Number of points: 7,5

This course is intended for students in the program Engineering Physics, the Master program Medical Engineering or other programs.

The goal with the course is to pinpoint the opportunities to combine engineering knowledge gained in a technical education with entrepreneurship and business. More specifically our aim is that several of the students attending the course during the following five years will create companies and that this course will have provided some of the required inspiration and knowledge. We also hope that the course will increase the number of start-up companies from KTH.

Examination:

An embryo for a business plan will have to be presented both orally and in writing. Note that this should be based on your own idea and it is a requirement that you have such an idea or pick it up during the course. It is further a requirement that the idea contain a high level of technology in order to exploit the engineering know-how.

The course will be divided into:

- Lectures 
- Study visit to company 
- Seminar day 

Please note that the presence for those activities is compulsory. If you cannot attend one or more lectures you will be asked to perform a special assignment.

The lecturers will consist of people with strong personal hands-on experience in successful creation of smaller and larger companies and the study visit will be to one of those companies. The lectures will cover basics of marketing, patents, negotiations, applicable law and product development will be discussed for products with high technology content.

Course Scheme for 2014

Lecture 1

Welcome and General Overview. Why start a business and why attend this course? List of bad excuses.
Lecturer: Mats Danielsson
Time: Sep 15, 16.00-18.00
Place: AlbaNova, FB51

Lecture 2

How and why I should write a business plan.
Lecturer: Mats Danielsson
Time: Sep 22, 16.00-18.00
Place: AlbaNova, FB51
Input for writing businessplan

Lecture 3

Case 1: Modular Management and how to start a business in the USA.
Lecturer: Johan Källgren, Head of Business Development www.modularmanagement.com
Time: Sep 29, 16.00-18.00
Place: AlbaNova, FB42

Lecture 4

Patents for Entrepreneurs
Lecturer: Mats Danielsson
Time: Oct 6, 16.00-18.00
Place: AlbaNova, FB51

Lecture 5

Case 2: Benchmarking Alliance AB, www.benchmarkingalliance.com
Lecturer: Jens Bäckbom, Founder
Time: Oct 13, 16.00-17.00
Place: AlbaNova, FB51

Case 3: RaySearch Laboratories AB, www.raysearchlabs.com
Lecturer: Erik Hedlund (Co-founder and Chairman)
Time: Oct 13, 17.00-18.00
Place: AlbaNova, FB51

Lecture 6

Case 4: Pointer Sweden AB
Lecturer: Hellen Wohlin Lidgard, Founder (to be confirmed)
Time: Oct 20, 16.00-17.00
Place: AlbaNova FB51

Case 5: Scint-X, www.scint-x.com
Lecturer: Anna Sahlholm
Time: Oct 20, 17.00-18.00
Place: AlbaNova, FB51

Lecture 7

Financing for Entrepreneurs
Lecturer: Per Anell, Innovationscentrum
Time: Oct 27, 16.00-17.00
Place: AlbaNova, FB51

Case 6: Mantex AB www.mantex.se
Lecturer: Erik Oden, VD and founder
Time: Oct 27, 17.00-18.00
Place: AlbaNova, FB51

Lecture 8

The Law for Entrepreneurs
Lecturer: to be determined
Time: Nov 3, 16.00-17.00
Place: AlbaNova, FB51

Study Visit

Philips Digital Mammography Sweden AB.
Time: Nov 5, 13.00 – ca 15.00
Place: Smidesvägen 5, Solna

Business Plan Oral Presentations

Lecturer: All
Time: Nov 12, 16.00–late
Place: AlbaNova, FB55
Sandwich and coffee/tea will be provided

Course Literature

“Engineering Your Start-Up: A Guide for the High-Tech Entrepreneur” by James A. Swanson and Michael L. Baird. ISBN 9781888577914