Venture Capital: Master Startup Funding
Who is this programme for?
The Venture Capital: Master Startup Funding programme from Imperial Executive Education 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.
Build your foundational understanding of the venture capital landscape by gaining a historical perspective on the market and outlining the various stages of financing in the life cycle of a startup.
Activity: Analyse a case study to determine the investment potential of an organisation and share two key takeaways from this module with the rest of the group.
Understand the different aspects that come into play when setting up an investment fund, including the investment strategy, the assessment of organisations and the metrics for assessing an organisation’s potential.
Activity: Think like an entrepreneur and outline the benefits and challenges in pitching to specific types of investors.
Learn the different valuation methods, processes and other key elements that will help you narrow down on a potential investment opportunity.
Activity: Assess the valuation of organisations through the application of the valuation methods and discuss their pros and cons.
Explore different financing products, familiarise yourself with term sheet negotiations and understand how deals are closed.
Activity: Analyse a term sheet to develop recommendations on term structure, deals and negotiation strategies.
Develop strategies and a prioritised action plan that optimises value and helps you prepare for a successful exit.
Activity: Select the key metrics required to assess the performance of a VC fund, and analyse the ten best-performing VC funds.
Record-setting investments in startups are likely to bring in more competition on both sides of the dealmaking process. Get an insider’s perspective on what lies ahead for this fast-growing dynamic market.
Activity: Summarise potential risks and drivers for VC and PE investments in emerging economies.
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 Executive Education.
Note: You will earn the Associate Alumni status upon successful completion of the programme. Visit the Associate Alumni page to find out more.
FAQs
How do I know if this programme is right for me?
After reviewing the information on the programme landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the programme brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this programme is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated programme adviser will follow up with you very shortly.
Are there any prerequisites for this programme?
Some programmes do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the programme landing page, as well as in the programme brochure. If you are uncertain about programme prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at learner.success@emeritus.org for assistance.
What are the requirements to earn a certificate?
This is a graded programme. You will be required to complete a combination of individual assignments, quizzes, and a final project. Each component carries a certain number of points and a cumulative score of 75% is required to pass and obtain your professional certificate.
Will I be guaranteed a job upon completion of the programme?
The primary objective of this programme is to give you the skills you need to be prepared for a job in this field. While eligible participants will receive career coaching and support and may receive introductions to our hiring partners, job placement is not guaranteed.
How much time will I be expected to devote to this programme?
Each programme includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the programme landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the programme brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.
How will I spend my time in this programme?
You will divide your learning time between viewing recorded coding demos, video lectures, contributing to class discussions, completing assignments, projects, and knowledge checks, and attending optional live sessions with industry experts and programme leaders.
How is the programme administered? Can the programme be accessed anytime?
The programme is accessed through the custom learning portal. This portal will give you access to all programme-related content such as video lectures, assignments, and discussions. Live office hours will be conducted using a webinar tool. The video lectures and assignments are accessible weekly throughout the programme. In the event you miss a live session, a recording will be made available.
Do I need to attend live sessions every week?
Faculty video lectures are recorded, allowing you to watch these on your own schedule. However, participation in optional live sessions and discussion boards is highly encouraged. Live sessions will give you the opportunity to draw on the coding experience of our industry-experienced course leaders to answer your questions and help reach your learning goals. The discussion boards are also an integral part of the learning experience, giving you and your peers the opportunity to learn together, along with guidance from the moderators.
Can I download the programme videos?
You can download video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. However, the video lectures are only available for streaming and require an internet connection.
How do I interact with other programme participants?
You can communicate with other participants through our learning platform. You will be able to form groups based on your interests and location. A direct messaging feature is also available through the platform.
What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?
More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programmes said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded. All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the programme delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the programme in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course. A dedicated programme support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.
What are the requirements to earn the certificate?
Each programme includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enrol. This is referenced at the top of the programme landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the programme brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programmes are designed to fit into your working life. This programme is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programmes include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the programme brochure. Please contact us at learner.success@emeritus.org if you need further clarification on any specific programme requirements.
What type of certificate will I receive?
Upon successful completion of the programme, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile. The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the programme, once grading is complete.
Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?
No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Do I receive alumni status after completing this programme?
No, there is no alumni status granted for this programme. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the programme brochure.
How long will I have access to the learning materials?
You will have access to the learning platform and all programme materials (videos excluded) for one full year following the programme start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.
What equipment is needed or the technical requirements for this programme?
To successfully complete this programme online, you must have access to a device meeting the minimum requirements, found here. In addition, Microsoft Office or similar product and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts in all programmes. Please check the learning platform on the first day of class.
Do I need to be online to access the programme content?
Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet and video content is not available for download. You can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. Video lectures must be streamed via the internet and webinars and small group sessions will require an internet connection.
What is the programme fee for the programme and what forms of payment do you accept?
The programme fee is shown at the top of this page.
Flexible payment options, group enrolment benefits and referral bonus are available.
Tuition assistance may be available for participants who qualify. Please contact your programme adviser to discuss.
What if I don’t have a credit card – is there another mode of payment accepted?
Yes, you can do the bank remittance via wire transfer. Please contact your programme adviser for more details.
Is there an option to make flexible payments for this programme?
Yes. Flexible payment options are available for this programme. We partner with loan partners to offer you flexible and transparent loan options. More information about loan financing is available here. Installment payments are also available—you can find the options here.
Does the programme fee include taxes? Are there any additional fees?
Yes, the programme fee is inclusive of any taxes with the exception of GST for Singapore residents.
Who will be collecting the payment for the programme?
Emeritus collects all programme payments, provides learner enrolment and programme support, and manages learning platform services.
Are there any restrictions on the types of funding that can be used to pay for the programme?
Programme fees for Emeritus programmes with Imperial Executive Education may not be paid for with (a) funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008 or similar types of military education funding benefits or (b) Title IV financial aid funds.
What is the programme refund and deferral policy?
For the programme refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.
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)
Flexible payment options available.
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