lean start-up" methodology; an approach that favors experimentation, customer feedback, and iterative design with concepts such as "minimum viable product" and "pivoting," rather than traditional elaborate planning, intuition, and design perfected before implementation.

The course is designed to accomplish three basic objectives:

Entrepreneurs must let go of their precious “ideas.” Ideas don’t make money, business models with customers make money, and teams that execute make money.
The answers are outside the building. Entrepreneurs must go get primary data directly from potential customers and partners in order to truly get insights into the idea, the model, and the viability of the business.
Business acumen matters. Startups must have a basic understanding of business models, pricing, costing, margins, market capacity, and product/service capacity in order to make good business decisions.

Course Structure

Class 1 : Business Model Canvas
Class 2 : Product Positioning & Value Proposition
Class 3 : Customer Interviews
Class 4 : Customer Interviews, Relationships & Minimum Viable Product
Class 5 : Market Research & TAM SAM SOM
Class 6 : Finance
Class 7 : Funnels, Channels & Metrics
Class 8 : Pitching & Mission & Vision
Class 9 : Demo Day, Class Presentations and Insights

Pre-Readings (to be completed before the first session)

Download pre-readings, required to take the course.

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Please contact sbdc@sandiego.edu for more information.