363-1038-00L Sustainability Start-Up Seminar
| Semester | Spring Semester 2020 |
| Lecturers | A.‑K. Zobel, A. H. Sägesser |
| Periodicity | yearly recurring course |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Comment | Number of participants limited to 30. |
Courses
| Number | Title | Hours | Lecturers | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 363-1038-00 G | Sustainability Start-Up Seminar Dates & rooms: 20.02. LEE E 101 27.02. WEV F 109 05.03. WEV F 109 12.03. WEV H 326 19.03. WEV H 326 26.03. IFW C 42 02.04. WEV H 326 09.04. WEV H 326 23.04. WEV H 326 30.04. WEV H 326 07.05. WEV H 326 14.05. Impact Hub Zurich Viaduct 28.05. WEV H 326 | 2 hrs |
| A.‑K. Zobel, A. H. Sägesser |
Catalogue data
| Abstract | Experts lead participants through a venturing process inspired by Lean and Design Thinking methodologies. The course contains problem identification, idea generation and evaluation, team formation, and the development of one entrepreneurial idea per team. A special focus is put on sustainability, in particular on climate change and renewable energy technologies specifically. |
| Learning objective | 1. Students have experienced and know how to take the first steps towards co-creating a venture and potentially company 2. Students reflect deeply on sustainability issues (with a focus on climate change & energy) and can formulate a problem statement 3. Students believe in their ability to bring change to the world with their own ideas 4. Students are able to apply entrepreneurial practices such as the lean startup approach 5. Students have built a first network and know how to proceed and who to approach in case they would like to take their ventures further. |
| Content | This course is aimed at people with a keen interest to address sustainability issues (with a focus on climate change and renewable energy), with a curious mindset, and potentially first entrepreneurial ideas! The seminar consists of a mix of lectures, workshops, individual working sessions, teamwork, and student presentations/pitches. This class will be co-taught by an academic expert (studying innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability) and an entrepreneurship and sustainability “practitioner”. Real-world climate entrepreneurs and experts from the Swiss start-up and sustainability community will be invited to support individual sessions. All course content is based on latest international entrepreneurship practices. The seminar starts with an introduction to sustainability (with a special focus on climate change & energy) and entrepreneurship. Students are asked to self-select into an area of their interest in which they will develop entrepreneurial ideas throughout the course. The first part of the course then focuses on deeply understanding sustainability problems within the area of interest. Through workshops and self-study, students will identify key design challenges, generate ideas, as well as provide systematic and constructive feedback to their peers. In the second part of the course, students will form teams around their generated ideas. In these teams they will develop a business model and, following the lean start-up process, conduct real-life testing, as well as pivoting of these business models. In the final part of the course, students present their insights gained from the lean start-up process, as well as pitch their entrepreneurial ideas and business models to an expert jury. The course will conclude with a session that provides students with a network and resources to further pursue their entrepreneurial journey. |
| Lecture notes | All material will be made available to the participants. |
| Prerequisites / Notice | Prerequisite: Interest in sustainability & entrepreneurship. Notes: 1. It is not required that participants already have a business idea at the beginning of the course. 2. No legal entities (e.g. GmbH, Association, AG) need to be founded for this course. Target participants: PhD students, Msc students and MAS students from all departments. The number of participants is limited to max.30. Waiting list: After subscribing you will be added to the waiting list. The lecturers will contact you a few weeks before the start of the seminar to confirm your interest and to ensure a good mixture of study backgrounds, only then you're accepted to the course. |
Performance assessment
| Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again) | |
Performance assessment as a semester course | |
| ECTS credits | 3 credits |
| Examiners | A.-K. Zobel, A. H. Sägesser |
| Type | graded semester performance |
| Language of examination | English |
| Repetition | Repetition only possible after re-enrolling for the course unit. |
| Additional information on mode of examination | Grading: o Part 1 Essays (Individual): 40% of final grade o Part 2 Mid-term Presentation (Team): 40% of final grade o Part 3 Final Presentation (Team): 20% of final grade |
Learning materials
| No public learning materials available. | |
| Only public learning materials are listed. |
Groups
| No information on groups available. |
Restrictions
| Places | Limited number of places. Special selection procedure. |
| Waiting list | until 09.02.2020 |
| End of registration period | Registration only possible until 26.01.2020 |
