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Promoting entrepreneurship - the practical course ‘Fundamentals of starting a business’


Developing entrepreneurial potential at ZAT Leoben

The practical course ‘Do-It-Lab 2 - Fundamentals of Starting a Business’, led by Dr Remo Taferner, Managing Director of ZAT Leoben, inspired the 20 participants and motivated them to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and take the first steps towards starting their own business. This practice-oriented programme, part of the winter semester 2024/25, provided valuable insights and skills to succeed in the dynamic world of entrepreneurship.


Structured learning for prospective founders

The course was organised into five thematically coordinated sessions covering a wide range of fundamental topics:

  1. Introduction to entrepreneurship and fundamentals: In this first session, participants explored the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, reflected on their personal motivations and explored key characteristics such as resilience and adaptability.

  2. Idea development and business model canvas (BMC): The focus was on the development and refinement of business ideas. Using tools such as the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas, participants learnt how to structure their ideas and create clear added value for their target group.

  3. Marketing and financing: This session emphasised the importance of marketing to connect innovation with market needs. In addition, market analyses were carried out using the TAM-SAM-SOM framework and various financing options - from equity to public funding - were explained.

  4. Leadership and team management: This module focussed on teamwork. Participants worked together in groups, shared ideas and gave each other constructive feedback to further develop their business concepts.

  5. Pitching and networking: The final module focussed on the art of pitching and building a network. Practical exercises helped the participants to create convincing elevator pitches and investor presentations and to create an emotional connection to their target group through storytelling.


Interactive and practical learning

The course was characterised by a high degree of interactivity. Self-reflection, group work and practical exercises helped the participants to immediately apply the concepts they had learnt. They developed early prototypes and evaluated them based on real criteria such as market potential and technical feasibility.


Important insights

  • Entrepreneurship is a journey.

    It's about creating added value, taking risks and learning from setbacks.

  • Focus is key.

    Success comes from prioritising and taking actionable steps.

  • The best time to start is now.

    Access to resources, markets and knowledge has never been easier.


This hands-on course seeks to show how theory and practice can be combined to inspire the next generation of innovators. By fostering a growth-orientated mindset, the institution motivates students to turn their ideas into sustainable projects.


For anyone interested in entrepreneurship: There is no better time to create something meaningful!

 

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