Course Syllabus

Background: 

Israel is often referred to as the "start-up" nation.  This is due to the fact that a country of just 7.1 million people has produced more start-up companies than Japan, China, and England.  Despite the constant threat of war since the country was founded 60 years ago, Israel has attracted twice as much venture capital investments per person as the United States.

Tel Aviv is the 2^nd most populous city in Israel, but serves as the country's financial, cultural, and industrial capital.  As the country's economic hub, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, corporate offices, and research and development centers are all located in Tel Aviv. 

Tel Aviv University is the largest and premier university in Israel with over 20,000 students and 106 departments.  StarTAU, Tel Aviv University's Center of Entrepreneurship, is a fertile ground for promoting new ideas and is focusing on a greenhouse for talented young entrepreneurs that come from fields such as computer science, engineering, psychology, medicine, law, business, etc.   In addition, new collaborations with the business market are formed each day via StarTAU. 

Elite Entrepreneurship Course:   

This course is given within the StarTAU training program.  It was founded in order to provide those students that are interested in creating a business or social venture with the right tools to do so.  The students, mentored by the best lecturers and professors in higher education establishments, are given a place where they can create, nurture, fulfill, and implement the knowledge they have gained from their academic classes.  The class gives practical knowledge to aspiring entrepreneurs.  Tel Aviv University alumni are currently leading the Israeli economy and industry.  The purpose of this course is to assist students and alumni to promote their ideas and to lead to future growth in their respective industry.   For an aspiring entrepreneur, there is no better place than the leading country (Israel), financial hub (Tel Aviv), and premier university (Tel Aviv University) to learn what it takes to turn an idea into a successful company. 

Target Audience:  The course is catered to students and alumni who are interested in entrepreneurship. 

Goal:  The mission of the class is for participants to get to know and learn about the entrepreneurship field, to develop skills, to network, and to develop a product/idea. 

Format: The class will meet for 10 courses. Each meeting will last for 3 hours where students will hear from expert lecturers in their respective industries. 

Syllabus:

Meeting #1:  Practical POV- What is Entrepreneurship? 

●      What is the profile of an ideal entrepreneur? 

●      Assessing the risks vs. opportunities. 

●      The entrepreneur and choosing the right business idea for you. 

●      Test yourself - Are you ready for an adventure? 

●      Entrepreneurship - advantages and disadvantages. 

●      Practice your sales pitch for investors and analyze it for improvement.   

Meeting #2: Creative/Inventive Thinking and Due Diligence.

●      Developing creative thinking to encourage new ideas. 

●      Due diligence - Analyzing the idea's potential. 

●      See examples of successful entrepreneurs.  What do they have in common? 

●      Case Study: overcoming your start-up roadblocks.

Meeting #3:  Business Plan/Marketing

●      Business plan - Who is the business plan meant for? 

●      Business plan - What does it consist of?  Executive summary, Technological, Marketing, Financial, and Legal aspects. 

●      Buying a business vs. forming a new business vs. franchise.  

●      Marketing foundations and online marketing.

●      Perfecting your Power Point Presentation.

Meeting #4:  Sources of Financing Your Venture

●      The entrepreneurs' options to self-finance the venture, a loan, an investment, governmental financing.

●      Matters involving the financing process: percentages of ownership, time needed for financing.

●      Testing the business potential in your field - financing vs. strategic partner.

●      Negotiating with investors.

●      Perfecting your elevator pitch.

Meeting #5: Investment Agreement/ Financial Aspects When Starting a Venture.  

●      Investment Options

●      Term sheet vs. definitive agreement.

●      Investing options (investing capital, owner's loan, and convertible loans).

●      Company value before/after investment.

●      Preferred/ordinary shares.

●      Liquidation preference.

●      Voting rights, anti-dilution, preemptive rights, right of first refusal, tag along/bring along, lock up, ESOP, No Shop.

●      Due diligence.

●      Understanding financial reports (profit and loss statements, balance sheet, cash flow)

●      Working with banks and suppliers. 

●      Managing cash flow.

●      Implementing a business plan within the budget limits.