Financing Innovative Ventures
A 4-week UMD course teaching entrepreneurs key financial concepts and strategies to obtain startup funding.
A 4-week UMD course teaching entrepreneurs key financial concepts and strategies to obtain startup funding.
This comprehensive course demystifies key financial concepts for entrepreneurs seeking to fund their ventures. Students learn to understand various financing options, valuation methods, and capital structure for startups. The course covers the fundamentals of early-stage versus later-stage financing, term sheet negotiations, and developing effective investor pitches. With no prior financial knowledge required, participants gain practical skills in creating financial plans, understanding investment landscapes, and securing the right funding from appropriate partners.
4.7
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English
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What you'll learn
Master the language and concepts of startup financing
Analyze different funding sources including angel investors and venture capital
Develop effective strategies for early-stage funding
Create compelling investor pitches and presentation materials
Understand term sheets and negotiation strategies
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
PreRecorded video
Graded assignments, Exams
Access on Mobile, Tablet, Desktop
Limited Access access
Shareable certificate
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There are 4 modules in this course
The course provides a comprehensive overview of startup financing fundamentals. Students explore the early-stage investment landscape, various capital sources, and effective fundraising strategies. The curriculum covers essential topics including investor evaluation criteria, funding options from angel investors to venture capitalists, and the complete funding process. Special emphasis is placed on developing compelling investor pitches and understanding key financial terminology. The program combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications in startup financing.
The Early Stage Investment Landscape
Module 1
Sources of Capital for Startups and Corporate Ventures
Module 2
Getting Funded – Steps in the Funding Process
Module 3
Pitching Investors and Closing the Round
Module 4
Fee Structure
Instructor
1 Course
Entrepreneurial Leadership and Venture Capital Excellence
Michael Pratt is a distinguished lecturer in Technology Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering, where he teaches and mentors students in both graduate and undergraduate programs. His impressive career spans over 35 years in management, finance, and entrepreneurship. As co-founder and Managing Partner of Select Venture Partners LLC, he focuses on early-stage, post-seed/pre-Series A investments, having successfully raised over $100 million for eleven different startups. His entrepreneurial journey includes notable successes such as SpydrSafe Mobile Security (acquired in 2014), CardStar Inc. (sold to Constant Contact), and Trust Digital Inc. (acquired by McAfee). His executive leadership roles encompass positions as CFO/COO at Trust Digital, CFO at Galt Associates (sold to Cerner Corporation), CEO of CrossMedia Networks Corp., and CEO of Point of Care Technologies (acquired by Siemens Healthcare). Earlier in his career, he held various senior positions with Mobil Corporation and began his professional journey at Arthur Andersen & Co. His academic credentials include a BS in Finance from East Carolina University, an MBA from Massey University in New Zealand, and an MS in Marketing from Johns Hopkins University. Currently, he teaches courses in financial management and new venture financing, bringing his extensive real-world experience to the classroom
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