Acquis d'apprentissage

The seminar aims at making the students acquainted with the main strategic and operational steps in the process of setting up a new business. For this end, groups of 4 students prepare a realistic business plan, based on a new product or service to be developed by the group.

Contenu

Through this seminar, students will learn to manage an entrepreneurial project. They will develop a complete business plan for a new product or service. The business plan analyses the proposal in terms of: - the opportunity: the product/service and how it creates value to the customer; - the market: market analysis, competition, socio-economic and technologocial environment; - the instruments and resources needed: marketing plan, business systems (i.e.: organisation, production, logistics), human resource, financing; - risks involved: analysis of the key hypotheses underlying the business plan.

Exercices

Seminar participants take part in the annual "Generation Entreprendre" event, organized in October. They may also introduce their projects to the "1-2-3-GO" and the "Start Academy" business plan competitions.

Méthodes d'enseignement

The seminar convenes weekly. Introductory sessions are devoted to the structure of the business plan, the financial forecasts, the financing of the project (venture capital and exit) and the valuation of the venture (with a view on attracting outside investors). Guest speakers will be invited to present their experience with new ventures. The students present successive versions of their business plan, at predefined dates.

Méthode d'évaluation

The final grade is based on the quality of the business plan (preliminary versions: 50% of the final grade; final version: 30% of the final grade, group grade) and the oral presentation (20% of the final grade; individual grade).

Sources, références et supports éventuels

- Baron R.A., and Shane S.A., Entrepreneurship: a process perspective, Thomson, Mason, 2008 (ISBN 0-324-53969-X) - Barringer B.R., Preparing effective business plans, Pearson, London, 2009 (ISBN = 0-13- 714584-5)

Langue d'instruction

Français