Practice Becoming an Entrepreneur to Pitch a Potential Big Idea with William & Mary

Did you know that the business of venture capitalism is a *$330 billion industry, a number that nearly doubled in recent years? You may wonder how entrepreneurs tap into venture capital (VC) funds to help support new start-ups. Or, do you possibly have your own budding idea that you see turning into a successful venture? The William & Mary Pre-College Program has a finance course for teens that takes you inside the fast-paced world of venture capital investing. Learn how startups raise money from external sources, and understand the key concepts and terms of VC investing. 

And best yet, you will get to apply all that you’ve learned throughout the course in the Final Project. 

William & Mary’s Pre-College Online Venture Capital Course Final Project 

In the venture capital course’s Final Project, you’ll take on the role of a startup founder seeking VC seed money. Your professor will act as the venture capitalist. This Final Project includes a comprehensive presentation and a companion narrative, where you’ll review what you learned in each module and apply it to your pitch. Delivered through a five-minute video, your presentation will answer the question, “what problems are VCs trying to solve, and how can my idea help?”

This is your chance to flex all the skills you learned throughout the course. But what, exactly, will you learn to excel at this Final Project? 

Here are a few things:

• Learn the core concepts of raising money: Find out how money is raised by entrepreneurs. 
• Delve into the venture capital ecosystem: Study how VC firms make money. Learn what’s essential to a good pitch, such as market research and valuation techniques.
• Identify the investors in a VC deal: Learn how startups find investors, and highlight the important relationship between entrepreneurs and VCs.
• Create an unforgettable pitch: Create a descriptor of your business by describing the concept, the terms of the “ask,” and your business’s potential.
• Discover what happens after you pitch: Describe the process of due-diligence, and follow a deal through closing and post-investment support. Learn about what happens when additional investing is needed.
• Explore potential majors and careers in VC: What careers are there in this exciting field? Think of jobs in finance, business, entrepreneurism, and portfolio management.

Founded in 1693, William & Mary is a prestigious institution known for its rich history and academic excellence. If you’re a high school student looking for classes to take in high school for business, this course is your opportunity to get started with William & Mary. 

But don’t stop there! The William & Mary Pre-College Program offers a variety of other classes from which you can choose. 

Other Pre-College Online Courses from William & Mary

In addition to entrepreneurship and venture capital, you can pick another course that aligns with your interests:

• Constitutional Law: We The People: This college prep course gives high school students who aspire to this field something unique — an inside look at how today’s lawyers and judges rely on the constitution to support their cases.
• Cognitive Psychology: How The Brain Works: This course is designed to help you understand how our bodies operate. You’ll learn about cognitive psychology, from its origins in philosophy to its current role in robotics. 
• Medicine: Disease, Diagnostics and Interventions: Designed to help you understand how our bodies operate, this course focuses on common biological causes, such as viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens. Plus, how physicians link symptoms to a diagnosis and devise a treatment plan.

A unique learning experience, all of the above courses can be taken through our flexible online format. Study anywhere, anytime that works best with your busy schedule. The program is available year-round and, in addition to highly compelling courses, provides you with access to mentors to guide your learning experience.

With so much rich course material at your access, why wait? Start today!

*SOURCE: Statista