Course Overview

Having a solid business plan can make a world of difference when it comes to securing funding, hiring key employees, assembling the management team or attracting experienced directors to the board of a startup enterprise. For an existing company, it will guide the employees and managers as the company grows, bring focus to its operation. The chances of success increase with the quality of your business plan.

This two-day course is designed for engineers, scientists and technical professionals who have limited business training and experience but are assuming management roles within a start-up or existing company.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to develop solid business plans. They will receive an overview of relevant business concepts and be guided step-by-step through the process of creating their own winning business plans:

• evaluating the business opportunity,
  
  
• researching the relevant information,
  
  
• creating plans and strategies,
  
  
• developing the financial projections, and
  
  
• documenting the plan.
  
  

We address the major pitfalls and the critical success factors in creating a winning business plan.

Besides lecture, the course includes many exercises that enable the participants to flesh-out their business plans, peer review and critique from the instructor will assist participants to pergect their winning business plans. The course manual also include various evaluation forms, a sample business plan outline, checklists for each section of the business plan and sample Microsoft Excel spreadsheets creating financial projections. Participants will enjoy the opportunity to interact and network with other entrepreneurs and exchange experiences through class discussions and a case study.

By taking this course, participants will learn the best practices of developing the business plan. This course is unique in that it addresses the specific needs of high-tech ventures and technology professionals.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course you will be able to develop a winning business for a new or an existing venture. Specifically you will learn about:

• Unique challenges facing early stage high-tech companies
  
  
• Why and how early stage high-tech companies and products fail
  
  
• The business planning process and the key steps in creating a business plan
  
  
• The basic concepts of high-tech marketing
  
  
• The basic concepts of the technology adoption life cycle
  
  
• How to assess the business opportunity, your skills and abilities as an entrepreneur and a manager
  
  
• What and how to research the content of your business plan
  
  
• How to create a strategic vision for your business
  
  
• How to create effective high-tech product strategies and market strategies
  
  
• How to create and maintain your competitive advantage
  
  
• How to create effective operational and implementations plans
  
  
• How to structure an effective management team including senior management and the board of directors
  
  
• What financial information will be required for your business plan what is most effective way to develop your financial projections, such as sales forecasts and forecast for your expenses
  
  
• How to document your plan and what information and how to present to investors
  
  
• What investors are looking for in your business plan and what the key criteria are for venture capital and angel investments
  
  
• Do-s and don'ts of business planning