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Syllabus

Entrepreneur Training Program Syllabus

Preparation Week

Preparation Before the Program Starts

Prior to the official start of the program, participants will receive pre-assignments and individual assessment tools to maximize their learning. These materials will help assess leadership skills, adaptability and business readiness, ensuring that each entrepreneur starts with a solid foundation.

Materials provided prior to the start of the program:

Individual assessments of leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

Introductory readings and resources on the life sciences startup ecosystem.

First idea validation assignments.

Entrepreneur Readiness Program (1 Week, Summer - In-Person)

An Essential Launchpad for Success

The Entrepreneur Readiness Program is a fundamental and intensive 1-week phase designed to maximize the potential of entrepreneurs before entering the next stage of the program.

At the end of this week, participants will have a deep understanding of their strengths in leadership, communication skills and strategic skills for startup creation.

Duration:

Monday to Friday, August 4 to 8.

Modality:

100% face-to-face.

Key activities:

  • Interactive workshops and lectures.
  • Pre-course evaluations.
  • Business skills benchmarks.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Startup

Weekly Program Breakdown (12 Weeks - Entrepreneur Studio)

This 12-week builds the venture by providing the essential building blocks required for a life science startup, from uncovering market needs and defining value From week to week, participants refine their strategies, validate assumptions, and set the stage for meaningful growth and investment. Below is a weekly breakdown of the topics to be covered.

  • Develop a clear business thesis

  • Learn unbiased customer interview techniques and begin scheduling interviews

  • Draft an initial value proposition and begin preparation of an interview script

  • Identify market problems and opportunities and negative impacts on key stakeholders

  • Begin crafting a pitch deck with slide(s) focused on the problem and its significance

  • Map out workflows and decision processes for all stakeholders

  • Conduct at least five customer discovery interviews

  • Sketch out how your solution fits within the broader ecosystem

  • Pitch deck prep

  • Begin scouting potential co-founders and/or team members

  • Analyze competitors, their approaches, and market gaps

  • Incorporate or register your company—we might move this out to week 4 or 5)

  • Pitch deck prep

  • Use top-down and bottom-up approaches to estimate market size

  • Prepare slides outlining the total addressable market (TAM), serviceable available market (SAM), and share of the market (SOM)

  • Continue company registration steps (e.g., SAM.gov)

  • Outline product development milestones, costs, and regulatory considerations

  • Draft a Target Product Profile for your technology

  • Explore insurance reimbursement pathways and revenue models

  • Consider potential partnerships, exits, and business development strategies

  • Work toward federal grant registration and prepare materials

  • Introduce FDA approval processes and timelines (e.g., IND, IDE)

  • Cover core legal aspects: IP protection, equity splits, due diligence documents

  • Build an initial financial model (costs, revenue projections, funding needs)

  • Clarify assumptions behind the model for investors or grantors

  • Discuss SBIR grants, venture capital, and accelerator/incubator programs

  • Update pitch deck to reflect immediate funding strategies

  • Draft an executive summary

  • Finalize pitch deck slides incorporating all key findings (problem, solution, market, team, finances)

  • Practice presenting and refining storytelling for Demo Day

  • Present pitch to a live audience of mentors, peers, and potential supporters

  • Outline your “ask” (funding, partnerships, letters of support, etc.)

  • Complete an exit survey and plan immediate next steps (e.g., grant applications, accelerators, investor outreach)

Ready to Take the Next Step?

The program is designed for entrepreneurs committed to the creation and financing of life sciences startups.

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