General
Design Your Business - the course that focuses on building a business based on your personal expertise
Throughout the course, students work in teams focusing on how to build their personal design, tech savvy, or other expertise into a business idea. The course is multidisciplinary and open to all Aalto students. Course evaluation is based on weekly assignments that lead to a learning portfolio, as well as activity in class discussions and peer/self-evaluation. The course is taught in collaboration with multiple teachers, and supplemented by inspiring guest speakers. Students are encouraged to come prepared with preliminary business ideas that they would like to develop further, but this is not required.
Lecture sessions take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 14:15 - 17:00 at the Design Factory, classroom Stage. The course begins Monday 6th August, and ends Friday 24th August.
Please note that the preliminary schedule below is subject to change throughout the course, as we tailor the course to the needs of the attendees.
| Date | Time | Place | Topic | Guest lecturer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | ||||
| Mon 6.8. | 14:15-17:00 | Stage | Effectuation and opportunity identification | |
| Wed 8.8. | 14:15-17:00 | Stage | Entrepreneurial thinking | Johannes Kaira |
| Wed 8.8. | 17:00-20:00 | Startup Sauna | BBQ evening | |
| Fri 10.8. | 14:15-17:00 | Stage | How to build a great team | Maurice Forget |
| Week 2 | ||||
| Mon 13.8. | 14:15-17:00 | Stage | Ideation & forming teams | Maurice Forget |
| Wed 15.8. | 14:15-17:00 | Stage | From idea to reality: building a business model | Juha Vasko |
| Fri 17.8. | 14:15-17:00 | Stage | Why startups fail and how to avoid the most common pitfalls | |
| Week 3 | ||||
| Mon 20.8. | 14:15-17:00 | Stage | Go to market | Håkan Mitts |
| Wed 22.8. |
14:15-17:00 17:00-20:00 |
Stage Maria 01 |
Pitch training Optional: BBQ at Maria 01 startup hub |
Maurice Forget |
| Fri 24.8. | 14:15-17:00 | Stage | Final pitch presentations |
After each lecture there is an assignment that is due by the beginning of the next lecture unless otherwise stated. See all the assignments here (or by clicking the "Assignments" section of this course).
