Venture Capital: Master Startup Funding
Who is this programme for?
The Imperial College Business School Executive Education’s Venture Capital: Master Startup Funding programme is designed for professionals on either side of a venture capital transaction – both investors and those seeking early-stage investment capital. The programme content is created to be the most relevant for those with some financial market experience, ranging from early-career to mid-career level, and is particularly relevant for the following roles:
Venture capital professionals, including angel investors, high-net-worth individuals and family offices seeking to formalise their knowledge and understanding of the VC market to make better decisions and maximise ROI
Finance professionals, including portfolio managers, pension/mutual fund managers, traders and risk and strategy planners seeking to expand their practice into venture capital markets to grow, diversify and innovate
Entrepreneurs, founders and senior management of startups and early-growth organisations seeking an understanding and practical toolkit for pitching and securing funding (and possibly domain expertise) for their venture
Programme highlights
The programme delves into a variety of topics that cover the entire dealmaking process from the perspective of both sides of an investment. It will help you:
Communicate key venture capital concepts and vocabulary with fluency and enhance your impact with internal and external stakeholders
Gain a comprehensive overview of the VC ecosystem and examine its key players and their roles within the system
Navigate various stages of the VC transaction process from both investor and investee perspectives, including fundraising, fund set-up, negotiation, portfolio management and exit strategy
Apply the principles of the programme to produce a compelling pitch deck seeking series A (or later) funding that will act as a road map for future dealmaking
What you will learn
Programme Orientation
Meet the faculty and get an overview of the programme, including certificate requirements, the learning platform and support resources.
Programme experience
Weekly assignments
Solidify your understanding of programme learnings through required weekly assignments.
Video lectures
Learn at your own pace through video lectures by renowned Imperial College Business School faculty.
Guest speakers
Gain additional insights from guest speakers who bring deep industry experience.
Interactive activities
Hone your practical knowledge and application of concepts through hands-on activities.
Knowledge checks
Test your understanding of programme concepts through regular knowledge checks.
Case studies
Analyse real-life cases from across industries and geographies to enhance your practical understanding of programme concepts.
Discussions
Engage in interactive discussions with like-minded executives from around the globe to share perspectives and build your network.
Continuous programme access
Enjoy access to the videos and learning material for up to 12 months from the programme start date.
Capstone project
The programme culminates in a capstone project that presents an opportunity to apply the approaches outlined in the programme in a practical manner. You will create a pitch deck seeking series A (or later) funding for either your own organisation or one that you are familiar with. The pitch deck should define the problem being addressed, the competitive landscape, revenue and operating models and your funding request explaining how the fundraising will advance the organisation.
Case studies
Case studies are a key component of this programme, making it a highly practical learning experience. You will examine real-life examples from across industries and geographies and apply concepts from the programme to analyse whether the outcomes were successful or not. At the end of each case, the faculty or learning facilitator will debrief the case in an interactive live session.
Rocket Internet: How Long Can We Continue to Lose Money?
Created by Professor Marc Kitten, this case explores the unique business model of Rocket Internet. The Germany-based organisation incubates and invests in internet and technology organisations globally, targeting startups with extraordinary founders and the potential to start – and lead – new categories. Its portfolio includes more than 200 companies with a total valuation of approximately €30 billion.
Katerra: Constructing Growth Opportunities through Technology
The Katerra case takes a deep dive into the opportunities to leverage disruptive technology in the global construction industry. The case analyses the history of Katerra, a technology-driven off-site construction company, and walks through each of the company's major strengths and opportunities.
Scrub Daddy: Pitching for a Clean Deal
As featured on season four of Shark Tank, a bidding war breaks out during Scrub Daddy’s pitch to the celebrity VCs. Aaron Krause is seeking $100,000 for a ten per cent stake in his company, Scrub Daddy, an innovative cleaning accessories startup. Put yourself in the shoes of both the founder and the investors through exercises dealing with scenario planning, valuation and exit options.
Sula Vineyards: Growing the Grapevine
After quitting his corporate job at Oracle in California, Stanford graduate Rajeev Samant returned to India to establish Sula Vineyards. Today, Sula is considered a true pioneer in Indian winemaking and has reached many milestones in the last few decades. However, in 2002, the organisation was in a seedling state. Put yourself in the shoes of an investor to address valuation, the shareholders’ agreement, key assumptions and an ongoing management role.
Programme faculty
MBA, Partner and Co-Founder, Candesic, Visiting Professor in Finance, Imperial College Business School
Marc Kitten is a founding partner at Candesic Strategy Consultants in London. He has 25 years of experience in transactions and financial markets and advises organisations and...
Featured guest speakers
Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner at Aceana Group, a single family office (SFO) and advisery firm
Portfolio company executive, having held CFO and GM roles for Bridgepoint companies and other PE/VC investors
Certificate
Upon completion of the programme, participants will be awarded a verified digital certificate by Imperial College Business School Executive Education.
Please note that this programme contributes to earning Associate Alumni status. Visit the Associate Alumni page to find out more.
FAQs
Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Programme Advisers or call us at +44 208 629 1765 (UK) / +1 315 509 2976 (US) / +65 3138 2451 (SG)
Early registrations are encouraged.
Flexible payment options available.
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