Entrepreneurial Finance

The course equips aspiring startup founders with the financial acumen needed to build, scale, and sustain high-growth ventures. Through six focused modules, students will develop a strong foundation in financial statement analysis, cap table management, venture capital fundraising, valuation techniques, financial ratio interpretation, and unit economics.

Blending theory with hands-on application, the course includes practical exercises such as dissecting income statements, constructing cap tables, and modeling CAC vs. LTV. Students will learn how to effectively apply key financial concepts to strategic decision-making and communicate with investors in entrepreneurial contexts.

This course introduces the foundations of entrepreneurial finance through the lens of venture capital investing. Students explore startup funding stages, venture capital fund structures, due diligence, product-market fit, unit economics, market sizing, valuation methods, financing terms, and venture exits. Designed for aspiring founders as well as students interested in venture investing, the course combines analytical frameworks with practical applications through case studies, investment simulations, and a capstone project.

 By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the venture capital ecosystem, startup funding stages, and investor roles.
• Evaluate startups using due diligence, product-market fit, and market-sizing frameworks.
• Apply financial metrics, unit economics, valuation methods, and cap table analysis in venture financing.
• Interpret venture financing terms and understand venture capital fund operations.
• Develop and defend an investment recommendation using venture capital frameworks.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define venture capital concepts, startup funding stages, and investor roles. | Remember/Understand Outcome
• Evaluate startups through due diligence, market analysis, and product-market fit assessment. | Analyze/Evaluate Outcome
• Apply unit economics, market sizing, valuation methods, and financing frameworks to venture opportunities. | Apply Outcome
• Analyse venture capital fund structures, financing terms, and exit strategies. | Analyze Outcome
• Develop and present an investment memo supported by financial analysis and strategic reasoning. | Create Outcome

• Secrets of Sand Hill Road – Scott Kupor.
• Lean Startup – Eric Ries.
• Venture Deals – Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson.

• FundersClub – How Startup Funding Works.
• Kauffman Foundation – VC Portfolio Returns.
• OpenView Partners – Ultimate Guide to Unit Economics.
• First Round Review – Metrics That Matter and How to Build an Investment Memo.
• Andreessen Horowitz – How Do VCs Value a Company?
• Y Combinator – SAFE Explained.