Lecture
The lecture Entrepreneurship as a mandatory part of either the module "Entrepreneurship" or "Student innovation Lab (SIL)" introduces the basic concepts of entrepreneurship. The individual stages of dynamic business development are dealt with. Emphasis is placed on the introduction to methods for generating innovative business ideas, translating patents into business concepts, and general principles of business planning. Further contents are the conception and use of service-oriented information systems for founders, technology management, and business model generation as well as lean start-up methods for the implementation of business ideas by way of controlled experiments in the market.
A case study is also part of the lecture. In addition, startups as well as experienced founders and entrepreneurs report on their experiences in the practice of founding a company in guest lectures.
Entrepreneurship Module
The Entrepreneurship module at KIT is designed as a 9 ECTS Master module program, which includes the compulsory lecture Entrepreneurship (3 ECTS) and either one seminar (6 ECTS) or two seminars (3 ECTS each). The seminars can be selected from our range, but we also accept a number of courses from other chairs. For course accreditation and module configuration in the Master, please read the module manual of your faculty or contact your programme coordinator.
We offer the following seminars:
Startup Experience (WS/SS) (6 ECTS):
Students learn about the life of a founder in the Startup X seminar, from idea to pitch, based on their own projects. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to describe why personal and team roles are important for team building and how they can influence startup projects. Originating from new or emerging technologies, they will be able to develop a sound value proposition for a target customer, identify business opportunities, create a prototype and a concrete business model, and pitch their business ideas to potential investors.
Click here to go to the website of Startup X
International Focus:
Joint Entrepreneurship School (JES) (SS) (6ECTS):
In addition to imparting technical knowledge on the topic of business start-ups and corresponding competencies, the focus is on breaking down cultural and language barriers between German and Chinese students and getting to know the start-up ecosystem of the other country. During the Summer School in Shanghai and Karlsruhe, the students will develop a business model of technologies and patents developed at KIT in workshops in German-Chinese tandems over the two-week period.
Click here for more information and impressions of Joint Entrepreneurship School
EUCOR - International Business Development and Sales (WS) (6 ECTS):
An interactive course offered together with the Marketing & Sales Research Group (Prof. Klarmann) and in cooperation with EM Strasbourg. A maximum of 10 students each from KIT and EM Strasbourg develop in bi-national tandems a sales presentation based on a value proposition of a business model developed in the seminar.
Topic-specific focus:
Design Thinking (WS/SS) (3 ECTS):
In the seminar, students learn basic approaches to achieve innovation, i.e. concrete techniques and methods that start with the current end-user or today's "non-user" of certain products & services. So we work strongly PROBLEM ORIENTED and with concrete CUSTOMER RELATION. After attending the seminar, students will be able to assess the need to elicit end-user needs as a basis for market-driven innovation approaches.
Business Planning for Founders (WS/SS) (3 ECTS):
This seminar introduces students to basic concepts of business planning for entrepreneurs. On the one hand, it deals with concepts for the concretization of business ideas (business modeling, market potential assessment, resource planning, etc.) and, on the other hand, with the creation of a feasible business plan (with or without VC financing). In the course of the seminar, students will be familiarized with methods to further develop patents and business ideas into more concrete business planning and formulate them in a business plan.
Entrepreneurship Research (SS) (3 ECTS):
Students work independently on a topic from the field of entrepreneurship research. Within the framework of a written paper, the seminar topic is to be presented in a scientifically sound manner on 15-20 pages. The course is therefore especially aimed at students who would like to write their final thesis at the Chair of Entrepreneurship and Technology Management.
Entrepreneurship Seasonal School (WS/SS) (3 ECTS):
The Entrepreneurship Seasonal School brings together students from different universities to spend a week strengthening their knowledge of entrepreneurship. By gaining a deep understanding of technologies and current needs, students will utilize creativity techniques to uncover potential business ideas that provide value for potential customers. Additionally, they will learn how to create viable business models and pitch their idea to a jury. The one-week program can involve collaboration with other European universities.
ATTENTION: Creditability
The seminars are NOT creditable in the seminar module! The only exception is the seminar Entrepreneurship Research (SS), which is creditable in the seminar module.
Current and past courses can be found here.
Registration for the seminars is done via the WIWI portal.
SIL module
The Student Innovation Lab (SIL) is an innovative program at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) that integrates hands-on entrepreneurial experiences into your curriculum. In dedicated labs over two semesters, you can build, test, and prototype your high-tech product while learning the entrepreneurial skills that will turn your idea into a scalable, breakthrough company. The SIL always starts in the WS.
For WiWi students 18 ECTS are credited, and for all other programs 15 ECTS.
Further offers
Management of Emerging Technologies (SS):
This lecture provides an overview of new technologies in the research areas of biotechnology, nanotechnology and neuroscience as well as basic concepts of technology management. A listener of the lecture should be able to present problems of technology assessment and early recognition of new technologies in a structured way and to apply formal approaches to questions of technology management appropriately.
Further courses can be taken at the chair iTM of Univ-Prof. Marion Weissenberger-Eibl, see module handbook.