Startup fundamentals and Entrepreneurial mindset. Crowdsourcing Ideation and opportunity assessment. Business models design and assumption mapping. Customer discovery, segmentation and validation experiments (crowd-informed segmentation and validation). Minimum viable product architecture, unit economics, and the strategic "Why Now" logic required for competitive positioning (testing competitive positioning using crowd feedback). Validation of product-market fit. Toolkit to navigate the uncertainty of entrepreneurship and build scalable, evidence-based business models.
Pre-Requisites: BUS 200
Introduction to the Startup & Fintech Financial Landscape. Foundations of Venture Finance. The VC Ecosystem & Fund Mechanics. Startup Valuation. Equity Engineering. Alternative Financing and Fintech Capital Strategy. Governance, Board Management & Founder Vesting. Due Diligence Readiness and Strategic Exits.
Pre-Requisites: ENTR 250 And FIN 250
Introduction to product strategy in technology and fintech ventures; crafting product vision, positioning, and strategic narrative; customer discovery, jobs-to-be-done, and market validation; competitive analysis and strategic positioning in digital markets; product roadmapping and strategic planning frameworks; prioritization models and resource allocation; designing scalable business models for fintech and platform ventures; monetization and pricing strategy; go-to-market (GTM) strategy and execution; product-led growth (PLG) and growth hacking frameworks; viral loops, network effects, and platform dynamics; innovation strategy and ecosystem expansion; retention, lifecycle marketing, and churn management; customer lifetime value (LTV) optimization and unit economics; defensibility and strategic moats; ethical, regulatory, and sustainability considerations in product growth strategy.
Pre-Requisites: BUS 200
Introduction to the concepts of entrepreneurship, opportunity recognition and evaluation, characteristics, traits and behaviors of entrepreneurs, creativity and innovation, the role of the entrepreneur in the economy and society, and entrepreneurship in non-entrepreneurial settings. This course will help students to identify and diagnose their skills and abilities to be entrepreneurs. It will help students to understand how to develop their entrepreneurial abilities, knowledge and skills necessary to create an entrepreneurial structure. Entrepreneurial managerial functions of a new venture will be included in this course. A student will be introduced to some successful entrepreneurial business models to learn from.
Pre-Requisites: ENGL 214
A 16-week full-time professional internship in a financial technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, or related business function within an organization. Hands-on experience in areas such as digital financial services, fintech solutions, startup operations, business development, innovation management, financial analysis, entrepreneurial strategy, and technology-driven business processes. Conducting independent analysis and submitting comprehensive reports reflecting on the internship experience, learning outcomes, and professional contributions. Supervised by a company supervisor and a faculty member.
Pre-Requisites: ENGL 214 And ENTR 250 And FNT 230 And FNT 340
Hands-on experience in FinTech and entrepreneurship by working directly with professionals in the industry. Exposure to real-world financial technologies, startup ecosystems, and innovation-driven business practices. Reflect the training experience, key insights, and knowledge gained in training through report and presentation.
Pre-Requisites: ENGL 214 And ENTR 250 And FNT 230
Case-based exploration of FinTech venture creation, covering opportunity identification and problem selection; validation under uncertainty; customer segmentation and beachhead market selection; trust-based customer acquisition in financial services; go-to-market strategy and channel selection; business model design and revenue logic; competitive dynamics and strategic positioning; platform versus product strategy in FinTech; founder and team challenges during execution; pivot decisions and strategic redirection; financing strategy and investor decision-making; and risk, ethics, and crisis response.
Pre-Requisites: ENTR 250
The first phase of the senior project sequence for FinTech and Entrepreneurship students. Forming teams to develop comprehensive project proposals addressing real-world financial technology challenges and entrepreneurial opportunities. Working with faculty advisors and industry partners to define project scope, conduct preliminary market and feasibility analysis, and develop structured project and venture planning frameworks. Team collaboration, stakeholder engagement, innovation, and the integration of knowledge from the FinTech and entrepreneurship curriculum.
The second phase of the senior project course in the FinTech and Entrepreneurship program. Executing comprehensive projects addressing real-world financial technology challenges and entrepreneurial opportunities sponsored by industry partners or internal organizational needs. Developing data-driven solutions and implementation strategies through iterative analysis, prototyping, testing, and stakeholder engagement. Integrating FinTech tools, innovation methods, ethical reasoning, and professional communication. Culminating in a formal report and executive presentation.
Pre-Requisites: ENTR 411
An examination of marketing theory, concepts, frameworks and processes used by entrepreneurial companies to create customer value while accomplishing their strategic mission and objectives. Key topics to be covered include Marketing the Entrepreneur, Finding and evaluating entrepreneurial opportunities, market development through customer value creation, building relationships, entrepreneurial pricing, entrepreneur distribution strategy and entrepreneurial communication strategy.
Pre-Requisites: MKT 250
Identifying, starting and growing nonprofit ventures, social change, social innovative solutions, social entrepreneurial approaches, social problems and unmet needs of society, social value.
Pre-Requisites: MGT 301 Or MGT 310
Starting, planning, organizing, and managing a small business. Coverage include the foundations of entrepreneurship, the entrepreneurial thinking and mind, identifying opportunities, developing a business plan, ownership issues, financing the venture, marketing strategies, human resources planning and management, facilities acquisition and operation, materials and supplies management, profit and cash flow planning and management, budgeting and controlling, use of computer and technology, and the future of family-ownership.
Pre-Requisites: BUS 200
Solution-Space Exploration and Rapid Prototyping. Product Architecture (UX/UI) and the DHM model (Delight, Hard-to-copy, Margin-enhancing). Defensible products optimized for user growth. FinTech Infrastructure & Compliance “Plumbing” (integrations, data flows, regulatory constraints in design). Trust Design & Secure-by-Design Journeys (identity, privacy, risk controls embedded in UX). North Star Roadmap, Traction Metrics & Investor Pitch.
Pre-Requisites: ENTR 250
Designed to facilitate students in understanding the unique characteristics of SMEs, which make them different from that of large enterprises, and how does contemporary business knowledge, which students acquire during their undergraduate study at CIM, can be tailored to manage SMEs. The course aims to equip students with necessary skills and orientation to perform and excel in SME milieu, or look for career opportunities in national and international SME development companies. Basic SMEs functions such as finance, marketing, HRM, communication and MIS will be discussed in this course in order to equip students with knowledge and skills necessary to manage SMEs.
Pre-Requisites: MGT 301
Entrepreneurial leadership; developing high-performing company culture; ethical decision-making and social responsibility issues; analyzing a rising FinTech venture; entrepreneurs and community impacts; strategic thinking and entrepreneurial problem-solving; climate change and sustainability issues in entrepreneurship.
Pre-Requisites: BUS 200