Venture capital plays a critical role in financing innovative, high-growth companies by providing capital, strategic guidance, industry expertise, and access to professional networks. Successful venture capital investing requires far more than identifying promising ideas—it demands disciplined sourcing, rigorous due diligence, market analysis, founder evaluation, financial modeling, portfolio construction, governance, value creation, and exit planning. Venture capital professionals must balance risk and return while supporting entrepreneurs through every stage of a company’s development.
This course provides a practical, executive-oriented study of venture capital investing and fund management. Rather than focusing solely on venture capital theory, students will learn how professional investors identify opportunities, evaluate startups, structure investments, monitor portfolio companies, create value after investment, and manage successful exits. The course also examines the perspectives of founders seeking investment, limited partners funding venture capital firms, and venture capital managers responsible for portfolio performance.
The “Practicum” emphasizes professional investment processes and real-world decision-making. Students will study the workflows, analytical frameworks, governance structures, investment committee practices, and portfolio management techniques commonly used by venture capital firms. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on practical applications relevant to technology startups, healthcare ventures, financial technology, industrial innovation, consumer products, enterprise software, biotechnology, clean technology, and emerging industries.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand the structure and operation of venture capital firms and funds.
• Evaluate startup investment opportunities using structured analytical frameworks.
• Conduct practical market, business, financial, and founder due diligence.
• Assess venture investments using risk, return, and portfolio management principles.
• Understand venture capital term sheets and investment structures.
• Monitor portfolio companies using operational and financial performance indicators.
• Develop post-investment value creation strategies.
• Evaluate exit alternatives and long-term investment performance.
• Apply ethical standards and governance principles to venture investing.
• Integrate venture capital decision-making into broader innovation and investment strategies.
