BUS 442 New Business Ventures & Entrepreneur

The course examines the key requirements for starting and operating a new business. It emphasizes screening venture ideas to identify real business opportunities, developing realistic strategic business plans, and exploring conventional, as well as nontraditional means of financing new enterprises. Major topics include: evaluating markets and niches, mobilizing and organizing human and technical resources, analyzing the potential and long-term economic viability of a venture, exploring sources of financing, structuring and negotiating deals, and managing operations after start-up. The legal and regulatory environment and special organizational issues such as employee ownership are also discussed. The course makes extensive use of case material. Prerequisites: BUS 253, BUS 301, and BUS 388.