Thiago Marques

On completing the module part Entrepreneurial Finance, the students will have achieved the following learning outcomes on the basis of scientific methods:

• Students have in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge of entrepreneurial finance particularly start-up financing. Students understand the entrepreneurial process and the sources of financing which are relevant in different development stages of emerging ventures.
• Students know conventional and innovative financing instruments and can assess their advantages and disadvantages for new ventures and start-ups. They are familiar with start-up financing through support programs, networks, business angels, various forms of venture capital and crowdfunding, as well as loans and can classify and practically apply them. Students have a comprehensive understanding of the chances and risks resulting from different means of capital and fund raising.
• In addition, students are able to understand the business model of private equity and venture capital firms including their special refinancing and investment process. Finally, students have the skill to apply and analyze valuation methods which are suitable for entrepreneurial companies.
• Students can apply different entrepreneurial financing instruments. They can prepare, resolve, and critically appraise alternatives for decisions regarding the sources and use of financing instruments considering risk and return aspects for new ventures. They are able to evaluate their impact and can translate their proposed solutions into business practice.
• Students develop, analyze and critically appraise alternative courses of action through group work, case studies and discussion sessions. They benefit from debating and reasoning skills, are able to work in a team and can present and defend results in front of an audience.
• Students are able to contribute theoretically sound and practicable ideas for entrepreneurial financing problems and decision-making process, and to critically discuss them. They are aware of the financial and capital consequences of their decisions and are able to incorporate them into their own value system.

On completing the module part Growths Management, the students will have achieved the following learning outcomes on the basis of scientific methods:

• Students have a strong methodological and theoretical knowledge regarding the process of scaling exponentially the growth of a startup business, understanding the different applications regarding early stage, traction or mass market moment for new ventures.
• Students apply the Objective and Key Results methodology under a Business Plan or Strategic Planning context, using the method to understand the venture stage and to project the growth through a structured and pragmatic approach. In addition, the students use the overall business perspective to adapt the strategy to a tactical point of view, deriving KPIs for teams and squads, aiming for a result-based management system.
• Students apply modern marketing and sales techniques to support the growth of the business, integrating the strategic perspective with a client base scale process. Outbound and Inbound strategies can be applied, using the main acquisition channels for B2C and B2B markets. Digital x Traditional marketing and sales perspective can be used, creating an omnichannel approach for business growth.
• Finally, students understand different approaches for different market scenarios, using budgeting for capex and opex and measuring financial results for pivoting to new strategies.

All objectives will be fulfilled through a project-based lecture, using group work, case studies and field practice to create a solid understanding of the growth management of an innovative and/ or emerging venture. All the theory and tools presented will be applied in real cases, reinforcing the constructed knowledge during the classes.