1. To guide students through the process of formulating a business case into a structured business plan, focusing on clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness.
2. To detail the process for creating strategic marketing and operational plans that align with business goals and resources.
3. To instruct on the principles of financial modeling and forecasting, emphasizing their importance in evaluating business viability and attracting investment.
4. To cultivate an understanding of risk management strategies and their incorporation into business planning to enhance resilience and investor confidence.
5. To refine students' ability to articulate a compelling business narrative that engages stakeholders and meets the expectations of potential investors and partners.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

• LO1: Critically analyze market opportunities and competitive environments to inform strategic business planning.
• LO2: Develop and articulate effective marketing and operational strategies within a business plan.
• LO3: Construct detailed financial models and forecasts to demonstrate the viability and financial strategy of the business venture.
• LO4: Identify potential risks and devise management strategies to mitigate these within the business plan.
• LO5: Effectively communicate a business venture's value proposition to potential investors and stakeholders through a well-structured business plan.
• LO6: Apply innovative thinking to solve business challenges and propose viable solutions within the business planning process.

• Business Plan (first version) (15%): This deliverable assesses students' initial ability to conceptualize and articulate a business strategy, touching upon LO2 (Strategize) and LO3 (Financial Forecasting).
• Pitch Deck (final version) (25%): This presentation tests students' capacity for LO5 (Persuasive Communication), demonstrating their skill in effectively communicating their business plan to potential stakeholders.
• Business Plan (final version) (40%): The comprehensive final business plan, incorporating feedback and additional research, evaluates a broader spectrum of LOs, particularly LO3 (Financial Forecasting), LO4 (Risk Management), and LO6 (Innovation Application), by requiring a detailed operational, financial, and strategic plan.
• Individual Reflection (20%): This reflective piece allows students to engage in self-assessment and critique of their learning process, directly relating to LO1 (Analyze and Evaluate) by encouraging them to reflect on their analytical and evaluative skills throughout the course.

This strategy ensures that each assessment component is directly tied to specific learning outcomes, facilitating a clear synchronization between what is taught and what is assessed.

Presence in all classes is mandatory; unexcused absence leads to minus 5 points in the grading scale (see below). In total, students have the possibility to reach 100 points:

1. Sehr gut = 88-100 points
2. Gut = 75-87 points
3. Befriedigend= 62-74 points
4. Genügend = 50-61 points
5. Nicht genügend = 0-49 points