94658 Evaluating Portfolios of Innovative Opportunities

Notes

This subject was previously called Innovation and Entrepreneurship Studio C.

Description

This subject explores the funding ecosystem and processes by which portfolios of opportunities within the funding ecosystem are sourced and evaluated. People in such roles include, but are not exclusive to, venture capitalists, R&D managers, impact investors, and serial entrepreneurs, who need to weigh out each option in the context of the set of available opportunities.

While these resource providers are usually the most significant stakeholders, an early stage entrepreneur can have understanding; through role playing and gaining deep domain knowledge, the funding ecosystem is clarified. Entrepreneurs often misunderstand their perspective leading to a less optimal outcome for innovation overall. To understand the process of portfolio-level decision making, this subject turns the tables, and puts students in the shoes of all the roles involved in the funding process, to provide valuable insights into areas critical for successful and sustained innovative initiatives, such as due diligence, capitalisation tables, term sheets, and exits.