Launch Startup Masters Curriculum

Phase 1: Blended Program (First 18 Months)

The first 18 months provide a foundational understanding of technical skills, entrepreneurship, leadership, and cross-disciplinary knowledge. This prepares students for the challenges of launching and scaling a tech startup.

Year 1: Advanced Coding + Startup Foundations (Months 1–12)

Months 1–6: Coding Techniques, Entrepreneurship Basics, and Cross-Disciplinary Learning

• LeetCode and Interview Preparation:

  • Weekly coding challenges from LeetCode, focusing on technical problems from Google, Tesla, Facebook, and OpenAI.

  • Topics include recursion, dynamic programming, system design, and algorithms for startup problem-solving.

  • Leadership focus: Preparing to lead technical teams in startup environments.

• Foundations of Entrepreneurship:

  • What is entrepreneurship? Introduction to the startup lifecycle, from ideation to scaling.

  • Exploring business models, lean startup methodology, and the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) approach.

  • Real-world project: Develop an MVP for a tech startup concept, working through the ideation, validation, and basic prototyping phases.

• Blending with AI, Data, and Cloud Masters:

  • AI for Startups: How startups can leverage AI to innovate, automate, and create competitive products.

  • Cloud for Startups: Utilizing cloud platforms for rapid scaling and cost efficiency.

  • Real-world project: Build a prototype using AI and cloud technologies, such as an AI-powered web app or chatbot with cloud-based infrastructure.

Months 7–12: Lean Startup and Product Development

• Lean Startup and Customer Validation:

  • Lean startup principles: Building, measuring, and learning through rapid iterations.

  • Conducting market research, customer discovery, and validating assumptions with real users.

  • Customer interviews and hypothesis testing.

  • Real-world project: Conduct user research and validation for a product idea, iterating on the MVP based on customer feedback.

• Product Development and Roadmapping:

  • How to define product vision, create a product roadmap, and manage feature prioritization.

  • Product lifecycle management: From design and development to launch.

  • Agile methodologies for product teams.

  • Real-world project: Build a full product roadmap for an app or service, detailing development milestones, timelines, and a go-to-market strategy.

• Blending with Leadership, Web-Mobile Apps, and Cloud Masters:

  • Leadership in Startups: Managing small teams, dealing with uncertainty, and leading with vision.

  • Mobile-First Startups: How to prioritize mobile experiences for startups in consumer markets.

  • Real-world project: Build a cloud-native, mobile-first application while leading a small team, handling both product development and leadership challenges.

Year 2: Specialization in Startup Launching and Scaling (Months 13–18)

Months 13–18: Specialization in Startup Growth, Funding, and Marketing

• Startup Growth Hacking and Metrics:

  • Growth hacking strategies for startups: Virality, customer acquisition, retention, and revenue models.

  • Using analytics and data to drive growth decisions (KPIs, customer acquisition cost, lifetime value).

  • Real-world project: Develop and implement a growth strategy for a hypothetical startup, tracking performance metrics and iterating on customer acquisition channels.

• Venture Capital and Startup Funding:

  • Understanding funding stages: Seed, Series A, Series B, and beyond.

  • Crafting pitch decks, building investor relations, and fundraising strategies.

  • Real-world project: Create a pitch deck for an early-stage startup and present it to mock investors for feedback.

• Marketing and Branding for Startups:

  • Developing a brand identity and market positioning for startups.

  • Digital marketing strategies: Social media, content marketing, influencer marketing, and performance marketing.

  • Real-world project: Design a marketing plan and brand strategy for a startup, focusing on customer acquisition and product launch.

• Blending with AI, Virtual Reality, and Cloud Masters:

  • AI and Data in Growth: Leveraging AI for predictive analytics, customer segmentation, and personalized marketing.

  • Cloud Scalability: Preparing startups for rapid scaling through cloud infrastructure.

  • Real-world project: Develop a scalable cloud infrastructure for a fast-growing startup, incorporating AI for customer insights and product improvements.

Phase 2: Specialization and Real-World Applications (Months 19–36)

Months 19–30: Specialization in Startup Scaling and Leadership

Students focus on building and scaling their startups, diving deep into business operations, team leadership, and market strategies.

Specialization Option 1: Startup Leadership and Team Building

• Managing fast-growth teams: Hiring, onboarding, and scaling teams in a startup environment.

• Building a strong company culture, motivating teams, and managing leadership challenges.

• Real-world project: Lead a team in scaling a startup, managing operations, hiring talent, and fostering company culture during rapid growth.

Specialization Option 2: Scaling Operations and Infrastructure

• Scaling operations for product and infrastructure: Handling large user bases, ensuring reliability and performance.

• Building scalable cloud and AI systems to meet growing demand.

• Real-world project: Build and scale the operations for a fast-growing tech product, ensuring infrastructure stability and customer satisfaction during growth.

Specialization Option 3: Product Leadership and Global Expansion

• Leading product development in a startup: Managing product teams, roadmap iteration, and user experience improvements.

• Launching products in international markets, adapting to new customer segments.

• Real-world project: Lead the expansion of a startup product to a global audience, managing both technical and business challenges.

Specialization Option 4: Startup Financials and Strategic Leadership

• Managing startup financials: Financial modeling, cost optimization, and balancing growth with profitability.

• Leading strategic decisions in fundraising, product pivots, and market positioning.

• Real-world project: Lead a startup through financial challenges, implementing strategic shifts in product or market focus to ensure long-term sustainability.

Phase 3: 6-Month Live Project (Months 31–36)

Live Capstone Project (6 Months)

• Real-World Startup Launch: Students will work on building and launching their own startup or join an existing startup to lead a product launch. This includes business planning, product development, market entry, and scaling operations.

• Team Collaboration: Students will work in teams, assuming leadership roles to manage various aspects of the startup process—technical, financial, and strategic.

• Project Examples:

  • Launching a SaaS startup from concept to market, focusing on building a customer base, securing funding, and scaling the product.

  • Leading the product launch of a mobile-first startup, building a scalable product, and managing marketing and sales strategies.

  • Building and deploying an AI-driven solution, taking it from ideation to launch with real-world users and investor pitches.

• Project Phases:

  • Phase 1 (Months 31–32): Ideation, market research, and product planning.

  • Phase 2 (Months 33–34): Product development, market validation, and early customer acquisition.

  • Phase 3 (Months 35–36): Full product launch, scaling, and investor pitch preparation.

Program Outcomes:

• Mastery of launching, growing, and scaling startups, with deep understanding of the startup lifecycle from ideation to funding and scaling.

• Proficiency in building MVPs, leading product development, and optimizing business models for sustainability and growth.

• Hands-on experience with startup growth strategies, including customer acquisition, scaling infrastructure, and managing teams in high-growth environments.

• Ability to secure funding, lead investor presentations, and manage startup financials.

• Leadership skills in building and scaling startups, with a focus on real-world challenges and decision-making.

• Completion of a live startup project, showcasing the ability to launch, scale, and lead a tech-driven business.