Week Date Phase Step Step Title Class Activity Discussion Board Worksheet / Submission Notes
Week 1 Sept 8 Phase 1 · Self-Discovery 1 Know Yourself: Values, Strengths & Entrepreneurial Characteristics ⚡ The Entrepreneurial Spectrum 📓 Week 1 Journal Prompt 📋 Know YourselfDue end of Phase 1 (Wk 2)
Week 2 Sept 15 Phase 1 · Self-Discovery 2 Your Entrepreneurial Profile: Experiences, Talents & Passions 💬 Jay Bailey TED Talk Discussion⚡ Ikigai Mapping 💬 Week 2 Prompt Due this week
Week 3 Sept 22 Phase 2 · Define Your Why 3 Who Do You Want to Help? Defining Your Entrepreneurial Why ⚡ Who's in the Room? 📓 Week 3 Journal Prompt 📋 Target Group
📋 Why StatementDue end of Phase 2 (Wk 4)
Week 4 Sept 29 Phase 2 · Define Your Why 4 Design Thinking: Discovering Problems Worth Solving ⚡ Empathy Interview Speed Round 📓 Week 4 Journal Prompt 📋 Empathy MapDue end of Phase 2 (Wk 4) Due this week
Week 5 Oct 6 Phase 3 · Research 5 Primary & Secondary Research: Understanding the Problem Deeply ⚡ Research Planning Pitch 📓 Week 5 Journal Prompt 📋 Research PlanningDue end of Phase 3 (Wk 6)
Week 6 Oct 13 Phase 3 · Research 5 Primary & Secondary Research (continued) ⚡ The Surprising Finding Roundtable 📓 Week 6 Journal Prompt 📋 Research FindingsDue end of Phase 3 (Wk 6) Step 5 cont'd Due this week
Week 7 Oct 20 Phase 4 · Ideate & Plan 6 Ideate Solutions & Choose Your Enterprise Model ⚡ Crazy 8s Ideation Sprint 📓 Week 7 Journal Prompt 📋 Midterm Check-InDue end of Phase 4 (Wk 9) Midterm
Week 8 Oct 27 Phase 4 · Ideate & Plan 7 Value Proposition & Business Model Canvas: Map How Your Venture Works ⚡ Value Prop & BMC Workshop 📋 Value Prop & BMCDue end of Phase 4 (Wk 9)
Week 9 Nov 3 Phase 4 · Ideate & Plan 7 Value Proposition & BMC (continued) ⚡ Warm / Cool / Wonder Gallery Walk 📓 Week 9 Journal Prompt 📋 Synthesize InsightsDue end of Phase 4 (Wk 9) Step 7 cont'd Due this week
Week 10 Nov 10 Phase 5 · Validate & Build 8 Build Your Online Presence & Launch Your MVP ⚡ The Headline Test
⚡ MVP Show & Tell
Means Inventory done as prep before class
📓 Week 10 Journal Prompt 📋 Headline Test
📋 Means Inventory
🌐 Build My MVP WebsiteDue end of Phase 5 (Wk 11)
Steps 8–9 merged
Week 11 Nov 17 Phase 5 · Validate & Build 9 Revenue Model & Financial Strategy: How Will Your Venture Sustain Itself? ⚡ Revenue Model Map
⚡ 30-Second Pitch Drill
💬 Week 11 Prompt Due end of Phase 5 (Wk 11) Due this week
Week 12 Nov 24 ⚠️ Phase 5 · Validate & Build 🧹 Catch-Up / Flex Week No new content — finish anything from Phases 1–5, start pitch and poster
⚠️ Thanksgiving week — confirm class meets
Week 13 Dec 1 Phase 6 · Launch 10 Pitch & Poster Preparation: Tell Your Story ⚡ Pitch Clinic
Pairs — deliver and get structured feedback
💬 Week 13 Prompt 📋 Pitch & Poster PrepDue end of Phase 6 (Wk 15)
Week 14 Dec 8 Phase 6 · Launch 10 Pitch & Poster Preparation (continued) ⚡ Poster Gallery Walk
Peer feedback — sticky note strengths and questions
📋 Pitch & Poster PrepDue end of Phase 6 (Wk 15) Step 10 cont'd
Week 15 Dec 15 Phase 6 · Launch 11 Launch Day & Post-Launch Debrief 🚀 Live Showcase — 1-Minute Pitch + Poster
⚡ Post-Launch Debrief
📓 Week 15 Journal Prompt 📋 Pitch & Poster
📋 Post-Launch Reflection
🌐 Build My MVP Website (take it live)Due this week
Capstone Launch Day
Phases: Phase 1 · Self-Discovery Phase 2 · Define Your Why Phase 3 · Research Phase 4 · Ideate & Plan Phase 5 · Validate & Build Phase 6 · Launch

Course Grading

Grade Breakdown

1000

Total Points

Category # Items Pts Each Total Pts
⚡ Class Activity
Complete & submit a short activity worksheet each class
Graded on completion & honest effort — no rubric
15 20 pts 300 pts
📋 Worksheet Submissions
Graded on completion & honest effort — no rubric
8 25 pts 200 pts
💬 Discussion Board Posts
200-word post + reply to 1 classmate (Weeks 2, 11 & 13)
3 25 pts 75 pts
🚀 Launch Grade
Launch Day pitch & poster showcase — delivery, preparation, audience engagement, and your live MVP website
1 425 pts 425 pts
Total 1000 pts
⭐ Extra Credit: Journal Prompts
Discuss the weekly journal prompt with your classmates on Blackboard — must be completed before the phase wraps up and is due for a grade
weekly extra pts + EC

Grading Scale · 1000 Points

Final Grade

Grade Points % What it means
A 900 – 1000 90–100% Exceptional — consistent, thoughtful, on time
B 800 – 899 80–89% Strong — solid effort with minor gaps
C 700 – 799 70–79% Adequate — meets minimum expectations
D 600 – 699 60–69% Below expectations — missing or incomplete work
F Below 600 Below 60% Failing — significant missing work

Grading philosophy: Most items are graded on completion and honest effort. The point is to do the thinking — not to have the right answer. Show up, engage, and submit your work.