Hasso-Plattner-Institut
 

Founder Fundamentals

Dr. Frank Pawlitschek, David Hahn

 

Course Information for students of HPI

General Information

  • Weekly Hours: 2
  • Credits: 3
  • Graded: yes
  • Enrolment Deadline: 01.10.2023 - 22.10.2023
  • Teaching Form: Lecture
  • Enrolment Type: Compulsory Elective Module
  • Course Language: English
  • Maximum number of participants: 30 (priority is given to students who attended the HPI Startup Bootcamp)

Modules

 Cybersecurity MA

  • HPI-PSK-ML Management und Leitung
  • HPI-DE-RWM Recht, Wirtschaft, Management

 Digital Health MA

  • HPI-PSK-ML Management and Leadership

 Data Engineering MA 

  • HPI-DE-RWM Recht, Wirtschaft, Management
  • HPI-PSK-ML Management und Leitung

 IT-Systems Engineering MA

  • HPI-PSK-RW Recht und Wirtschaft
  • HPI-PSK-ML Management und Leitung

Learning and teaching methods

Weekly, 90-minute lecture, workshop days (HPI Startup Bootcamp)

Examination

The performance recording is done via a written exam. The exam date is 27.02.2024. Please contact the Office of Student Affairs if you do not wish to take part in the performance recording (8-day rule).
Die Leistungserfassung erfolgt über eine Klausur. Der Klausurtermin ist der 27.02.2024. Bitte kontaktieren Sie das Studienreferat, falls sie nicht an der Leistungserfassung teilnehmen möchten (8-Tage Regel).

Registration

Please register via the Office of Student Affairs (Studienreferat)

Description

Our lecture "Founder Fundamentals" provides an overview of business, startup and product development. Relevant topics from the world of startups are discussed in weekly lectures. The lecture series is designed to develop a basic understanding of economic processes and to lay foundations on the path to becoming an entrepreneur. At the end of the lecture series, some topics from the field of IT startups are explored in greater depth.

Key Learnings

  • What is Entrepreneurship. What role does entrepreneurship play in our economic system?
  • According to which rules do companies function? How are they structured? What questions do I need to answer to start my own business?
  • What impact do technology startups have on our society? How do they integrate into our economic framework?

Requirements

The lecture will be held in English. Therefore, this lecture requires participants to be able to discuss subject related matters in English.

Timeline

This program is offered every winter term. The next batch runs October-February 2023.

Lectures

The lecture is given in the following weeks.

Week                              Date and TimeLecture Topic
Week 1

18.10.2023 15:15 - 20.10.2023 16:00 

HPI Startup Bootcamp: Clean Media Production (not mandatory, but highly recommended as it is the kick-off to the lecture)
Week 2

25.10.2023
15:15

Let's get started:​ Should I be an entrepreneur and what does it mean?​

Week 3no lecture
Week 4

08.11.2023
15:15

Ideas, technology, opportunity: Ways to start a business ​
Week 5

15.11.2023
15:15

The person in focus: Customers ​and Markets​
Week 6

22.11.2023
15:15

Making money: Finding the right Business Model ​
Week 7

29.11.2023
15:15

Knowing the numbers: Financial Planning & Statements​
Week 8

06.12.2023
15:15

Organizing the company and yourself: Getting stuff done ​
Week 9

13.12.2023
15:15

Building traction: Marketing and selling products​
Week 10

no lecture

Week 11

no lecture

Week 12

no lecture

Week 13

10.01.2024
15:15

Financing your startup: Understanding Business Angels & VCs ​
Week 14

17.01.2024
15:15

Show me the money: ​(Equity) Story Telling + Pitching​ 
 

additional:

17:00

Extra: Understanding the terms of a VC funding round​ (not mandatory)
Week 15

24.01.2024
15:15

Hiring and retaining ​a team: Understanding Recruiting and ESOP/VSOP ​
Week 16

31.01.2024
15:15

Being an Employer: Employment agreements and social security​
Week 17

07.02.2024
17:00 (not 15:15!)

Re-Cap (1h)

HPI Startup Bootcamp

Part of the lecture is the 3-day HPI Startup Bootcamp "Clean Media Production" happening October 18th-20th. All information can be found here. Attendance is highly recommended for all participants of the lecture.

Literature

  • Eric Ries: The Lean Startup
  • Ash Maurya: Running Lean
  • Brad Feld: Venture Deals
  • Alexander Osterwalder: Value Proposition Design
  • Alexander Osterwalder: Business Model Generation

Evaluation

The evaluation of this class from last year can be found here:

https://evap.hpi.de/results/semester/38/evaluation/4769