Entrepreneurial activities have a significant impact on individual lives and careers as they enable the growth and sustainability of organizations. By introducing change and innovation into the economic, social and environmental system, entrepreneurs force other individuals and organizations to constantly adapt. New business models, products/services, processes and organizational practices make it virtually impossible for business professionals to settle down into routine work and linear career paths. In this course you will create an sustainability-focused product or service idea and develop an innovative business model. Through this experience, you will learn to apply business skills such as accountancy, finance, marketing, management, operations, and strategy in the context of creating new venture and value in a financially, socially and environmentally sustainable way. In short, you will practice using business as a force for good in the world. In summary, developing a deeper appreciation for sustainable business models and new value creation, plus improving your ability to work entrepreneurially, should provide you with more flexibility in achieving your personal and professional goals.

Learning Objectives: Active participation in this course will enable you to develop many skill sets that are involved in the development of new sustainable business models and ventures, including how to: * Appreciate and articulate the challenges and rewards of Sustainable Entrepreneurship * Develop skills to identify, create and evaluate new venture ideas * Design a sustainable value proposition and corresponding business model * Develop confidence to engage in uncertainty and to know when to pivot * Assess the market, operational, and financial feasibility of a business idea * Identify and acquire the required resources for a new venture * Pitch and sell new sustainable business ideas to peers and experts Required Texts: * A Osterwalder & Y Pigneur (2010) Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers (John Wiley & Sons) ** The central tool from this text, the Business Model Canvas, will be a key tool taught in class. * A. Osterwalder, Y. Pigneur, G. Bernarda, A. Smith, & P. Papadakos (2014). Value Proposition Design: How to Create Products and Services Customers Want (John Wiley & Sons) ** Two tools from the text, Customer Profiles and Value Maps, will be key tools taught in class. Required Readings and Videos: * As outlined in the class timetable, additional readings will include journal and magazine articles that can be freely downloaded from the university library. Publicly downloadable videos will also be used to augment the readings and classroom learning experience. Online Learning Platform: This course is part of a pilot program that will be using Brightspace, UVM's new learning platform that's replacing Blackboard. Since only a limited number of courses will be piloting Brightspace this coming semester, you are still likely to have courses in Blackboard as well. For more information on Brightspace: go.uvm.edu/brightspace-pilot

Individual Contributions * In-Class & Group Participation 20% * Customer Interviews and Analysis 20% * Product Customer Fit Assessment 20% Group Sustainable Business Model Project * Business Idea Pitch 15% * Virtual “Trade Show” Presentation 25%