Doctoral Introduction to Entrepreneurship 2

Academic unit or major

Entrepreneurship courses

Instructor(s)

Nobuhiko Seki

Class Format

Lecture (Face-to-face)

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

3-4 Tue (S4-202(S422))

Class

-

Course Code

ENT.V602

Number of credits

100

Course offered

2025

Offered quarter

4Q

Syllabus updated

Sep 22, 2025

Language

English

※ Courses with parentheses in the course number have different subject codes depending on the student's year of admission.

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

This course provides fundamental skills and knowledge for launching new entrepreneurial projects. It covers the process from identifying customers to developing business models and products and explores the opportunities and challenges faced by modern entrepreneurs.
The course aims to deepen students' understanding of the fundamental theories and practical approaches of entrepreneurship, equipping them to form and develop unique ideas, whether as entrepreneurs, researchers, or members of an organization.

Course description and aims

①　Understanding the Target and Identifying Customers: Deepen basic understanding of target analysis, segmentation, and identifying target customers.
② Value Proposition and Business Modeling: Develop value propositions in different business models and understand the outline of service design while enhancing the ability to apply these concepts.
③ Strategic Planning and Execution: Understand how to build effective logistics, the product development process, and growth strategies for business expansion.

Student learning outcomes

実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)

The professor, who has extensive experience ranging from research on decentralized networks in Bali to project management and entrepreneurship—including work in the automotive industry, renewable energy, Linux OS startups, and international initiatives—will lecture on the significance, perspectives, and inevitability of startups in the modern age.
Major Achievements
・Le Mans 24-Hour Race Project (Mazda)
・Lectures on energy-saving technology transfer in 10 cities across China (Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Japan)
・Renewable energy projects (Nishi-Izu Town in Shizuoka Prefecture, Sugadaira Highlands in Nagano Prefecture, and others)
・Founder of a Linux OS (Client Cloud Computing) startup
・Smart meter project for the Government of Bangladesh
・Corporate revitalization project with Sweden’s SAAB Corporation
・Food security project in the Middle East
・Lectures on entrepreneurship and related topics at Kochi University of Technology and other institutions
・Drafted the establishment plan for the School of Data & Innovation at Kochi University of Technology
・Member of the Skill Definition Committee of the Japan Data Scientist Society
・Recognized by the Indonesian National Parliament as an “Intellectual on Bali”
and others

Keywords

Target analysis, value creation, logistics, business models, product development, growth strategies

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills
• In the context of pre-seed uncertainty, cultivate the ability to construct funding and growth strategies through market exploration, hypothesis validation, and MVP implementation.

Class flow

Lectures
Group discussions
Thought exercises using case studies

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

Course materials are provided during classes.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Disciplined Entrepreneurship, Bill Aulet
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder
Entrepreneurial Management Book by E.G. Flamholtz
Management by Peter F. Drucker
Zero to One by Peter Thiel
Mission Economy Mariana Mazzucato

Evaluation methods and criteria

Grades will be based on in-class participation and dialogue, discussions on the LMS, weekly mini-reports related to class themes, and a final report. Active participation in class discussions is particularly emphasized in this course, so students are expected to engage proactively. To facilitate this, you'll need to prepare and review the class materials.
・　In-class participation/dialogue and LMS discussions: 40%
・　Mini-reports: 30%
・　Final report: 30%

Related courses

• ENT.B201 ： Introduction to Entrepreneurship
• ENT.V401 ： Master's Introduction to Entrepreneurship 1
• ENT.V402 ： Master's Introduction to Entrepreneurship 2
• ENT.V601 ： Doctoral Introduction to Entrepreneurship 1

Prerequisites

N/A

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

cee.info[at]jim.titech.ac.jp

Office hours

Please feel free to contact me by email at any time if you have any questions or concerns.

Other

GA1D
In each class session, a mini-report assignment related to the next topic will be given.
Discussions outside of class will take place on the LMS, and their content will be reflected in the final grade.