Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital: From Idea to Investment
Did you know that the business of venture capitalism is a *$330 billion industry, a number that nearly doubled since last year? How do entrepreneurs’ tap into those funds to help support new start-ups? This course takes you inside the fast-paced world of venture capital investing. Learn how startups raise money from external sources and understand the key concepts and terms of VC investing. Take on the role of an entrepreneur, and craft a convincing pitch to potential investors. If you’ve ever wanted to understand the various roles within this exciting field, this course is for you.
*SOURCE: Statista
Program Dates
Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Eligibility
For students ages 13 and up
Fees
$1495
How Entrepreneurs Raise Venture Capital
Learn the Core Concepts of Raising Funding
Find out how money, or capital, is raised by entrepreneurs. Determine the conditions under which entrepreneurs decide to source money, and understand when raising capital is the best option.
Delve Into the Venture Capital Ecosystem
Study how VC firms make money. Understand the players needed to raise capital. Learn about market research and valuation techniques, which are essential to a pitch.
Who Are the Firms and Investors?
Who are the investors in a VC deal? Where do they come from? Learn how startups find investors, and describe the important relationship between VCs and entrepreneurs.
Create an Unforgettable Pitch That Funds Your Idea
Identify the key aspects of a pitch. Create a descriptor of your business. Describe its concept, the terms of the “ask” and the potential for your business.
What Happens After the Pitch?
Learn what happens after startups have a successful pitch with a VC firm. Describe the due-diligence process and follow a deal through closing and post-investment support. Learn about exit strategies and what happens when additional investing is needed.
Explore College Majors and Future Careers
Topics covered in this course offer a good background for potential college majors and career paths related to entrepreneurship and venture capital investing, like finance, business, entrepreneurism or portfolio management.
How You Will Benefit
- Understand an entrepreneur’s process of raising money from pitch to outcomes.
- Define venture capitalism.
- Distinguish VC from other sources of funds.
- Deliver a pitch as if you’re seeking VC funds as an entrepreneur.
- Discover the scope of the VC profession and upcoming trends.
- Complete a Final Project to demonstrate what you’re learned.
- Earn a Certificate of Completion from William & Mary.
Three Learning Advantages Designed for You
Final Project
This online course culminates in a Final Project that allows you to demonstrate what you’ve learned throughout the course, which you can add to your portfolio. For this project, you will:
- Create a six to eight minute recorded presentation, or pitch deck, that you would present to a venture capital firm.
- Assume the role of the entrepreneur of a business concept.
- Look to secure funding from a seed-stage venture capitalist. Your pitch should be thorough and compelling enough to share with a real venture capital firm.
Mentoring
You’ll receive guidance from a mentor who can support you and deepen your learning experience. You can expect:
- Encouragement and direction on all assignments.
- Inspiration, motivation and confidence to help you excel in your studies.
- Brainstorming and ideation to help you prepare for your Final Project.
Flexible Learning
- 100% online learning that works with your schedule.
- Flexible format: you’ll learn through video lectures. Tune in anytime that works for you.
- 20-30 hours of total instruction and course work, including engaging multimedia, simulations and curated assignments for which you will receive guidance and support from mentors.
Apply Now for the Next Available Course
All course options have the same educational content, learning materials and number of assignments. We are offering a condensed version of the course in order to accommodate students’ individual schedules.
Hear from William & Mary
Hear From Our Students
It is a great course that allows you to picture yourself within that field. You learn all of the necessary processes and actions needed to replicate it in the real world and helps you understand what happens in the world of entrepreneurship and venture capital. It allows you to become the expert in this field at your own pace and your own time. - Jose, entrepreneurship student from CA.
This course really helps you understand the entrepreneur and investing side of things, so even if you want to be an accountant or statistician, it helps you understand what VC firms do and what makes a successful startup, so it can help you invest better or run your dream startup better. It is definitely the best for people who want to study business, however, since it would help potential business majors know what businesspeople do and maybe let them know about a potential career they might pursue. - Andrew, entrepreneurship student from VA.
Course Designed by William & Mary Faculty
Graham Henshaw, Executive Director of Entrepreneurship Center & Clinical Associate Professor
Graham Henshaw is a clinical associate professor at William & Mary's Raymond A. Mason School of Business and executive director of the Alan B. Miller Entrepreneurship Center.
Prior to joining William & Mary, Graham was the director of venture development at New Richmond Ventures – a Richmond-based venture capital firm investing in early-stage socially driven startups.
Graham brings to W&M a diverse background in product development, Fortune 500 strategic consulting and entrepreneurship. He leveraged his varied skill set to found Active Innovation Group in 2007. As a strategic consultant, Graham has worked with companies including General Electric, Kraft Foods, Toyota and GlaxoSmithKline to create products, services and messaging consistent with deep consumer insights.
Graham Henshaw earned an M.S. in mechanical engineering and a B.S. in mechanical engineering with a minor in industrial design from Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
How to Apply
It’s easy. No transcripts or letters of recommendation are needed. Our application requires basic contact information for you and your parent or guardian. Then, tell us why you wish to take this course. Include your personal story through writing, video, photos — or any medium you prefer.
Note: Please submit all application materials in English.
Begin the guided process. It should take only a few minutes of your time to answer the questions.
Want to Know More?
Sign up for more information and we’ll be in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will you be graded? What are assignments like? How much time do you have to turn around a project? When do you find out if you’re admitted? Find answers to your questions here.
Scholarships
We offer need-based scholarships for participating students who exhibit high potential and an inability to pay the full tuition.
- If you haven’t applied to the program, apply here. After submitting your application, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” on the confirmation page to request a scholarship.
- If you’ve already applied to the program, sign in to your profile to check your scholarship status. If we don’t have a scholarship request on file, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” to request a scholarship.