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This course is part of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation track.
Introduction to Launching Tech Ventures
 

Launching Tech Ventures

$1,750
Next 5-week session starts May 31st
Apply
Build a viable, valuable tech venture that can profitably scale.
5
weeks
6-7
hours per week
5
modules
Self-Paced
with regular deadlines

 This course earns you a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online. What you earn.

Overview
Syllabus
Enrollment
Stories
FAQs
Apply Now

Key Concepts

Master frameworks and tools to execute a high-quality, profitable business model
Discover how to conduct experiments to determine your venture’s value proposition, go-to-market strategy, and profit formula
Understand and learn how to navigate the startup ecosystem to improve your chances of raising capital
Get an insider view into the venture capital (VC) process
Develop an awareness of the systemic biases and ethical considerations in the startup ecosystem

Who Will Benefit

Develop proven frameworks and tools to execute a high-quality, profitable business model and prepare your startup for funding and scaling.
The academic rigor was thrilling. What made it extra special was the people I met through the experience. That community stays with me every day.
Carla Dirlikov Canales
Opera Singer
Equip yourself with the skills to join an early- or growth-stage startup in a product management, business development, sales, or marketing role.
"For me, that connection from textbook to reality made the courses memorable, enjoyable, and interesting. Case studies were absolutely my favorite part of the program."
Kyle Rosenmeyer
Boise State University Graduate, Engineer, and Photographer
Determine which startups to invest in by understanding the key metrics that dictate whether a venture has achieved product-market fit and is ready for scaling.
As always, the case studies are eye-opening. The content is superb, and the presentation of the case is superb as well.
Richard Pitts
VP and Senior Medical Director at St. Joseph Heritage Health

What You Earn

Certificate of Completion

Certificate of Completion

Boost your resume with a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online

Earn by: completing this course

Certificate of Specialization

Certificate of Specialization

Prove your mastery of entrepreneurship and innovation

Earn by: completing any three courses within this subject area to earn a Certificate of Specialization

Learn More about what you earn

Syllabus

5 Modules, 30-35 Hours
Download full syllabus
6-7
hrs
Module 1

Designing the Tech Startup Business Model

Evaluate the quality of startup business models and understand the importance of aligning models’ different components.

Highlights

Daniel Choi, Plastiq Co-Founder & Former Head of Product
Zach Sims, Codecademy Co-Founder & CEO
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. Welcome to Launching Tech Ventures
  2. Business Model Exploration
  3. Business Model Evaluation
  4. Business Model Alignment

Featured Exercises

  • Perform a business model quality assessment
  • Characterize the different types of business models that exist in Startupland
6-7
hrs
Module 2

Experiments to Achieve Product-Market Fit

Explore the discovery phase of tech startup development that occurs before achieving product-market fit. Assess different go-to-market strategies and determine which is best for your venture.

Highlights

Songe LeRon and Dave Salvant, Squire Co-Founders
Paris Wallace, Ovia Health Co-Founder & former CEO
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. Experiments that Lead to Product-Market Fit
  2. Profit Formula Implications
  3. Squire’s Unit Economics
  4. Experimentation at Ovia Health

Featured Exercises

  • Practice the key steps of the lean startup methodology
  • Identify and calculate the key metrics for determining if you’ve achieved product-market fit
6-7
hrs
Module 3

Venture Capital and Startup Financing

Learn how venture capital firms and the fundraising process operate and how to approach a VC and negotiate and structure an investment.

Highlights

Lindsay Kaplan, Chief Co-Founder & Chief Brand Officer
Anna Palmer, XFactor Ventures Founder and Flybridge General Partner
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. The Venture Capital Industry
  2. The Financing Process
  3. Term Sheets and Exits

Featured Exercises

  • Determine whether VC funding is right for your startup
  • Assess your network’s strength and brainstorm ways to get connected to a VC
  • Quiz yourself on the key steps of the financing process
  • Practice interpreting the provisions on a term sheet
6-7
hrs
Module 4

Scaling Post Product-Market Fit

Articulate how the competitive context can influence early startup decisions and determine when to apply and leverage a product-led growth strategy.

Highlights

Ravish Naresh, Khatabook Founder
Sarah Tavel, Benchmark General Partner
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. Khatabook
  2. Retaining the Users You Acquire
  3. Scaling Decisions

Featured Exercises

  • Describe the marketing funnel
  • Apply startup playbooks under different scenarios and market conditions
6-7
hrs
Module 5

Ecosystem and Ethics

Understand the unconscious and systemic biases in the startup ecosystem and assess a business model’s impact on the environment and economy.

Highlights

Bailey Richardson, former Instagram Community Team Member (2012-2014)
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. Gender Bias in Startupland
  2. Racial Bias in Startupland
  3. Ethical Considerations in Startupland

Featured Exercises

  • Classify VC questions and craft responses to minimize the effect of gender biases
  • Create an impact statement summarizing how you hope to impact the startup ecosystem
Free E-Book

So You Want to Be an Entrepreneur: How to Get Started

In this guide, you’ll learn about what characterizes a successful entrepreneur, how to decide if entrepreneurship is right for you, and what skills you need to thrive.
Access Your Free E-book

Our Difference

Launching Tech Ventures helps early-stage tech startups overcome management challenges across all aspects of their business model.
Stay active by engaging in a new activity every three to five minutes.
Stay active by engaging in a new activity every three to five minutes.
Description of silent animated video above: Learner completes an interactive question by dragging and dropping choices into two different categories
Get social by collaborating and networking with a global community of peers before, during, and after the course.
Get social by collaborating and networking with a global community of peers before, during, and after the course.
Description of silent animated video above: Learner types an answer in the discussion board in response to a peer's question
Immerse yourself in real-world, case-based examples brought to life by industry-leading experts from companies like Chief, Codecademy, Ovia Health, Khatabook, Plastiq, and Flybridge Capital.
Immerse yourself in real-world, case-based examples brought to life by industry-leading experts from companies like Chief, Codecademy, Ovia Health, Khatabook, Plastiq, and Flybridge Capital.
Description of silent animated video above: Learner scrolls through video interviews from prominent business leaders

About the Professor

Jeffrey Bussgang
Launching Tech Ventures

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration
“Whether you’re a founder, startup employee, or investor, you’ll learn what’s needed to build a viable, valuable business that can scale and attract venture capital.”

Dates & Eligibility

Starting
May
31
5 Weeks  $1,750
Application deadline May 22
View weekly calendar
Apply Now
Starting
Sep
13
5 Weeks  $1,750
Application deadline September 5
Apply Now
  • Free application
  • No documentation required
  • Confirmation within one week

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the course.

Learn about bringing this course to your organization.

Learner Stories

91%
Gained Deeper Expertise in Specific Areas
Participating in the student discussions and answering cold calls was empowering. It ignited a drive within me to learn and absorb as much as I could.
Leslie Pico
A small business owner and tech entrepreneur from Arizona
Programming & System Analysis, Biomedical Engineering, Estrella Mountain Community College
Small Business Administration, Northern Arizona University
The virtual, interactive platform was unique. I was continuously engaged with the course's material and learned a lot from my peers.
Kaushal Khodifad
Senior Systems Engineer at Infosys
Read more learner stories
* Source: 2022 surveys and course data
 
All FAQs

Launching Tech Ventures FAQs

What are the learning requirements in order to successfully complete the course and how are grades assigned?

+–

Participants in Launching Tech Ventures are eligible for a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Business School Online.

Participants are expected to fully complete all coursework in a thoughtful and timely manner. This will mean meeting each week’s course module deadlines and fully answering questions posed therein. This helps ensure your cohort proceeds through the course at a similar pace and can take full advantage of social learning opportunities. In addition to module assignment completion, we expect participation in the social learning elements of the course by offering feedback on others’ reflections and contributing to conversations on the platform. Participants who fail to complete the course requirements will not receive a certificate and will not be eligible to retake the course.

More detailed information on course requirements will be communicated at the start of the course. No grades are assigned for Launching Tech Ventures. Participants will either be evaluated as complete or not complete.

What materials will I have access to after completing Launching Tech Ventures?

+–

You will have access to the materials in every prior module as you progress through the program. Access to course materials and the course platform ends 60 days after the final deadline in the program.

How should I list my certificate on my resume?

+–

Once you’ve earned your Certificate of Completion, list it on your resume along with the date of completion:

Harvard Business School Online
Certificate of Launching Tech Ventures
[Cohort Start Month and Year]

List your certificate on your LinkedIn profile under "Education" with the language from the Credential Verification page:

School: Harvard Business School Online
Dates Attended: [The year you participated in the program]
Degree: Other; Certificate in Launching Tech Ventures
Field of Study: Leave blank
Grade: Complete
Activities and Societies: Leave blank

For the program description on LinkedIn, please use the following:

Launching Tech Ventures is a 5-week, 30-hour online certificate program from Harvard Business School. Launching Tech Ventures helps early-stage startups overcome management challenges across all aspects of their business model. Whether you’re a founder, startup employee, or investor, you’ll learn what’s needed to build a viable, valuable business that can scale and attract venture capital.

What’s the difference between Launching Tech Ventures and Entrepreneurship Essentials?

+–

Entrepreneurship Essentials focuses on entrepreneurship in general and how to identify a startup idea, validate your business model and financially manage your company. Launching Tech Ventures focuses specifically on technology companies and the early strategic decisions that founders, joiners and VCs must make to find a viable business model that has product-market fit. The course covers business model assessment, using experiments to determine product-market fit, VC financing and ethical issues.

 

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All FAQs

Top FAQs

How are HBS Online courses delivered?

+–

We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

+–

We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Written English proficiency should suffice.

Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

+–

No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

How do I enroll in a course?

+–

All programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly from program to program, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

After submitting your application, you should receive an email confirmation from HBS Online. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk email folders and double-check your account to make sure the application was successfully submitted.

Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your Dashboard. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application.

Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

+–

No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

What are my payment options?

+–

We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

+–

After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

 

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