Scaling, Finance, and Legal Foundations

This unit equips students with the strategic, financial, legal, and operational skills needed to move a venture from concept to scalable enterprise. Students will learn to develop and test products, protect intellectual property, choose governance and business structures, manage cash and financial statements, evaluate financing options, and design market and supply‑chain strategies that incorporate ESG and technology considerations in preparation for launch and growth.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze market entry strategies, distribution channels, and customer‑validation techniques to recommend a go‑to‑market approach aligned with a venture’s mission and growth goals
• Apply financial tools to prepare basic financial statements, forecast demand, calculate break‑even points, and create short‑term cash and working capital plans
• Evaluate legal, governance, and intellectual property options (including trademarks, trade secrets, corporations, S corps, LLCs, and boards) to recommend structures that match venture stage and financing needs
• Demonstrate product development and feasibility practices by conducting lean analyses, moving to prototype, integrating customer feedback, and addressing supply‑chain, ESG, and technology considerations