Matthew Tong, a UBC MBA student, highlights the tech entrepreneurship course offered by Creative Destruction Lab – Vancouver (CDL) at the UBC Sauder School of Business. The course, available to graduate and fourth-year undergraduate students, allows participants to work with entrepreneurs on emerging tech and science-focused start-ups.
Motivation for Taking the Course
Matthew was drawn to the course due to his interest in entrepreneurship and the opportunity to learn firsthand about start-ups and venture capital. He aimed to understand the thought process behind funding decisions and gain insights from both founders and venture capitalists.
Top Three Takeaways
- Immersion in the Start-Up Ecosystem: Matthew valued the opportunity to connect with founders and learn from industry experts about successful entrepreneurship from both the founder and venture capitalist perspectives.
- Pitching Experience: He pitched a venture, Lite-1, introducing clean colorants made by micro-organisms, to a panel of investors, gaining practical insights into the needs of a start-up and investment discussions.
- Business Acumen Application: The course allowed him to apply key learnings from his UBC MBA, such as start-up evaluations and go-to-market strategies, in a real-world setting.
Professional Value
Matthew believes the skills he gained, like simplifying complex ideas, strategic marketing, and strong memo writing, will be invaluable in his career. The experience boosted his confidence and excitement for entrepreneurship.
Advice for Prospective Students
Matthew advises practicing the fearlessness of an entrepreneur and seeking experiential learning opportunities like the CDL course, which offers real-world experience, opportunities to learn from mistakes, and the chance to work with industry leaders aiming for a better future.
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