BUS 213 — Principles of Product/Market Fit
Quarter: Spring
Day(s): Thursdays
Course Format: On-campus (About Formats)
Duration: 6 weeks
Date(s): Apr 13—May 18
Time: 7:00—8:50 pm (PT)
Refund Deadline: Apr 15
Unit: 1
Tuition: $500
Instructor(s): Edwin Oh
Class Recording Available: No
Status: Open
Spring
On-campus
Thursdays
7:00—8:50 pm (PT)
Date(s)
Apr 13—May 18
6 weeks
Refund Date
Apr 15
1 Unit
Fees
$500
Instructor(s):
Edwin Oh
Recording
No
Open
What is the basic challenge that all businesses must solve to be viable? It is product/market fit, matching what you have with what customers value and ultimately pay for. More startups die because they fail to achieve product/market fit than because their technology fails. Designed for prospective entrepreneurs, this course covers the “pre-work” necessary for a business plan. It presents a systematic way to validate the monetary potential of your business. It will teach the difference between a business idea (a dime a dozen) and a monetizable business model (worth gold); how to achieve product/market fit; and how to validate a business model using core concepts in customer development, innovation marketing, product planning, and competitive strategy. Through the use of simple but powerful frameworks, students will identify core customers, discover what matters to them (hint: it’s not just product), and learn practical tips on gaining traction with “earlyvangelist” customers. We will survey common business models used to turn mere ideas into profitable businesses, with particular attention to pricing strategy and testing techniques. By the end of the course, students will be able to decide whether it’s worth leaving their day job for that new startup idea they’ve been pondering.
Prior experience in marketing is not required, but students should have a new business idea to test using the frameworks taught in the course.
EDWIN OH
Managing Director, Infrastructure Group
Edwin Oh has more than 30 years of experience in technology commercialization, including as CEO of multiple small public and private companies. His company provides marketing and business services to early-stage startups in Silicon Valley. Oh received an MS in chemical engineering and an MBA from Stanford. Textbooks for this course:
There are no required textbooks; however, some fee-based online readings may be assigned.