LEARN / SOiE / Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship
Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship
Fall Semester 2025 - 3 ECTS
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The aim of the course is to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurship, develop your entrepreneurial mindset and competencies. Furthermore, the course is designed to inspire you to create impact and implement societal change. By fostering creativity and innovation, you will be empowered to develop your own venture ideas and be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills. Entrepreneurial competences are crucial for future employment in the startup world but also in industry and academia.
Through hands-on, diverse learning experiences, this course aims to empower you to realize your potential, driving positive transformation in the world and preparing you for future challenges and opportunities.
Learning outcomes
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Embrace an entrepreneurial mindset, demonstrating an understanding of how creativity, innovation, and risk-taking are essential for driving change and making impactful decisions in various contexts.
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Navigate the initial stages of business plan creation with competence, from ideation to developing a viable concept based on modern methods. You will gain insight into market dynamics and learn to assess the feasibility, profitability, and sustainability of a business idea critically.
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Exhibit foundational entrepreneurial competencies, including effective leadership and teamwork, strategic decision-making, and problem-solving skills, all tailored to meet the unique challenges of starting and managing entrepreneurial ventures.
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Commit to personal and professional growth by actively developing your entrepreneurial skills, incorporating reflective practices into your learning process, and showing readiness to adapt and thrive in the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship.
What you will gain?
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Comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurship: Learn essential concepts, mindset, and competencies
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Learn key business and life skills: whether you have a business idea or not! Enhance leadership, teamwork, decision-making, problem-solving and many more skills.
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Inspiration to drive change: Be inspired to drive societal change and develop your own venture ideas.
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Hands-on learning: Engage in practical experiences to prepare for future challenges. Apply theory through team projects based on real-world examples.
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Experienced professionals or academic experts, bring their expertise to various topics covered in the course lectures.
The course underscores the importance of active participation in class discussions and teamwork. It is structured around lectures, teamwork, and the development of venture ideas, emphasizing practical relevance by applying theoretical concepts in real-world contexts. At the onset, you will form teams focused on real-world innovation or entrepreneurship examples. Throughout the course, teams will collaborate on developing new venture ideas through hands-on learning by doing.
Tuesday 24th of September - 16h30-19h30
• Overview of different ways of entrepreneurship
• Developing entrepreneurial thinking: risk-taking, creativity, and innovation
• Entrepreneurship competences and self-reflectionTuesday 1st of October - 16h30-19h30
• Idea generation
• Formation of interdisciplinary teams
• Importance of team work and collaborationTuesday 08th of October - 16h30-19h30
• Human resources in startups: building and managing effective teams
• Leadership and teamwork skills: fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation
• Conflict management and team motivation
• Emotional intelligence: Understanding and using emotional intelligence for better leadership and positive team dynamicsTuesday 15th of October - 16h30-19h30
• Defining the value proposition
• Understanding customer insights and market analysisTuesday 22nd of October - 16h30-19h30
• Developing a sustainable business plan (BMC)
• Leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving
• Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and validation
Tuesday 29th of October - 16h30-19h30
• Marketing strategies for startups
• Building a brand identity• Leveraging AI tools in marketing
Tuesday 05th of November - 16h30-19h30
• Pitching toolbox
• Audience analysis
• Body language and voice
• Practicing and getting feedback
Tuesday 12th of November - 16h30-19h30
• Exploring avenues for securing startup funding
• Walk-through of a business case (from start to exit)
• Overview of fundamental financial principles for entrepreneursTuesday 19th of November - 16h30-19h30
• Role model talks
• Guest lecture from successful entrepreneurs
• Case studies of successful companies and lessons learned
Tuesday 29th of November - 16h30-19h30
• Strategies for sustainable business growth
• Challenges and opportunities in internationalization
• Learnings & best practices from an investor; what investors look out for
• Funding opportunitiesTuesday 03rd of December - 16h30-19h30
• Presenting final business ideas and business plans
• Peer evaluation and feedback
• Reflecting on personal development & learning, and planning for future endeavors in entrepreneurship
Fall 2025 Schedule
Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship Fall Semester - 3 ECTS
Bachelors, Masters
Applications will open in April 2025, and enrollment guidelines will be available at that time. If you'd like to be notified when the application opens, please join our email list.
If you'd like to be notified when the application opens,
please join our mailing list.
Trainers
Patrycja Pielaszek
Trainer, Facilitator & Entrepreneur, Innovation Catalyst & Lecturer, University of Zurich
Alberto Ribeiro Silveira
Founder, Rebel Forward LLC
Mauricio Campos Suarez
Eng. & MBA, Founder, Coach & Consultant
Marta V. Gehring
Senior Account Director, RHA Communications & Senior Fellow, EPFL Innovation Park
Arthur Krause
Life Science Consultant & Educator
Oskari Vinko
Entrepreneur, Scientist & Coach
Isabelle Siegrist
Founder & CEO, Sandborn
Ruben Herrendorf
CEO at NXI Therapeutics
Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein
Prof. Dr. Financial Management,
University of Basel
Anna-Elina Pekonen
Lead Entrepreneurial Education, Innovation Office, University of Basel
Christian Elias Schneider
Managing Director, Innovation Office, University of Basel
Dr. Alessandro Mazzetti
Head of Innovation Office, University of Basel
Clémence Le Roux
Project Manager Entrepreneurial Activities & Startup Relations