Developing a brand new IT-related startup isn’t as easy as it seems: do you really understand the problems and needs that your potential customers are experiencing? Do you know what they currently do to solve these problems and/or needs? Are you sure that the solution in mind solves them and that you can build a viable business around them? Throughout the program, students refine their startup’s hypothesized business model based on instructor, peer, and customer feedback and experience common challenges faced by startup-entrepreneurs as they build a their new company in a step-by-step approach. In interactive live lectures and with strongly involved startup coaches, students will learn how to develop a business model to test their assumptions about product offerings and market demand. This includes the development of their first (functional) prototype.  

This minor program is ideal for IT students who have a new startup idea in mind prior to joining the class.

Starting a successful online start-up requires a different approach than starting a traditional company. Instead of creating an extensive business plan, you learn how to build your company by continuously improving your concept based on the Build – Measure - Learn strategy. How? 

• Analysing: Students will analyse the market, their team and their idea. They will make assumptions about their target group Research Skills: Students continuously measure whether an idea actually adds value from the perspective of the primary target group. 

• Managing the Project: Students will build a team and divide the roles and the work within the team with Lean Start up. 

• Pitching: Students will have to convince a jury of their own idea with a pitch in English.  

• Co-creation: Students need to work in smalls teams where effort and investments must be divided equally. 

• Build-Measure-Learn: Students will validate their assumptions and learn from feedback to make a pivot and change their original plan. 

• MVP: Students will be transforming an idea into a concrete (online) product (MVP) with market potential with the help of Lean Start up and Business Model Canvas 

• Product- or service development: Students from multidisciplinary teams will develop their idea into a real IT related product or service.

Students need to have an idea for an online/software concept, such as a website, app or cloud-application. Furthermore, students must be willing to invest real time and effort in transforming their idea into a success. In addition, students must have experience with any one of the following subjects: designing software applications or interfaces, business IT management, software development, user experience design or any related business subjects, mostly focused on information technology. 

Target group:

Students that want to validate and/or transform their IT related business idea into a profitable new business (model) and develop the related product or service. 

Book: Eric Ries, The lean startup (recommended purchase).

The module has the following teaching methods: 

* Lecture 

* Practice (Research and Development) 

Contacthours

12 per week (over 20 weeks) - Total approx. 240 hours

The module has the following tests: 

Testform     Percentage   Week            Retry

Portfolio      75%            wk 1 to 18    same term, wk 19-20

Assessment 25%            wk 19           same term, wk 20 (oral exam)

Requirements: Students must pass all weekly assignments as part of their portfolio (minimum 5.5 per product).

Location of the minor is the Dutch Innovation Factory in Zoetermeer. The Dutch Innovation Factory is a breeding ground for innovative start-ups, with walking distance from the train station.

Partners: 

1: Incubator (PushBack Start-up coaches)

2: MKB Werkplaats @ DIF

3: Dutch Innovation Community providing several guest speakers from a wide range of companies