Module description
What is the module about?
This module provides an overview of entrepreneurial finance concepts and planning, along with some numerical work and projected financial statements for new ventures. It presents the key concepts, tools, and principles of entrepreneurial finance from the viewpoint of both the entrepreneur and that of the investors to understand their motivations, objectives, and considerations. As an entrepreneur, you cannot negotiate effectively without understanding the investor’s perspective. As an investor, you cannot evaluate a potential opportunity without appreciating the entrepreneur’s perspective.
Who should do this module?
This module is an option for final year students on BSc Business Management, BSc International Management, and BSc Economics & Management, as well as BSc Accounting and Finance. It will be of interest for any student who in the future may consider running their own business or is interested in working in a start-up. It is not focused on private equity, accounting, or detailed valuation methods. This module is the next step in the entrepreneurial strand, following on Introduction to Entrepreneurship.
Provisional Lecture Outline
Lecture 1: Introduction to Entrepreneurial Finance: Goal Setting
Lecture 2: Understanding Financial Statements, Revenue & Expense Forecasting
Lecture 3: Cash Flow Management in Entrepreneurial Ventures
Lecture 4: Financing over the Lifetime of a Venture: Start-up Financing
Lecture 5: Bootstrapping and Creative Business Models
Lecture 6: Equity Financing and Angel Investors
Lecture 7: Financing a High-growth Business: Venture Capital
Lecture 8: Debt Financing
Lecture 9: Exit Planning
Lecture 10: Crowdfunding & Alternative Finance Trends
Lecture 11: Revision and Exam Prep
Assessment details
75% Examination
25% Individual Coursework
The format of the examination has not yet been confirmed. All students will be expected to sit any remote exams in January, but semester 1 only students will be set an alternative assessment or sit the exam remotely in lieu of any in-person exams.
Teaching pattern
Weekly workshops
Suggested reading list
Key text or background reading
Cornwall, J.R., Vang, D.O. and Hartman, J.M. (2024), Entrepreneurial Financial Management: An Applied Approach, 6th Edition, Taylor and Francis.
Alemany, L., Andreoli, J. (2018), Entrepreneurial finance: the art and science of growing ventures. Cambridge University Press.