What is Entrepreneurial Strategy and who is this class for?
Strategy Formulation taught you how to identify a competitive advantage. But how do you
create a competitive advantage when you don’t have one—such as when you’re starting out a
new company or you’re entering a new market? How do you do it in the face of considerable
uncertainty, with few resources, and cognizant that your initial choices matter would? Should
one achieve it only through experimentation? Focus on execution and simple ‘go for it’? Invest
in early planning?
This course provides a strategy framework for growth entrepreneurship. It is particularly
focused on helping students create a sustainable competitive advantage and understand how
to do so in the early uncertain stages of a startup. The class is meant for all students, not just
entrepreneurs: while entrepreneurs and startups are the main actors of the entrepreneurial
story, the skill of developing entrepreneurial strategies is critical for anyone who will lead and
succeed in the innovation‐driven economy of today.
Students that might particularly benefit from this class include students that
(a) Are or will be entrepreneurs.
(b) Plan to work at a startup.
(c) Plan to invest in, acquire, or sell startups.
(d) Will be a consultant around innovation or entrepreneurship to larger firms.
(e) Will develop new product lines or novel technologies at larger companies.
In short, if you know the skills to start and grow businesses will matter your career, this class is
probably for you.
What economic sectors does entrepreneurial strategy focus on?
We study how to create long‐lasting companies with a strong competitive advantage in any
sector. In many cases, innovation and technological change plays a central role in creating this
opportunity. The class cases and examples include traditional venture‐backed startups in the
software and hardware spaces, more recent startups using technology to solve problems that
are not obviously ‘tech’ such as emergency response and health delivery, and new companies
that take changes in the technological landscape to create great companies with traditional
products.
Division: Management
Center/Program: Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center
Curriculum Pathway: Entrepreneurship, Strategy
Spring 2025
B8586 - 001
Day(s)
Date(s)
Start/End Time
Room
-
Monday 03/24/2025 - 05/02/2025 9:00AM - 12:15PM Kravis 820
B8586 - 002
Day(s)
Date(s)
Start/End Time
Room
-
Monday 03/24/2025 - 05/02/2025 2:20PM - 5:35PM Kravis 670
Spring 2024
B8586 - 001
Day(s)
Date(s)
Start/End Time
Room
-
Tuesday 03/18/2024 - 04/26/2024 9:00AM - 12:15PM Geffen 420
B8586 - 002
Day(s)
Date(s)
Start/End Time
Room
-
Tuesday 03/18/2024 - 04/26/2024 2:20PM - 5:35PM Geffen 390