Advanced workshop to integrate professional skills - 2016

Date and time:July 18, 20, 22, 2016, 8:00-12:00

Location: QNC 1201, Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, University of Waterloo

Please contact Chin Lee to register. The registration deadline is June 15, 2016.

Abstract:

Entrepreneurs and researchers contemplate a series of untested hypotheses; the business model canvas summarizes these hypotheses and creates a diagram on how an individual or company can create value for themselves and for their customers. Through the Lean Launchpad approach, students are able to identify and validate problems to arrive at executable research or a commercialization solution.

An entrepreneur talks with customers to iterate product development, determines the pivots necessary for the business to succeed and secures the required resources for the commercialized product to go to market. This may be accomplished through licensing the technology and/or by establishing a business. The approach can be applied to a researcher in their process of identifying a problem, conducting primary and secondary research to arrive upon a conclusion that ultimately becomes a product for an academic publication.  

By the end of the workshop, students will be able to identify and apply core concepts in entrepreneurship to a new venture or to their academic research. By going through the customer development process, students will validate and iterate their ideas. Students should be able to generate their own (from past projects and/or research) lean canvas and effectively present their idea or research in a 3-minute pitch.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

  • Define the lean canvas and explain its purpose.
  • Distinguish and summarize the difference between the product and market, understand their fit and articulate the definition of: key metrics, unique value proposition, unfair advantage, channels, customer segments, cost structure and revenue streams.
  • Construct customer profiles; engage in customer development and product market validation for an academic project or new venture.
  • Develop an applicable intellectual property strategy to their product and idea.
  • Assemble a pitch and be able to effectively present and articulate their business idea or research project clearly.
  • Provide alternative views to expand and support their research and testing.