Strategic Management of Start ups

Teacher(s)

Roszkowska-Menkes Maria;

Language

English

Prerequisites

Restricted access to INEO / LSM-INGE / LSM-DD / LSM-CEMS students

Main themes

Starting up a wholly new business (opportunity identification, market segmentation/positioning/timing, marketing, managerial/group dynamics implications, resources/funding implications)
Growing a new business (growth trajectories and styles, and their coping mechanisms)
Internationalization of new / young businesses (foreign entry modes, born globals)
Dealing with decline and exit dynamics of new / young businesses (interactions between start-ups and established/incumbent/big business, corporate venturing)
Replacement of founders and succession of leadership at start-ups (growth cycle/stages, investment rounds and management renewal)

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

Assess the market readiness / potential of start-up value propositions Assess the strengths and weaknesses of (management) teams behind start-ups Assess the investment readiness of start-ups Understand competitive dynamics (opportunities and threats) around start-ups and the markets they address See through cultural and personal propensity for entrepreneurship according to start-up growth styles

Content

This course explores strategy for start-ups, providing a deep understanding of the key strategic choices innovation-driven entrepreneurs face. It offers a structured framework for selecting and implementing entrepreneurial strategies while addressing the challenges of scaling ventures over time.
A central theme is balancing experimentation and learning with deliberate strategic choices to build a competitive advantage. The course examines how to craft an entrepreneurial strategy, the critical decisions involved, how these choices align to form a cohesive approach, and the playbook for different entrepreneurial strategies.

Teaching methods

• Lectures
• Case sessions
• Exposure to start-up pitches

Evaluation methods

The assessment plan for this course is as follows:
1. Continous assessment (group-based, 30%)
2. Final written exam (individual, 70%)
Second session (only if the overal grade is lower than 10)
For the second session you will need to pass the part of the assessment in which you did not succeed in the first session

Bibliography

To be specified on Moodle

Teaching materials

• Reading material, video material via Moodle

Faculty or entity

> CLSM