Master
2021/2022
Entrepreneurship and Financial Environment
Type:
Elective course (Master of Finance)
Area of studies:
Finance and Credit
Delivered by:
HSE Banking Institute
Where:
HSE Banking Institute
When:
1 year, 3 module
Mode of studies:
distance learning
Online hours:
8
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Elena Dimova
Master’s programme:
Finance
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
4
Contact hours:
4
Course Syllabus
Abstract
An entrepreneurial firm is a young, often high growth business. Such firms differentiate themselves from other forms of organizations through being more innovative, flexible, adaptable, but risky. The knowledge gained during this course will help the financial analysts understand a very specific nature of entrepreneurial finance, associated risks and opportunities, and feel more confident building valuation models and assessing the future perspectives of business ventures. In some cases we will take the viewpoint of the entrepreneur and in others the viewpoint of an investor. The course covers (in varying degree) the following aspects: understanding the performance of small firms; assessing a new venture’s financial strengths and viability; financial analysis for startups; advanced business planning analysis; what unit economics is and why it is important to track unit economics for an early stage startups to make long term financial projections; assessing the risks of a new business and applying risk management frameworks; financing requirements of companies at different stages of the life cycle; sources of financing the small businesses. The course also focuses on the major challenges to venture capital valuation and performance measurement. Students will learn what investors look for in a startup, how to find the value of founder’s ownership before and after additional funding, how to read financial statements and make pro-forma statements, how to determine the financial health of a startup and estimate future earnings; alternative exit routes and their impact on value. The aim of this course is also to enable students to understand the top entrepreneurship trends and to assess the perspectives of startup firms in different industries. Practical applications will include writing a business plan for startup, building startup financial model and value a business venture. Microsoft Excel will be heavily used.
Learning Objectives
- The main objective of this course is to equip students with an integrated set of concepts and applications drawn from entrepreneurship, finance, and accounting, that will provide a higher understanding of the financial aspects of small business entrepreneurship and the financial environment in which these firms exist. The course also aims to develop practical skills and knowledge in the field of entrepreneurial finance (analysis, forecasting, valuation).
