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Technology
Business
Entrepreneurial Strategy
8 hours to complete
Last updated 09/2024
About this course
Entrepreneurship is a beautiful game. In this course we offer a model for playing the game sustainably. This is a course for business leaders looking for new and bigger opportunities in a changing world.
This course is a series of conversations between Brian Hayden, co-founder of HeatSpring, and Bob Caspe, his mentor. Each lesson contains an actionable truth and is paired with a corresponding story. The true value of the course lies in the interaction we can all have with each other; Bob & Brian will participate on the course discussion board, and in monthly live Q&A sessions.
Bob has an amazing ability to get people 'unstuck' and anybody in the course that wants to have that experience will get it. Bob's model for entrepreneurship optimizes for two things:
This course is a series of conversations between Brian Hayden, co-founder of HeatSpring, and Bob Caspe, his mentor. Each lesson contains an actionable truth and is paired with a corresponding story. The true value of the course lies in the interaction we can all have with each other; Bob & Brian will participate on the course discussion board, and in monthly live Q&A sessions.
Bob has an amazing ability to get people 'unstuck' and anybody in the course that wants to have that experience will get it. Bob's model for entrepreneurship optimizes for two things:
- Have the most fun and learn and grow
- Invest in relationships with people who you like working with
This course was built to help clean energy companies innovate more quickly. To help more companies grow sustainably by adapting to changes in the market with entrepreneurial solutions.
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Learning Objectives
- See the world as a place full of opportunity to create and grow a business
- Understand how to separate activities that are important in the short term, from activities that are not important
- Maintain a focus on learning from customers and using their feedback to set priorities, and ignoring the well-meaning noise from others
- Develop an approach to business where you stay alive long enough to get lucky
Course outline
5 modules • 34 assignments • 8 hours to complete • 2:00 hours of video lectures
Module 1 • 5 assignments
Introduction & Orientation
Module 1 • 5 assignments
Introduction & Orientation
This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.
- Set up email notifications and your student profile
- Introduce yourself and help us learn about you and your business
- Meet Brian Hayden, co-instructor for the course (02:17 minutes) Preview
- Meet Bob Caspe, co-instructor for the course (07:12 minutes)
- Optional Download: Bob's book - "Entrepreneurial Action" (PDF) (.pdf)
Module 2 • 7 assignments
Entrepreneurial Philosophy - What are we trying to do and what are the metrics for success?
Module 2 • 7 assignments
Entrepreneurial Philosophy - What are we trying to do and what are the metrics for success?
We love entrepreneurship. It's a team sport where you get to earn a living and make cool stuff happen. In this module we talk about how to think about the work running a business, and how that impacts the tactics you use to win.
Entrepreneurial strategies are available to any company at any stage. It's not just a startup thing. Whether you work at a big company, a small company, or just have an idea, this course is full of practical strategies you can start using right away.
Entrepreneurial strategies are available to any company at any stage. It's not just a startup thing. Whether you work at a big company, a small company, or just have an idea, this course is full of practical strategies you can start using right away.
- Brian intro
- Journey > Destination (06:08 minutes)
- What matters is how you treat people (34 seconds)
- Winners are determined through evolution & randomness - so what does that mean for you? (07:41 minutes)
- Focus on the business model (not the product) (09:01 minutes)
- Customers only care about two things: Value & Risk (05:52 minutes)
- OPTIONAL: Schedule a time to meet with Bob & Brian
Module 3 • 13 assignments
How to Play
Module 3 • 13 assignments
How to Play
Bob & Brian are here to share their approach to entrepreneurship. We have a perspective. We like lifestyle businesses, we value relationships, we think business is a game that should be fun. The strategies in this module adhere to that general philosophy.
Our way isn't the only way! You could totally ignore all of these strategies - even do the exact opposite - and find success in business. We know that. So take these lessons as a launching point for discussion and apply the ones that make sense for you on your journey.
Our way isn't the only way! You could totally ignore all of these strategies - even do the exact opposite - and find success in business. We know that. So take these lessons as a launching point for discussion and apply the ones that make sense for you on your journey.
- Don't raise money from investors
- Get customers to fund you
- Get into the room
- Find a good customer & look for the best opportunities
- Stay flexible / Transact / Listen...Repeat
- Survive long enough to get lucky
- Intro to Search Selling & the value of your network : The importance of "getting into the room" with a good customer (19:06 minutes)
- Why 'passion' for an industry isn't the best way to find a good opportunity (07:07 minutes)
- Pick one (single) problem to solve for your customer (10:16 minutes)
- Survive long enough to get lucky (not a typical VC strategy) (14:33 minutes)
- Pricing the first transaction (How did you come up with $50k?) (04:23 minutes)
- Competition isn't bad - it validates the need for your product (04:55 minutes)
- Listen to the customer and be flexible about your business model (Story about cell tower A/C units) (10:22 minutes)
Module 4 • 5 assignments
Strategies for Staying in the Game
Module 4 • 5 assignments
Strategies for Staying in the Game
You don't need to go to business school to be good at this stuff. But it helps to keep your eyes on the most important metrics. In this module we'll share a collection of ideas that will help your business survive...hopefully long enough to get lucky and grow.
- Be the band leader
- Cost of customer acquisition
- Media ratio
- Cost of Customer Acquisition (B-to-B vs. B-to-C) - Story about bus schedule service in Brazil (05:33 minutes)
- Use science to pick a business model that will work (a story for inventors) (05:44 minutes)
Conclusion • 4 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
Conclusion • 4 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!
- 1 Year of Access to Course Materials
- Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
- Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
- Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate
Instructors
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Co-founder and Partner at HeatSpring. Brian also teaches "Finding Your Venture" at the the University of Michigan's Center for Entrepreneurship. Brian has business degrees from the University of Michigan (BBA) and Babson College (MBA). He loves renewable energy, entrepreneurship, and hearing and telling great stories. Learn more
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Currently, I offer consulting and educational services in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship. Formerly, I founded and served as the CEO of the IEC where we focused on entrepreneurship education and on bringing non-US technology companies into the US market. Before that, I was teaching "Marketing for Entrepreneurs" at Babson's MBA Graduate Entrepreneurship... Learn more
Frequently asked questions
How does this course work?
This 3 module course is delivered entirely online. This course is self-paced and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. During your year of access the instructor will be in the course answering questions on the discussion board. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to generate a certificate of completion.
How long do I have access to the materials?
Students can pre-order but will not be able to access the full course materials or earn a certificate of completion until the course is fully published. Once the course is published any students who have pre-ordered will then have access to the course materials for one year (365 days). After the one year of access expires, access can be extended by joining as a HeatSpring member. A single membership extends access to course materials for all past enrollments.
Is there a certificate of completion?
Yes, when you complete this course you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.
Can I register multiple people?
Yes please visit our [HeatSpring for Teams](/for_teams) page to get a group discount.
