ERO aims to provide students with the knowledge and understanding they will need to create viable enterprises and deliver new products to market taking account of ambiguity and uncertainty; plan and implement appropriate prototyping strategies; effectively communicate and test ideas with target markets and stakeholders; explore and quantify commercial potential and develop a commercialisation strategy; evaluate risks and plan mitigation; develop and pitch a compelling value proposition to investors/funders; work in an effective and professional team planning and managing both strategy and team tasks; adopt best practice in their documentation and communication of progress and findings; embody their ideas and innovations sufficiently to exploit identified potential.               

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students will be better able to:

  •   Apply a range of business concepts effectively in an entrepreneurial venture
  •   Evaluate the technological and commercial risks associated with a new entrepreneurial venture and formulate appropriate mitigation measures
  •   Identify a market opportunity and develop an effective business model for an entrepreneurial venture in response
  •   Originate a design engineering related value proposition and specify indicative verification
  •   Develop and deliver a business pitch
  •   Recommend a strategy for launching a product proposition
  •   Create marketing strategy and communication materials to support an enterprise launch
  •   Strategically plan and operate effectively and professionally as a team to deliver enterprise outcomes             

 

Description of Content

Identifying, developing and pitching an enterprise opportunity
Recruitment of co-founders and team agreements
Effectively managing delivery in small entrepreneurial teams
Developing and testing value propositions
Market and User Research
IP and Freedom to Operate
Branding and brand communication
Preparation, production and deployment of marketing materials
Pitching to the public, investors and industry
Prototyping and risk mitigation
Business models for start-ups
Route to market, customer acquisition and scale
Resource Mapping: facilities, services and networks supporting entrepreneurs
Relationships: Co-founders, Employees, Partners, Consultants, Suppliers and Customers
Validation, Compliance, Public Liability, Safety and Testing
Sources of Funding, Financial projections, MVP and Resource Requirements
Preparation of primary fundraising documentation, assets and materials          

Contact us

Dyson School of Design Engineering
Imperial College London
25 Exhibition Road
South Kensington
London
SW7 2DB

design.engineering@imperial.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7594 8888

Campus Map