BEX3415 · Start-up fastrack 1

Overview

This unit is informed by contemporary approaches to start-ups that have been adopted by many of the world’s most successful and innovative companies. Start-up teams will be coached by practising entrepreneurs and innovators to take a venture concept to commercial reality. You will be required to test, prototype and refine a viable response to a real-world challenge or opportunity. Working in diverse start-up teams, you will use innovative approaches to problem solving, by learning how to develop and deliver an end-to-end solution. The unit is highly experiential and hands-on with learning guided through mentorship, peer-to-peer learning and industry engagement. ‘Start-up Fastrack 1’ focuses on the desirability and feasibility elements of innovation. You will undertake primary research with customers and end-users supported by desktop research to identify and frame a deeper understanding of the problem. Through iterative cycles of ideation, you will develop the capability to rapid prototype and conduct real life user-testing to evaluate your concepts and ideas. This process underpins the initial business modelling, customer acquisition and go-to-market elements of ‘Start-up Fastrack 1’ that are designed to lay the groundwork for ‘Start-up Fastrack 2’ by arming you with the necessary mindset and capabilities to build your value proposition through rigorous market validation and feasibility assessment.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. develop an informed awareness of what it takes to actually start a new venture
2. be competent in conducting human-centred primary and secondary research
3. become comfortable in solving complex challenges by utilising design-driven approaches to innovation
4. design and conduct usability testing to validate desirability and feasibility of venture concepts
5. demonstrate competency in rapid ideation and prototyping
6. be able to develop and test different potential business models
7. function effectively in a team
8. demonstrate ability to manage stakeholder and client relationships
9. enable students to reflect on their learning experience and to change and modify thinking and action in response to such reflections
10. confidently be able to pitch a value proposition to key stakeholders

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.