Venture Capital (SBUEK_189)
About Study Course
Objective
The course provides and introductory insight into the legal, financial and organisation aspects of innovation-driven companies, which exist in close relationship with venture capital industry and finance through risk capital. The students get introduced to the concepts of intellectual property and its market value, raising capital, investment funds, specific traits of venture capital-backed businesses, as well as means of intellectual property protection. It attempts to explain the rationale behind modern company valuations (why are some ventures valued billions without generating any cash anyway?), venture capital investment into early stage/start-up businesses and emphasizes the modern shift towards viewing the intellectual property assets as the major drivers for company’s value.
The course is focused on offering practical knowledge on VC and urges active student participation throughout all sessions.
Prerequisites
Basics of economics and finance, minor exposure to innovation-based companies and law background is advised.
Learning outcomes
Understanding the rationale behind venture capital-backed companies;
Differentiating between types of capital being invested;
Being able to independently assess cases and development stages of venture-backed companies;
Having a basic understanding of the concept of valuation of innovation-backed ventures;
Differentiating between basic types of intellectual property assets and their effect on company’s investment attractiveness.
Being able to build, structure and present research findings in analysing investment cases during group presentations;
Being able to conduct independent research;
Learning how to understand and conduct basic valuation of innovation-backed buisnesses and intellectual property assets.
Ability to navigate the industry of innovation-driven businesses, understing their functioning logic, being fit to evaluate basic investment opportunities and potential impact intangible assets bring to an IP-backed business. In addition, students are expected to gain basic understanding on IP-related risks, protection mechanisms.
Study course planning
| Study programme | Study semester | Program level | Study course category | Lecturers | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Business and Start-up Entrepreneurship, IBSEeng | 4 | Bachelor’s | Limited choice | Līga Sileniece |
