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363-1082-00L 3 Credits BSC , MSC , NDS D-ITET , D-MTEC , D-INFK
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Enabling Entrepreneurship: From Science to Startup

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Robin De Cock
Students should provide a brief overview (unto 1 page) of their business ideas that they would like to commercialise through the course. If they do not have an idea, they are required to provide a motivation letter stating why they would like to do this elective. If you are unsure about the readiness of your idea or technology to be converted into a startup, please drop me a line to schedule a call or meeting to discuss. The total number of students will be limited to 50. The students should submit the necessary information until 13 September 2025 and apply to Robin De Cock: .
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Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:31:05

Abstract

This elective is relevant for students who have developed a technology and are keen to evaluate the steps in starting a startup. This is also relevant for students who would like to start a startup but do not have a technology, but are clear on a specific market and the impact they would like to create.

Objective

Students have technology competence or an idea that they would like to convert into a startup. They are now in the process of evaluating the steps necessary to do so. In summary: 1. Students want to become entrepreneurs. 2. The students can be from business or science & technology. 3. The course will enable the students to identify the relevance of their technology or idea from the market relevance perspective and thereby create a business case to take it to market. 4. The students will have exposure to investors and entrepreneurs (with a focus on ETH spin-offs) through the course, to gain insight to commercialise their idea.

Content

The students would cover the following topics, as the build their idea into a business case: 1. Technology excellence: this assumes that the student has achieved a certain degree of competence in the area of technology that he or she expects to bring to the market 2. Market need and market relevance: The student would then be expected to identify the possible markets that may find the technology of relevance. Market relevance implies the process of identification of how relevant the market perceives the technology, and whether this can sustain over a longer period of time 3. IP and IP strategy: Intellectual property, whether in the form of a patent or a trade secret, implies the secret ingredient that enables the student to achieve certain results that competitors are unable to copy. This enables the student (and subsequently the startup) to hold on to the market that they create with customers 4. Team including future capabilities required: a startup requires multiple people with complementary capabilities. They also need to be motivated while at the same time protecting the interests of the startup 5. Financials: There is a need of funding to achieve milestones. This includes funding for salaries and running of the company 6. Investors and funding options: There are multiple funding options for a startup. They all come with different advantages and limitations. It's important for a startup to recognise its needs and find the investors that fit these needs and are best aligned with the vision of the founders 7. Preparation of business case: The students will finally prepare the business case that can help them to articulate the link of the technology with the market need and its willingness to pay 8. Legal overview, company forms and shareholders’ agreements (including pitfalls) The seminar includes talks from invited investors, entrepreneurs and legal experts regarding the importance of the various elements being covered in content, workshops and teamwork. There is a particular emphasis on market validation on each step of the journey, to ensure relevance.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Since the course will revolve around the ideas of the students, the notes will be for the sole purpose of providing guidance to the students to help convert their technologies or ideas into business cases for the purpose of forming startups. Theoretical subject matter will be kept to a minimum and is not the focus of the course.

Literature

Book Sethi, A. "From Science to Startup" ISBN 978-3-319-30422-9

General Information

Language
English
Levels
BSC , MSC , NDS
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance
The course will help students who want to become entrepreneurs to convert their idea into a business case. The students will be required to prepare a business case for their chosen idea, demonstrating viability for commercialization & will comprise an entrepreneurial pitch (including financials) and an executive summary. The students will be graded on a intermediate entrepreneurial pitch (20%) and the final entrepreneurial pitch (80%) at the end of the course. The formats for the deliverables will be provided to students through the course.

Registration & Places

Limited places (Special selection)
Signup End
12.09.2025

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Enabling Entrepreneurship: From Science to Startup
Irregular lecture
  • 01.10 Date 14:15-18:00 (HG F 26.1)
  • 08.10 Date 16:00-18:00 (ON LI NE)
  • 15.10 Date 16:00-18:00 (ON LI NE)
  • 22.10 Date 16:00-18:00 (ON LI NE)
  • 29.10 Date 16:00-18:00 (ON LI NE)
  • 05.11 Date 14:15-18:00 (LFW B 3)
  • 12.11 Date 16:00-18:00 (ON LI NE)
  • 19.11 Date 16:00-18:00 (ON LI NE)
  • 03.12 Date 16:00-18:00 (ON LI NE)
  • 10.12 Date 14:15-18:00 (HG F 26.1)
26 h semesterly

Offered In