Overview

Even the most ingenious ideas need finance to bring them to life. This unit will demystify how to secure backing for new business ventures. Students will identify their specific financial needs and find relevant funding sources. They will become familiar with the world of angel investors, investment managers, and venture capitalists, and learn how to gain their support. Leading investors and entrepreneurs will share their experiences in industry and provide feedback. Students will build the confidence and tools they need to turn their vision into a commercial reality.

Requisites

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  1. Experiment and build financial models for start-ups
  2. Identify and evaluate different sources of funding to support start-ups
  3. Critically evaluate and determine the funding needs of start-ups
  4. Determine the value of a start-up and negotiate with potential investors
  5. Work individually or collaboratively to prepare a term sheet to raise equity

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class		2.00 12 weeks 24
Online
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULOs
Quizzes Individual  20 - 30%  2,3,4
Report Individual  20 - 40%  2,3,4
Report and Presentation Group  50 - 60%  1,2,3,4,5

Content

  • What are the financial statements?  
  • How to do financial performance analysis?  
  • How to conduct financial forecasting, and which methods to employ?  
  • How to assess funding needs of a start-up?  
  • How to value an early-stage start-up, and which valuation methods to use?  
  • Where are the local and international sources of funding for start-ups? 
  • What are exit strategies for investors and start-up entrepreneurs?  
  • What is a term-sheet, and how is it prepared? 

Study resources