Entrepreneurship in action

Last time course is taught: Q1 AY 2024-2025
Last examination year: 2024-2025

In this last project course of the USE sequence “Technology Entrepreneurship” students apply the theoretical knowledge gained from the previous two USE courses. The ultimate goal of this project course is the development of a value proposition for a technological innovation. Each student team will come up with a unique solution and concept based on given technologies.

The development of a value proposition contains the examination of the technical feasibility, a thorough situation analysis, and the segmentation, targeting, and positioning of the product based on a solid business model. Hence, the final report consists of three parts that students will work on in parallel and in different roles within a multidisciplinary team. All teams will receive feedback on the progress of their projects every two weeks in personal feedback sessions with professional coaches. In the interim presentations, students present the progress of their project to a larger group of students and receive feedback from their peers and from the coaches. The feedback from the coaches must be used to further improve the project that will be presented in the final report. At the end of the course, students will make an informed decision about whether or not to continue with a product.

Due to this course’s multidisciplinary setup, all teams consist of usually five students from different departments. This course design ensures a variety of backgrounds and prior knowledge to optimally work on a value proposition. A peer review within the team minimizes the possibility of free riding.

The overall goal of this course is to (further) develop the entrepreneurial mindset of students. Students will improve their opportunity creation, evaluation, and exploitation skills. They receive feedback from the coaches and from each other.

The final report is evaluated on the thorough and comprehensive analysis during the process and at the end. Furthermore, it is essential that students can back up their decisions with reliable sources and show strong accountability for their decisions in the course. Students have to anticipate the consequences of their decisions and be able to provide convincing rationales for their choices and implications. The presentations will be evaluated by a committee of experts in terms of clarity, persuasion, and excitement.

To create knowledge and understanding of:

• The first stages of technology commercialization processes

To create skills to enable students to:

• Apply a set of creativity techniques to create a set of entrepreneurial opportunities based on a given theme;
• Make a selection and work out a value proposition based on the best opportunity for a given technology;
• Apply effectual and causal approaches where appropriate;
• Pitch the value proposition;
• Be able to practice iterative, anticipatory, and independent thinking and acting
• Develop skills in interdisciplinary cooperation, communication, and writing.
• Teach students to create and apply academic skills and to manage their group work and timing.

You must meet the following requirements

• Registered for a degree programme other than
• HBO-TOP Applied Physics
• Completed all course modules listed below
• Introduction to TE (1ZEUB0)
• Organizing entrepreneurship (1ZSUC0)

• All course materials from 1ZEUB0 and 1ZSCU0
• see study guide for details