Gründe dein Digitales Startup – Planen, Pitchen, Realisieren

Type of Course:


Seminar + Exercise





Term:


Every winter term





Target Group:


Students of business informatics, economics and related disciplines (e.g. psychology)





Language:


Seminar slides in English, German mainly for the other language of communication





Recommended prior knowledge:


Basic knowledge of business administration





Admission requirements:


none





Examination Performance:


Presentation (3 x approx. 5 minutes per person plus discussion) with written elaboration (business plan with
max. 15 pages per person) in group work





Credits:


6





Learning Objectives:

In this course, students develop, test and expand their own or given ideas for IT-based business models,
which they present in presentations (“Business Pitches”) and record in a written elaboration (“Business
Plan”) - optional for possible IT-based start-ups after graduation.

As part of the lectures, general business model basics (i.e. theories, concepts, practical applications)
are first introduced or repeated. Subsequently, the specifics (including the role of technologies, success
factors) of digital business models are taught. “Digital business models” are deliberately defined broadly
: The online sale of physical products, for example, is included, as are platform, cloud and AI services;
technologies, e.g. from agriculture and medicine (e.g. pacemakers, sensors) also fall into this category;
the planned opening of a simple inner-city kiosk, on the other hand, does not.

As part of the course, various contemporary methods for idea and product development (e.g. design thinking
and digital innovation) are presented. The findings derived from these methods are continuously
incorporated into the development of the students' own ideas about IT-based business models.

Against the background of the content taught, the lectures are supplemented by exercises in which IT-based
business models are illustrated, reconstructed and evaluated, e.g. Facebook, Amazon, Google/Youtube,
Dropbox, OpenAI. The exercises are also used to reflect on the ideas and develop them further

After successfully completing the module, students can:

• understand and explain how business models can be subdivided and systematized
• 
  understand and explain what role technologies play in the development and implementation of IT-based
  business models
  
• analyze and evaluate existing IT-based business models
• develop new, especially digital business models and present them in a business plan

Contents of the project seminar:

• 
  Introduction or recapitulation of the basics of business models (e.g. Business Model Canvas)
  
• 
  Specifics of IT-based business models (including technological developments in the areas of digital
  platforms, artificial intelligence and smart services)
  
• 
  Idea generation, presentation and implementation (e.g. along the lines of design thinking and digital
  innovation)
  
• Introduction to the basics of the content and presentation of business plans

Contents of the exercise:

• Case studies on IT-based business models (e.g. Dropbox, OpenAI)
• Reflection and feedback on own ideas for IT-based business models

General information:


Participation in the kick-off is mandatory for obtaining a place in the event. At the kick-off, the
allocation procedure, the content of the event and the succession procedure will be explained. By
participating in the kick-off, you have not yet secured a place on the course. The number of participants is
limited to 20 students.