The US venture capital ecosystem is currently navigating a period of unprecedented volatility. Following a historic peak of $STRAMGT 330B in 2021, investment levels contracted by STRAMGT 50% in 2023, only to rebound to $STRAMGT 340B in 2025. While the broader market power has shifted toward investors, a distinct positive inflection point has emerged for seed-stage entrepreneurs and AI-driven ventures. This course provides students with a tactical framework for navigating this chaotic environment. The course is fast paced as it combines case methodology with an experiential project that centers on a business idea or investment thesis. Many students pursue their existing business idea while others focus on how to consider a new idea or investment thesis that has breakthrough potential. Students are permitted to use a business idea from an ongoing project or course (with instructor permission). If you do not have a business idea or market sector investment thesis, we will team you with another student to pursue an idea together. We have successfully extended the familiar one speaker case format to a dual perspective format. In several classes, we feature two speakers, such as the investor and the founder, offering an original dynamic discussion that gives you a STRAMGT 360-degree view of the deal-making process. Optional post-session breakouts allow for small-group, candid dialogue with the guest speakers. The course curriculum is grounded in the principles of the course textbook, Pattern Breakers (Maples, Jr. & Ziebelman). We focus on how to identify and scale non-consensus ideas. Highly rated class topics include - analyzing what occurs behind closed doors after the presentation at a VC partner meeting; foundational governance strategies for selecting co-founders, optimizing equity splits, and leveraging the power of early-stage boards; evaluating how AI technical advancements and valuation metrics are changing the pace of current investments. We prioritize a diverse cohort, intentionally reserving STRAMGT 10 seats for graduate students from outside the GSB to enrich the class dynamic. Students range from serial entrepreneurs to those exploring the startup ecosystem for the first time.
3 units · GSB Student Option LTR/PF
The US venture capital ecosystem is currently navigating a period of unprecedented volatility. Following a historic peak of $330B in 2021, investment levels contracted by 50% in 2023, only to rebound to $340B in 2025. While the broader market power has shifted toward investors, a distinct positive inflection point has emerged for seed-stage entrepreneurs and AI-driven ventures. This course provides students with a tactical framework for navigating this chaotic environment. The course is fast paced as it combines case methodology with an experiential project that centers on a business idea or investment thesis. Many students pursue their existing business idea while others focus on how to consider a new idea or investment thesis that has breakthrough potential. Students are permitted to use a business idea from an ongoing project or course (with instructor permission). If you do not have a business idea or market sector investment thesis, we will team you with another student to pursue an idea together. We have successfully extended the familiar one speaker case format to a dual perspective format. In several classes, we feature two speakers, such as the investor and the founder, offering an original dynamic discussion that gives you a 360-degree view of the deal-making process. Optional post-session breakouts allow for small-group, candid dialogue with the guest speakers. The course curriculum is grounded in the principles of the course textbook, Pattern Breakers (Maples, Jr. & Ziebelman). We focus on how to identify and scale non-consensus ideas. Highly rated class topics include - analyzing what occurs behind closed doors after the presentation at a VC partner meeting; foundational governance strategies for selecting co-founders, optimizing equity splits, and leveraging the power of early-stage boards; evaluating how AI technical advancements and valuation metrics are changing the pace of current investments. We prioritize a diverse cohort, intentionally reserving 10 seats for graduate students from outside the GSB to enrich the class dynamic. Students range from serial entrepreneurs to those exploring the startup ecosystem for the first time.
Offered in Winter 2027 at Stanford University.