Launching Successful Ventures

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors Chapter 1. The Entrepreneurial Venture Chapter Learning Objectives The Entrepreneur Types of Entrepreneurial Ventures Where Are Today’s Entrepreneurs Coming From? Your Challenge Global Entrepreneurship and the Acceleration of Competition Customer-Focused Business Models Developing an Entrepreneurial Culture The Need for Continuous Change Social Entrepreneurship in Our Economy Conclusion Entrepreneurial Exercises Chapter 2. Creativity and Market Viability Chapter Learning Objectives In Search of the Valuable Idea The Power of Human Creativity Screening and Evaluating Ideas Market Evaluation Steps Creating a Potential Adopter Profile Building an Opportunity Evaluation Model The Seven-Part Assessment Model Assessing the Actual Market Potential: The Ugly Realities Conclusion Entrepreneurial Exercises Chapter 3. Industry and Competitive Analysis Chapter Learning Objectives Assessing the Industry The Macroenvironmental Analysis Process Components of the Macroenvironment Stages of Industry Development Analyzing Industry Behavior Competitive Analyses and Competitive Profile Matrices Creating Your Business Model Entrepreneurial Exercises Chapter 4. New Venture Marketing Chapter Learning Objectives Customers and the Market “Market Disruptors” Switching Cost: A Barrier to Adoption Market Research and Market Segmentation Effective Marketing Strategies Components of a Marketing Strategy Product Strategies Place Strategies Pricing Strategies Promotion Strategies Conclusion Entrepreneurial Exercises Chapter 5. The Financial Plan Chapter Learning Objectives By the Numbers Financial Analysis Basic Financial Statements Breakeven Analysis and the Pro Forma Financial Statement Financial Ratio Analysis Conclusion Entrepreneurial Exercises Chapter 6. Cash Flow Management Chapter Learning Objectives Cash and Profits Are Not the Same Cash Flow Process Cash Flow Management: Inventories Cash Flow Management: Accounts Payable Avoiding the Cash Crunch Conclusion Entrepreneurial Exercises Chapter 7. The Founder and the New Venture Team Chapter Learning Objectives Founder’s Responsibility The Founder as Leader Leadership in Action Team Member Success = Organizational Success Team Member Selection Creating an Ethical Environment Conclusion Entrepreneurial Exercises Chapter 8. Forms of Ownership Chapter Learning Objectives Protecting Intellectual Property Protecting Intellectual Property Rights Selecting an Appropriate Form of Ownership Business Licenses and Permits Contracts Selecting an Attorney Conclusion Entrepreneurial Exercises Chapter 9. The Business Plan Chapter Learning Objectives The Value of Writing a Business Plan Road Map to Success Challenges of the Business Plan Structure of the Business Plan Presenting the Business Plan Entrepreneurial Exercises Chapter 10. Equity Capital Chapter Learning Objectives Equity Capital Sources of Equity Financing Types of Equity Instruments Raising Equity Capital Entrepreneurial Exercises Chapter 11. Debt and Alternative Forms of Investment Capital Chapter Learning Objectives Fundamentals of Non-Equity Financing Government Sources of Capital Entrepreneurial Exercises Chapter 12. Structuring the Deal Chapter Learning Objectives Managing Investor Expectations Valuing the Start-Up Company Example of a Draft Private Placement Memorandum Entrepreneurial Exercises Chapter 13. Harvesting the Venture Chapter Learning Objectives Preparing For Your Exit Selling the Venture Mergers Public Liquidity Event Bankruptcy Entrepreneurial Exercises Cases Case 1: Never Underestimate the Power of Marketing Case 2: A Little Bit of Science Never Hurts Case 3: When Adversity Strikes Case 4: Knowing When to Regroup Case 5: When to Trust Your Gut Case 6: Listen to Customers and Advance Incrementally Case 7: Mitigate Risk Case 8: Venture Capitalist Turned Entrepreneur Case 9: Living an Entrepreneur’s Life Case 10: To Sell or Not to Sell References Index

About the Author :
Michael Fountain serves as the Founding Director of the University of South Florida Center for Entrepreneurship.  He also serves as the Director of the USF Student Innovation Incubator.  Michael served as the National Director of the National Consortium for Life Science Entrepreneurship from 1999-2004 and as an Entrepreneur –in-Residence at the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.  Dr. Fountain currently holds Five professorships including: The John & Beverley Grant Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship, the Muma College of Business Professor, USF Industrial Management and Systems Engineering Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, the Morsani College of Medicine Professor, USF College of Pharmacy Professor, USF Institute for Advanced Discovery and Innovation   Dr. Fountain founded or co-founded eleven new ventures based on his research, three of which became publicly traded companies.  Michael holds 30 issued United States patents and over 100 international patents.  These patented technology platforms are currently utilized in over 180 products. Dr. Fountain has published over 70 peer-reviewed publications. During his corporate career Michael served as the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and Chief Scientific Officer of a number of public and private companies. Tom Zimmerer has spent the majority of his career in academics serving as the Entrepreneurial Scholar in Residence at the University of South Florida’s Center for Entrepreneurship.  Prior to that he served as the dean of the School of Business at Saint Leo University and the Director of the Breech School of Business at Drury University. Tom held the Allen and Ruth Harris Chair of Excellence at East Tennessee State University.  While a professor at Clemson University he was the co-founder of Clemson University Emerging Technology and Marketing Center. Tom has published 10 textbooks and over 200 articles and professional papers.  In 1984 he was honored by the Industrial Research Institute with the Maurice Holland award. Tom was a consultant and executive trainer to over 100 United States and international businesses, governments, universities and trade and professional associations.

Review :
"Finally a textbook about entrepreneurship written by those who have actually done it rather than just studied it." "This is a practical hands-on approach that is worth considering for your course–concise and full of meaningful exercises and examples." "This book is a great resource for potential entrepreneurs and a good foundation for those brave enough to strike out on their own." "Launching Successful Ventures is a decent resource for an introductory or mid-level course. It has the potential to be an excellent resource alongside writing a business plan. It also offers a detailed breakdown of the most vital concepts comprising entrepreneurship." "This book is well written with concepts that would engage students’ intellect in the Launching New Venture class." "Practical with meaningful learning activities." "This text attempts to offer the new entrepreneur a guide for success and focuses a good deal of attention on the analytical skills that many new entrepreneurs lack." "This text is tuned for the high-growth venture founder who has a preconceived business concept." "An excellent tool for entrepreneurship classes." "A great text for non-business majors, students without prior business knowledge, or nascent entrepreneurs to quickly gain an understanding of the process of entrepreneurship and access to some tools to quickly get them working on building their business."