COMM 489 - Applied Methods in Technology Start-ups at CDL (formerly COMM 486W)

COMM 489, Applied Methods in Technology Start-ups at Creative Destruction Lab is a 3-credit course in entrepreneurship in which students will work with the Creative Destruction Lab Vancouver team to support emerging technology and science focused start-ups and oversee the UBC Sauder CDL Venture Capital Program “SCVCP ” and make investment decisions allocating investment dollars into CDL ventures. Students will become familiar with the CDL-Vancouver companies and will have the opportunity to work on market analysis, customer development, financial analysis, and other core activities related to building early stage start-ups. Students will be provided with visibility into how venture capitalists and angel investors make investment decisions guided by local ecosystem venture capitalists. This course can be used toward Year 4 Entrepreneurship option requirements.

We recommend that you learn more about the CDL program by visiting creativedestructionlab.com as well as reading these news releases and articles:

Admission to this course is by application only. The course is restricted to students in Year 4. 

Information sessions

Date: TBD

Location: TBD

Pre-registration is not required.

  

Application information

Applications for the CDL course will open in May 2024. Check back here for updated information closer to the date.

Summary overview

CDL-Vancouver is an expansion from the original Creative Destruction Lab at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, a program that has created more than $5.0 Billion in equity value in eight years targeting companies that have the potential to transform our social, industrial, and economic landscape. The CDL is one of the world’s premier seed stage programs for massively scalable science-based ventures. Notable graduates include: Atomwise, Notch Therapeutics, Plantible Foods, Ionomr Innovations, Shift, Spiderwort and others.

The goal of the course is to provide students with knowledge and hands-on experience helping build high potential venture-scale start-ups based on a solid foundation of technology and/or science and engineering. Students will become familiar with the CDL-Vancouver companies and will have the opportunity to support them with market analysis, customer development, financial analysis, and other core activities related to building early stage start-ups. Students will also get some insight in how angel investors (and VCs) make investment decisions. Indeed, the work students do for ventures will be seen by the mentors/investors in the CDL program, and influence their investment decisions and the progress of the ventures. Some of the students across the CDL network have joined venture-backed CDL companies in key roles – this course is a unique opportunity for students who are interested in real world exposure to start-ups and seed funding. For more information, click here.

 

How will this course be taught?

This course is a combination of both lecture and workshop sessions in which students will advance their CDL-Vancouver ventures. Workshops will draw upon knowledge from entrepreneurship and start-up best practices across many verticals and students will be coached by guest speakers such as venture capitalists, lawyers, project managers, and marketing professionals. Projects and assignments will be conducted for the benefit of the CDL ventures and students alike.

 

Course instructor

Darrell Kopke
Adjunct Professor, Entrepreneur
Email: darrell.kopke@sauder.ubc.ca
Office: DL415

Course credits:
3

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