How to Start a Biotech Venture

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How to Start a Biotech Venture

Instructor: Dr. Svenja Jarchow

Included with

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7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Comprehensive understanding of how to establish and grow a successful team
Awareness of the legal obligations when founding a biotech venture
Knowledge of market-related challenges and how to address those early on
Protecting and transferring the business' intelectual property

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

23 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

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There are 7 modules in this course

Biotech companies are transforming the world, but launching a biotech startup comes with unique challenges—protecting intellectual property, securing funding, and building a strong team.

This course empowers you with the knowledge and confidence to tackle these issues. You’ll learn how to build a high-performing team, manage finances effectively, ensure your venture is aligned with the market, protect your intellectual property, and navigate legal and regulatory hurdles. Offered by the Technical University of Munich, one of Europe’s leading research and innovation hubs, the course combines academic expertise with practical insights from industry experts, patent attorneys, and entrepreneurs who share their real-world advice and experiences, giving you the tools to successfully bring your biotech innovation to life.

What's included

4 videos3 readings

This module covered how to build a strong founding team, shape company culture, attract investors, hire early employees, and involve external advisors from the start.

What's included

12 videos12 readings4 assignments1 peer review

12 videos Total 65 minutes

Human Capital Resources 6 minutes
Building Your Team 13 minutes
Investor Input: Advice on What Makes a Good Startup Team (Dr. Sascha Berger) 4 minutes
Founder Input: How to Build a Successful Team (Dr. Sylvia Wojczewski) 5 minutes
Founder Input: Life as an Entrepreneur 3 minutes
Recruiting Your (First) Employees 6 minutes
Leadership 6 minutes
Motivational Factors 6 minutes
Expert Input: Avoiding Team Conflicts 2 minutes
Networking 4 minutes
Start-Up Boards 8 minutes
Founder Input: Partnering as a Biotech Venture 2 minutes

12 readings Total 113 minutes

Building Your Team 2 minutes
Team Roles 10 minutes
Founder Identities 15 minutes
Entrepreneurial Motivation Quiz (optional) 5 minutes
Leadership Styles 10 minutes
Employee Stock Options 10 minutes
Objectives & Key Results 10 minutes
Strategic Partnerships 15 minutes
Initiating a Partnership 10 minutes
Module Wrap-Up 15 minutes
Module Resources: Get the Slides 10 minutes
Graded Assessment Announcement 1 minute

4 assignments Total 85 minutes

Graded Assessment 45 minutes
Practice Quiz 10 minutes
Practice Quiz 15 minutes
Practice Quiz 15 minutes

1 peer review Total 60 minutes

Exercise: Networking Using LinkedIn 60 minutes

What's included

8 videos9 readings6 assignments

8 videos Total 37 minutes

Financial vs. Management Accounting 3 minutes
Balance Sheet 4 minutes
Cash Management 6 minutes
Profit & Loss 5 minutes
Intro Start-Up Financing 7 minutes
The Investment Process 4 minutes
Investor Input: Challenges of Biotech Financing 1 minute
Successful Exit 5 minutes

9 readings Total 81 minutes

Module Overview 5 minutes
Cash Flow Statement: An Example 10 minutes
Profit & Loss Statement: An Example 10 minutes
Interrelations: CF, BS, P&L 10 minutes
Sources of Funding 5 minutes
Exit Options 15 minutes
Wrap-Up the Module 15 minutes
Module Resources: Get the Slides 10 minutes
Graded Assessment Announcement 1 minute

6 assignments Total 90 minutes

Graded Assessment 30 minutes
Cash Flow Statement 15 minutes
Practice Quiz 10 minutes
Exercise: Profit & Loss Statement 15 minutes
Practice Quiz 10 minutes
Practice Quiz 10 minutes

What's included

9 videos12 readings4 assignments1 peer review

9 videos Total 41 minutes

Market Orientation 5 minutes
Segmentation - Targeting - Positioning 4 minutes
Business Development, Marketing, or Sales 4 minutes
Product Management Strategies 5 minutes
Pricing 4 minutes
Distribution Channels 5 minutes
Communications 6 minutes
Licence Marketing 5 minutes
Science Communication 4 minutes

12 readings Total 93 minutes

Module Overview 2 minutes
A Technology Solution in Search of a Problem 5 minutes
Biotech Product Sectors 20 minutes
Introduction to Marketing 5 minutes
Product Policy 3 minutes
Pricing Strategies 15 minutes
Market Access for Pharmaceuticals (optional) 5 minutes
Green Biotechnology: The Case of Phytowelt (optional) 8 minutes
In- and Outbound Communication Measures 9 minutes
Module Wrap-Up 10 minutes
Module Resources: Get the Slides 10 minutes
Graded Assessment Announcement 1 minute

4 assignments Total 87 minutes

Graded Assessment 45 minutes
Practice Quiz 15 minutes
Practice Quiz 15 minutes
Practice Quiz 12 minutes

1 peer review Total 90 minutes

Exercise: S-T-P 90 minutes

What's included

12 videos13 readings4 assignments1 peer review

12 videos Total 103 minutes

Finding Support in Legal Matters 2 minutes
Patentability Criteria 12 minutes
IP Protection in the Daily Life as Researcher 5 minutes
Founder Input: The Strategic Role of IP 4 minutes
IP Strategy 15 minutes
Overview of Patenting Process 11 minutes
Freedom to Operate 13 minutes
Patent Application 13 minutes
Example of a Patent (Documentation) 12 minutes
Technology Transfer 7 minutes
Licensing Deals 6 minutes
Expert Input: Negotiating with TT Offices 3 minutes

13 readings Total 92 minutes

Module Overview 1 minute
Introducing our IP Experts 1 minute
Types of IP Protection 10 minutes
Inventor Remuneration 5 minutes
Record of Invention 15 minutes
Example Record of Invention 10 minutes
Enforcing & Challenging Patents 15 minutes
The Technology Transfer Process 5 minutes
Licensing Deal | An Example 3 minutes
Managing the Licensing Process 8 minutes
Module Wrap-Up 8 minutes
Module Resources: Get the Slides 10 minutes
Graded Assessment Announcement 1 minute

4 assignments Total 90 minutes

Graded Assessment 45 minutes
Practice Quiz 20 minutes
Practice Quiz 15 minutes
Practice Quiz 10 minutes

1 peer review Total 60 minutes

Exercise: Licensing Deal 60 minutes

What's included

6 videos12 readings5 assignments

6 videos Total 26 minutes

Company Formation 2 minutes
Founders Agreement & Equity Split 6 minutes
Founder Input: Founding as a Team 3 minutes
Overview Contracts & Agreements Page Actions 6 minutes
Overview Biotech Regulation 4 minutes
Sustainability and Social Responsibility as Success Factors 4 minutes

12 readings Total 81 minutes

Module Overview 1 minute
Legal Entities 7 minutes
Articles of Association & By-Laws 2 minutes
Regulated Products in the Medical Field (optional) 10 minutes
Regulatory Agencies for Medical Products (optional) 10 minutes
Regulatory Requirements for Food-Related Products (optional) 5 minutes
Corporate Governance & Compliance 5 minutes
The Case of Martin Shkreli 10 minutes
Ethical Considerations 10 minutes
Module Wrap-Up 10 minutes
Module Resources: Get the Slides 10 minutes
Graded Assessment Announcement 1 minute

5 assignments Total 90 minutes

Graded Assessment | Module 5 45 minutes
Practice Quiz 15 minutes
Practice Quiz 10 minutes
Practice Quiz 10 minutes
Practice Quiz 10 minutes

What's included

2 videos2 readings

Instructor

Dr. Svenja Jarchow

Technical University of Munich (TUM)

3 Courses 2,083 learners

Offered by

Technical University of Munich (TUM)

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