Tech Venture Programme - Module Descriptors
Module1. Introduction to Technology Research
Lecturer: Frank Munnelly
Outline:
Overview of the programme and its aims
Understanding Entrepreneurship
Elements of Technology Entrepreneurship
Understanding Innovation
Entrepreneurial Leadership
High Performance Teams
The consequences of the Innovation Process
Team
Organisation
Sources of innovation and difference
Disruptive technologies and examples
Technology Standards
Module 2. “Tell Your Story”
Lecturer: Andrew Keogh
Outline:
Telling your story to win sales and investment
Pitching Training
The Elevator Pitch
Module 3. Market Feasibility & Exploratory Research
Lecturer: Cathy Winston
Outline:
I am working on a technology and have no idea about the potential market for it. What do I
do?
What is market research?
What is feasibility study?
How do you know a business is feasible?
Doing market research & gathering key indicators on:
The Market
The Competition
The Customer
The Business
Types of primary research
Types of Secondary research
Sources of secondary research
Planning & executing a market feasibility study
Include a Feasibility Study template
Module 4. Technology Assessment & Commercialisation Opportunity
Lecturer: Brian O’Kane
Outline:
Technology Recognition
Market Relevance
Cost to commercialise
What does commercialisation involve?
Unique selling proposition
Evaluation of technology readiness level
Technology Entrepreneurship
Competitive Differentiation
Value Proposition
Module 5. New Product Development & Innovation
Lecturer: Frank Munnelly
Outline:
Technology Productisation process
New Product Development Process
Multi-Attribute Evaluative Factors
Proof of Concept
Alpha-Beta Development Phases
Unit Build and Test
System Build and Test
Module 6. Managing Legal Aspects of Start Ups
Lecturer: Peppe Santoro
Outline:
Key issues of Business Law: applicable to new venture creation
Legal structures
Liability Negligence, Duty of Care
Statutory Regulation, Product Liability, Occupiers Liability
Legal advice for tech start-ups
Module 7. Intellectual Property, Trade Marks & Copyright
Lecturer: Cathal Lane
Outline:
What is Intellectual Property?
Is it Patentable?
The Patent Process
IP Registrations
Module 8. Developing a Marketing Plan
Lecturer: Geraldine Lavin
Outline:
What is marketing?
The marketing mix – The 7 P’s
Product: What is your product? Elevator pitch
Price: Choosing a pricing strategy
Place: Channels of distribution, traditional & non
Promotion: Planning a marketing campaign & plan
People: Putting the people resources in place
Processes: What is your product/service process?
Presence: What is your business presence, both online & offline
Technology products – Particular marketing challenges
Module 9. Sustainable Competitive Advantage & Positioning
Lecturer: Brian O’Kane
Outline:
Competition & competitive strategy
Industry structure & profitability
Image
Differentiation
SWOT Analysis
How to sustain a technology business
Module 10. Technology Sales
Lecturer: John Collins
Outline:
What is selling?
I don’t have a product to sell yet?
Selling Technology Products
Managing your Sales Pipeline
Elevator Pitch
Module 11. Finance and Cash Flow
Lecturer: John Crawley
Outline:
Finance issues particular to tech start-ups
Risk and Return
Debt Capital
Basics of Finance
Cashflow fundamentals
Profit & Loss Account
Balance Sheet
Ratio Analysis
Valuation
Module 12. Venture Capital & Funding Models
Lecturer: JohnEager
Outline:
What is Venture Capital?
What Venture Capital Companies Look For
Venture Capital Process
Valuation, Funding Rounds
Venture Capital in Ireland, Europe, US
Module 13. Bringing it all Together in the Business Plan
Lecturer: Geraldine Lavin
Outline:
Why do we write business plans?
Who are the different audiences for a business plan?
What do they want from your business plan?
Knowing your business
Knowing your customer
Knowing your market conditions
Knowing your competition
Knowing your financials
Business Planning Tools
Business Planning Software
Test and tips for writing a business plan
Module 14. Prepare & Practice Elevator Pitch – Pitching Event
Facilitator: Andrew Keogh
Outline:
Pitching Training
Template will be sent to each participant in advance
Timed 7 minute pitches on each technology area