Syllabus

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Description

In an ever-changing world, where the speed of innovation and the amount of external forces and drives is constantly growing, the capability to quickly evaluate opportunities and innovate is paramount for the creation of successful businesses. 

The Business Innovation Seminar is designed to provide students from architecture and design backgrounds the key understanding of what makes a project a viable business idea, how to analyze markets and industries, how to validate ideas early on and how to iterate and innovate on business models to build the basis for an economically sustainable venture. Based on the Lean Methodology and mixing together theory, real-life examples, practical exercises and 1-1 feedback, it gives students a toolbox and a mental mindset to approach opportunities during their professional careers as well as the foundations to set up a business. 

All the content will be directly applied by students on a final Venture Starting Package, that will be presented during a final pitch.

 

Learning Objectives

The aim of the seminar is to provide students with the tools to understand and evaluate business opportunities based on their own research projects. It provides a framework to analyze ideas, tools and references to understand the market and guidelines on how to understand whether a venture can be successfully created. The core competencies are complemented with an introduction to business model innovation and practical exercises. 

Specific objectives: 

  • Learn how to evaluate business opportunities 
  • Understand and apply the concept of Product Market Fit 
  • Understand and apply the concept of Unit Economics 
  • Recognize the core elements of a successful venture 
  • Develop and Iterate on a Business Model for a specific idea 

 

Keywords

Business Model, Business Model Innovation, Lean Startup, Product Market Fit, Unit Economics, Business Angels, Venture Capital.


Faculty


Faculty Assistants


Projects from this course

SMART AM

Multi-material Additive Manufacturing solutions. CONTEXT The synergy between clay additive manufacturing and computational design has revolutionized construction, bridging the gap between project design and production. This integration has established a direct-design-build system, facilitating seamless translation of intricate designs into physical structures with precision and speed. This transformative approach enables complex geometries, customization, and cost-effective sustainability … Read more

Business of Mobile Additive Manufacturing

Rapid urbanization demands more efficient construction methods: Labor shortage in the construction industry: It is important to note the type of machinery being used by these two companies for 3D printing. Tvasta uses a robotic arm equipped with an extruder for printing concrete and L&T uses a gantry system, which is a big framework inside … Read more

The Concept of ReWood Dynamics: A Sustainable Approach to Wood Products

The idea behind ReWood Dynamics centers on an innovative approach to using waste wood in the construction industry. This concept involves a two-phased process to transform discarded wood into a usable and sustainable building material. Initially, the concept requires a delignification treatment of waste wood. This process aims to enhance the structural integrity of the … Read more

BUILDCODE

Copilot Through Your Nightmares BUILDCODE is designed to streamline the work of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) professionals by providing easy access to building codes and regulations. Do you remember yourself working with building codes last time? It was a nightmare, right? Especially when u work with international projects, which use their native languages.  And … Read more

Omni Corp

Omni Corp is a project where we ideate to create a universal software where it aims to reduce the number of softwares needed to perform all the different tasks in the construction and design domain. Market Study

Oxpecker

Data-driven designers want to consider wind flow in their design process but resort to simulating end-stage designs with free but time-consuming tools or delegate it to experts. While expensive software offers relatively faster results, the cost doesn’t justify the number of simulations. Those mindful of expenses are always willing to sacrifice accuracy during the design … Read more

BioCosm | The one stop shop for Nature-based Solutions | Business Innovation

Introduction Carbon Dioxide is the main contributor to global warming and climate crisis. CO2 traps the heat that is re-radiated from the Earth, thus, increasing the Earth’s surface temperature. The main causes of CO2 emissions are:1. 40% emissions made by burning fossil fuels for energy production. 2. 42% emissions made by the built environment. 3. … Read more

WOOD WAYS: DO IT THE GOOD WAY

BUSINESS INNOVATION WORKSHOP 2023 Introduction: Nepal, nestled in the heart of South Asia, boasts a rich cultural heritage and breathtaking natural landscapes. However, the surge in urbanization, a global phenomenon, is transforming Nepalese cities into concrete landscapes, eroding their unique identity. Recognizing the environmental impact of such urban development, the global construction sector is increasingly … Read more

SWIFT

“Your new ally in Public Transportation” – Problem – Today, urban commuters who rely on public transportation are faced with four principal challenges: – Solution – A multi[modal-city] transport application that enhances passenger’s experience and improves public transport system’s efficiency across different cities, at the country level. – Why now? – The covid-19 pandemic has … Read more

Lumber Legacy

A frame where our buildings tell us a story of care, not just for the structures themselves, but for the world around us. Welcome to Lumber Legacy, where construction is more than a business – A heartfelt endeavour to create a legacy that resonates with sustainability and compassion. In the heart of Lumber Legacy, we’re … Read more

Chasing Identity

Chasing Identity is a Generative Adversarial Network driven platform for finding variations of the architecture in the historical city center. I am from the Republic of Tatarstan, which is situated in the center part of Russia. Initially the idea of the project was born from anger and from working for the government. Kazan city has … Read more