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Founder Fundamentals

The Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship

Attention

Flexible Workshops, Unlimited Learning Opportunities!
Founder Fundamentals is a workshop-based program that introduces participants to the essentials of entrepreneurship. With a flexible and engaging approach, students gain insights into idea generation, prototype development, business modeling, and securing investments. Unlike traditional lectures, the Founder Fundamentals workshops offer dynamic learning experiences tailored to your entrepreneurial journey.

Founder Fundamentals is a 2-semester program, where each semester includes a series of 6 interactive workshops, making a total of 12 available workshops over the Winter and Summer terms. The aim is to provide a broad foundation in entrepreneurship, accessible to students across disciplines.

Lecture

General Information

Term(s)

The program is offered every Winter and Summer term. The next sequence of workshops will run from October 2024 to February 2025 (Winter Term), followed by Summer Term 2025. Next information session: 15.10.2024 13:30 (90min)

Time investment

3.5 hours per workshop, with 6 workshops per semester.

ECTS

Students can earn 3 ECTS credits for attending 6 workshops and an additional 3 ECTS credits upon completing 12 workshops in total.

Module type

Compulsory Elective Module

Module selection at HPI

Cybersecurity MA:

HPI-PSK-ML: Management und Leitung
HPI-DE-RWM: Recht, Wirtschaft, Management
‍

‍Digital Health MA:

‍HPI-PSK-ML: Management and Leadership
‍

‍Data Engineering MA:‍

HPI-DE-RWM: Recht, Wirtschaft, Management
HPI-PSK-ML: Management und Leitung
‍

‍IT-Systems Engineering MA:

‍HPI-PSK-RW: Recht und Wirtschaft
HPI-PSK-ML: Management und Leitung

Grades

Yes, based on homework assignments after each workshop and a final oral exam to assess progress.

Enrollment deadline

enrollment is possible up to 8 days before the oral exam date.

Examination date

Teaching format

Workshops, with interactive sessions, practical exercises, and industry insights.

Teaching language

English

Registration

Fee

Team budget

HPI Founder Scholarship

Participants

Maximum number of Participants

Room (Location)

Key dates

Learning and Teaching Methods

The program is structured around practical, hands-on learning experiences. Each workshop includes the following components:


‍3.5-hour Workshop
‍These interactive sessions are designed to provide students with real-world entrepreneurial skills, including group discussions, exercises, and opportunities to network with experts.‍

‍
‍Practical Application
‍Exercises are complemented by real-world scenarios to enhance understanding and applicability.

Details

Description

Founder Fundamentals aims to provide an essential understanding of entrepreneurship, startups, and product development. The workshops are designed to develop a strong foundation in economic processes and business creation while applying these principles to the context of technology and IT startups.

‍

‍

Program Structure

The workshops are spread over the term with bi-weekly sessions, allowing for flexibility and in-depth exploration of each topic. Participants have the chance to develop and refine their entrepreneurial skills through practical exercises, mentorship, and peer discussions.

Key learnings

Key learnings

The Founder Fundamentals workshops are designed to help students answer critical questions about entrepreneurship

‍

‍

  • What is Entrepreneurship?
    Understanding the role and impact of entrepreneurship in our economy and society.
  • How Do Companies Function?
    Exploring the structural and operational questions required for starting a business.
  • ‍Impact of Technology Startups
    ‍    Understanding the integration of startups into the economic framework and their broader societal impact.

Benefits

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Workshops

‍

Below is an overview of the workshops provided during the Winter Term and their key topics:

Winter Term 2024/25

Week 1

Day 1

November 5, 2024

Workshop 1
Should I Be an Entrepreneur and What Does It Mean?
Exploring the entrepreneurial mindset, motivations, and the journey ahead.

Week 2

Day 2

November 19, 2024

Workshop 2
Getting Started: Finding Ideas and Markets
Strategies for generating ideas, identifying markets, and understanding market needs.

Week 3

Day 3

December 3, 2024

‍

Workshop 3
Hands-On: Building Prototypes and MVPs
Practical methods for creating prototypes and developing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs).

Week 4

Day 4

December 17, 2024

Workshop 4
Making Money: Finding the Right Business Model and Landing Your First Sale
Developing business models, understanding customer value, and preparing for initial sales.

Week 5

Day 5

January 7, 2025

Workshop 5
Raising Money: Decoding Investors, Crafting Equity Stories, and Perfecting Your Pitch
Insights into securing funding, understanding investor expectations, and refining your pitch.

Week 6

Day 6

January 21, 2025

Workshop 6
Show Me the Money! Securing an Investment
Deep dive into the investment process, strategies for negotiation, and understanding term sheets.

Week 7

Day 7

Week 8

Day 8

Week 9

Day 9

Week 10

Day 10

Week 11

Day 11

Week 12

Day 12

Week 13

Day 13

Week 14

Day 14

Week 15

Day 15

Week 16

Day 16

Week 17

Day 17

Week 18

Day 18

Week 19

Day 19

Week 20

Day 20

Summer Term 2025

Week 1

Day 1

tbt.

Workshop 7
Knowing the Numbers: Financial Planning & Statements
Basics of financial planning, budgeting, and understanding key financial statements.

Week 2

Day 2

tbt.

Workshop 8
How to Organize Your Startup: Founding Your Company
Legal, structural, and organizational aspects of setting up your startup.

Week 3

Day 3

tbt.

Workshop 9
Building Traction: Marketing and Selling Products
Strategies to gain market traction, promote products, and drive sales.

Week 4

Day 4

tbt.

Workshop 10
Being an Employer: Hiring, Retaining, and Leading a Team
Managing the human side of startups—recruitment, team-building, and leadership.

Week 5

Day 5

tbt.

Workshop 11
TBA

Week 6

Day 6

tbt.

Workshop 12
TBA

Week 7

Day 7

Week 8

Day 8

Week 9

Day 9

Week 10

Day 10

Week 11

Day 11

Week 12

Day 12

Week 13

Day 13

Week 14

Day 14

Week 15

Day 15

Week 16

Day 16

Week 17

Day 17

Week 18

Day 18

Week 19

Day 19

Week 20

Day 20

Tagrgets

Our Goals

Examination

Examination

Assessment Method‍

The course grade is based on active participation in workshops, submission of homework assignments, and an end-of-term interview session. Unlike traditional exams, Founder Fundamentals focuses on practical entrepreneurial skills rather than theoretical knowledge.

‍

Homework Assignments

‍After each workshop, participants are expected to complete and submit assignments that include reflections, interviews, scenarios, or presentations.

‍

Stamp Card & Interview Session:‍

Upon completing 6 workshops and the associated homework, students participate in a brief interview session to reflect on their progress, which is used to calculate their final grade.

‍

Attendance Policy

‍Attendance in workshops is mandatory to qualify for credit conversion and grading.

Your Lecturers and Program Managers

Further Questions?
Don't hesitate to contact us!

Dr. Frank Pawlitschek

Director HPI Engine

Email

David Hahn

Head of Program

Email
Services

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Literature

Recommended readings to complement the workshops include:

  • Eric Ries: The Lean Startup
  • Ash Maurya: Running Lean
  • Brad Feld: Venture Deals
  • Alexander Osterwalder: Value Proposition Design
  • Alexander Osterwalder: Business Model Generation

Literature

Registration

Registration Requirements
Application Instruction
Selection Process
Note for external students

The HPI Engine is an evolution from the traditional 'school' model to a dynamic ecosystem educating tech leaders and founders based on a unique empowerment approach. Just like an engine drives a machine, our ecosystem empowers the next generation of tech leaders and founders.

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Location /


HPI Engine
Hasso Plattner Institut
‍
Campus II Bulding L 1st floor
August-Bebel-Str. 88
14482 Potsdam

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