Course

Entrepreneurial Best Practices Series

University of California, Berkeley

The Entrepreneurial Best Practices Series brings the best practitioners from the Berkeley and Silicon Valley communities to the Haas School of Business to speak about the practical aspects of entrepreneurial activity. The series is timed to match the academic year and also the business plan competition season, particularly the UC Berkeley Business Plan Competition and the Global Social Venture Competition.

Course Lectures
  • IP & Legal Issues
    Fred Hernandez

    Fred Hernandez and Pedro Suarez from Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC discuss the legal issues surrounding intellectual property and its importance throughout a company's lifespan.

  • One of the keys to creating something of value - and building a successful business on top of it - is developing a great story. David Riemer - Founder, Box Out Industries - focuses on the critical elements required for your story and why it's so important to focus your business around this story.

  • The Base of the Pyramid (BoP) market is the largest, fastest growing, and least penetrated market in the world. To effectively access this market, we must rethink the design of business. Join us as we talk with industry innovators as to how entrepreneurs can redesign product, supply chain, marketing, and pricing to access the opportunity at the Base of the Pyramid.

  • This session will provide practical insight into how to write a winning business plan, as well as provide both a VC's and an entrepreneur's perspective on business plans. The presentation will address the nuts and bolts detail of what is important in a plan.

  • This session features practitioners from the advertising industry, from both the buy and sell sides, to discuss the requirements for an ad based business. Attendees will learn how to capture value in advertising products and how to market your ad product at different stages of your company's lifecycle for maximum return.

  • Brian Goncher, Clean Tech Practice Director from Deloitte Services LP, covers what is necessary and what not to do when creating the financial model that will accompany your business plan and use to obtain capital. This workshop will provide you with what you need to know about the financial side of a business plan and starting a company.

  • David Feinleib of Mohr Davidow Ventures leads a discussion about the components of a compelling business proposal and what you can expect from a venture investor.

  • Morrison & Foerster LLP presents a lively discussion of issues of which every early stage company and entrepreneur should be aware and common legal mistakes made by early stage companies.

  • Panel discusses the latest investment trends with a focus on maximizing your investment potential. Learn what investors look for in funding opportunities and how to prepare your company to close funding once you have generated interest. Optimize your team, your pitch and your business plan.

  • There are lots of opportunities out there - how do you know which one is right for you? This session will feature three entrepreneurs who have made their choices and are developing their companies. They will tell you how they found their opportunity and the decisions they made in starting their ventures.