Entrepreneurial Finance is designed primarily for students who plan to be involved with a startup venture at some point in their career as a Founder, early Joiner, Investor, Board Member, or Advisor. However, the course is also very applicable for students interested in gaining a broader view of the financing landscape for startup companies, going far beyond the basics of venture capital and angel financing. Throughout the course, we emphasise financial opportunities and decisions of entrepreneurs and private equity investors investing in these entrepreneurs. The programme is broadly structured into four parts. First, we cover the basic ideas, tools and techniques which, once mastered, will greatly facilitate work throughout the remaining modules and group project. We then go on to consider the start-up, then the on-going company in operation and finally possible exit routes.

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

1. Explain the entrepreneurial process and identify the financing through the venture life cycle.
2. Measure and analyse SMEs financial performance.
3. Establish short and long term financial planning for SMEs.
4. Distinguish the different financing techniques appropriate for SMEs and measure their respective costs.
5. Value Early-Stage Ventures.
6. Recognise the ways that a successful entrepreneur can harvest or exit the venture.
7. Identify, gather and analyse the required data to design and implement their own ventures.
8. Deliver an effective presentation on their ventures’ proposals.

1. Course Introduction
2. Measuring Financial Performance
3. Evaluating Financial Performance
4. Financial Planning: Short Term and Long Term
5. Types and Costs of Financial Capital
6. Valuing Early-Sage Ventures
7. Venture Capital Valuation Methods
8. Harvesting the business venture investment
9. Financially troubled ventures: turnaround opportunities?

Chris Leach & Ronald Melicher (2017). Entrepreneurial Finance. Sixth Edition. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1305968356.

Steven Rogers (2014). Entrepreneurial Finance: Finance and Business Strategies for the Serious Entrepreneur. Third Edition. McGraw Hill. ISBN 978-0071825399