaling in emerging markets, and navigating ethical decision-making in high-stakes entrepreneurial settings. The course features frequent in-class interactive exercises, including a board meeting simulation and a term sheet negotiation; real-time attendance is essential, as these exercises cannot be replicated outside of class. Pre-requisite or Co-requisite: a college-level financial accounting course (e.g., MS&E 240) or equivalent work experience and familiarity with spreadsheet applications (e.g., Excel, Sheets, etc.).