Best Free Business MOOCs For May

Jack McGourty

New Venture Discovery: From Idea to Minimal Viable Product

School: Columbia Business School

Platform: Canvas

Registration Link: CLICK HERE

Start Date: May 2, 2016 (5 Weeks Long)

Workload: Not Available

Instructor: Jack McGourty, Ph.D.

Credentials: McGourty has spent the past 17 years at Columbia University, where he currently serves as the Director of Community and Global Entrepreneurship at the business school. During his tenure, he established an undergraduate minor in entrepreneurship, as well as being vice dean of the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. An esteemed researcher, McGourty’s findings on product innovation have been implemented by organizations ranging from 3M and AT&T to the U.S. Army. The founder of Columbia University-Harlem Small Business Development Center, McGourty also sits on several nonprofit boards, including the Cherie Blair Foundation and Venture For Kids.

Graded: Not Specified.

Description: “Lean and mean” and “Fail fast.” These are mantras for this generation’s entrepreneurs. In this course, you’ll learn models for quickly launching scalable ventures that last. As part of the course, students will study “lean” planning models that include “problem-solution identification, product-market fit, customer discovery, in-depth industry and market analysis, minimal viable product development, and startup success metrics.” You’ll test your assumptions with target interviews, build prototypes to gain early feedback, study competitors to differentiate your solution, and evaluate various delivery channels and revenue streams.