Insegnamento a.a. 2018-2019

The course analyzes the economics of venture investors and the venture fundraising cycle. The course is structured in sixe modules:

1. An introduction to Entrepreneurial Finance.
2. Investor assessment of business opportunities.
3. Valuation of entrepreneurial companies.
4. Deal structuring.
5. Deal management.
6. The economics of venture investors.

• Recognize the goals and constraints of different venture investors, and the implication these have on the management of an entrepreneurial venture.
• Understand the valuation of private knowledge-based ventures.   
• Identify the different phases of a financing deal– origination, valuation, structuring, management, and exit.

• Formulate a business plan for eliciting interest from venture investors, and assemble financial projects to illustrate the venture’s business model.
• Pitch a business opportunity to a potential investor.
• Elaborate a financial plan and fundraising strategy.
• Calculate the valuation of an entrepreneurial venture, and assess the value relevance of the covenants in the term sheets.

• Face-to-face lectures
• Case studies /Incidents (traditional, online)
• Group assignments

The learning experience of this course is mainly based on face-to-face lectures.

• The lectures consist of both academic materials and of illustrations taken from actual business situations that are  commented and discussed. In most of the modules set forth in Content Summary Section traditional learning is complemented by with case study discussions.
• There are two written case study assignments to be developed in groups, and one presentation by an external guest speaker.
• The use of actual business situations, case studies, and external speaker aims at better connecting the body of knowledge covered in the course with real business examples, focused on a variety of innovative venture experiences. The interaction between the instructor and students during the case discussions and the presentations helps students understand how entrepreneurs and venture investors approach, structure, and manage entrepreneurial funding.
• There course also includes a group assignment where students identify and analyze, in a structured way, a real example of entrepreneurial funding. This allows students to discuss in depth a situation of their choice and present it to the class and to the instructors.

• Two group case study assignments. These assignment are due in written form in class before the start of the class in which they are due. Late or email deliveries are not accepted. They are designed with the purpose of verifying students’ ability  to identify and analyze a real entrepreneurial finance situation using the tools learnt in the course.
• One group assignment examining a real entrepreneurial venture funding situation chosen by the group and approved by the lecturers. The analysis is structured according to instructions provided in class. It is presented in a lecture to the class, and is delivered after having received feedback from the instructors. This assignment is designed with the purpose of verifying students’ ability to:
• Identify and analyze the main issues related to the course.
• Work on a team and organize and present effectively the relevant outcomes.
• A final exam on all the topics covered in the course after the course completion. The full exam includes both open questions and exercises.

Non-attending students’ assessment is fully based on the written exam (either two partial exams or one final written exam). The two partial exams have equal weight, and the exact split of course contents are announced in the syllabus. 

• Slides available in the Bboard Platform.
• Draft book chapters available in the Bboard Platform.
• Academic articles available in the Bboard Platform.
• Text of case studies available in the Bboard Platform via Bocconi Library’s Course Reserves.

• Slides available in the Bboard Platform.
• Draft book chapters available in the Bboard Platform.