• Introduction to entrepreneurship. Definitions and entrepreneurship process. Definition of entrepreneur and entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurship on the national and international level. Examples of successful businesses.
• Institutions for the development of entrepreneurship and the role of government. Link between entrepreneurship and economic development. Development of entrepreneurial skills.
• Business idea and business plan
• Business Model Canvas
• Funding of new businesses and entrepreneurial activity. Venture capital companies. Business incubators. Business plan financing.
• Financial plan
• Development of entrepreneurial activity. Exit strategies for businesses or entrepreneurial ventures. Valuation of businesses.
• New ventures: formulating an idea, identifying opportunities, realizing and financing the idea, entering and establishing a presence in the market, sale or third-party buyout.
• Innovation and entrepreneurship
• Social entrepreneurship. Corporate entrepreneurship.
• International entrepreneurship. Internationalization and globalization. International best practices in entrepreneurship.

The principal objective of this course is to help students develop the necessary skills required to work effectively in small- and medium-sized businesses, to start their own business or to buy and manage a business. Students learn how to evaluate their capacity to run a small business, to identify and assess business opportunities, to ensure the necessary capital, and to organize and manage business functions including production, management, accounting and finance. The ultimate goal is to introduce students to the basic principles of entrepreneurship and to encourage them to combine the knowledge they have acquired in other related courses by examining contemporary practical issues in entrepreneurship. In addition, the course draws students’ attention to areas that will be of particular importance during the remainder of their studies so that they can become successful entrepreneurs. Special emphasis is placed on the dynamic concepts of entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, the analysis of problems and challenging situations and the identification of solutions. The understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation as collective, interactive, socioeconomic processes is central to this approach.

The course employs current research, examples, and case studies to help students to understand theoretical concepts and develop skills so that they can:

• understand the basic concepts of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneur;
• to be aware of the entrepreneurship ecosystem and identify its dimensions;
• understand the concepts of innovation and creativity;
• understand the importance of innovation and creativity in the successful development of a new venture;
• acquire knowledge and skills relating to all the stages in the entrepreneurial process;
• identify the most important factors in starting and managing a new venture;
• understand the steps for developing a business plan;
• identify and outline entrepreneurial opportunities which are aligned with their personal interests, talents and values; and
• develop their own business plan.