Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
The entrepreneurship and small business management area of application reflects the fact that practically all new job creation in the United States is produced by new ventures and small- to medium-sized emerging growth businesses.
In addition, Boulder and the Leeds School of Business are highly recognized for a unique entrepreneurship climate. Students enhance their functional area knowledge by applying such learning to entrepreneurship and small- to medium-sized environments.
This application area provides the knowledge, understanding, and skills for creating, organizing, and managing new ventures or small- to medium-sized and emerging growth businesses as independent entities, or within corporate structures.
Students examine theory and research, but the fundamental thrust of this application area is to experience entrepreneurial cultures through professional experiences such as field projects, meeting entrepreneurs in the classroom, internships, writing feasibility and business plans, and developing other practical skills.
After completing the required lower-division core courses, students will begin the study of entrepreneurial environments in their junior year. Entrepreneurial finance, business plan preparation, and an academic internship may be taken in the junior and/or senior year.
Students who complete the three required entrepreneurship courses with a 3.30 grade point average or better, and who complete an approved academic internship of at least 60 hours, will qualify to sit for the entrepreneurship honors exam.
Those who pass the exam will be awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Entrepreneurial Studies.
Required Courses:
ESBM 3700 Entrepreneurial Environments - 3 Credits
ESBM 4570 Entrepreneurial Finance - 3 Credits
ESBM 4830 Business Plan Preparation - 3 Credits
Note: Students wishing to take an academic internship should have completed ESBM 3700 by the end of their junior year.
Course Descriptions
ESBM 3700-3: Entrepreneurial Environments
Students are exposed to the entrepreneurship environment within firms, from start-up through the later stages of organization. Course assignments give students the opportunity to develop greater self-awareness of their fit within entrepreneurial environments and learn the processes of venture idea screening and business planning. Case studies and guest visits by entrepreneurs highlight the course. Prereqs., BCOR 2000, BCOR 2200, BCOR 2300, and BCOR 2400. Students may take this course in their junior or senior year.
ESBM 4570-3: Entrepreneurial Finance
Students focus on the financial concepts, issues, methods, and industry practices relevant to entrepreneurial decision makers. The course addresses a variety of topics including financial valuation; various sources of funds, structures, and legal issues in arranging financing; the private and public venture capital markets; and preparation for, and execution of, an initial public securities offering. This course provides an understanding of the segments of capital markets specializing in start-up and growth financing. Classroom activities include lectures, case discussions, and guest speakers. Prerequisite: BCOR 2200 and junior standing.
ESBM 4830-3: Business Plan Preparation
Teams complete a sophisticated business plan from conception to presentation. Students interact with entrepreneurs and the course concludes with a spirited business plan competition judged by professionals. Prerequisites: ESBM 3700 and ESBM 4570.