• Overview
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • What You’ll Learn

Overview

Building a startup is more than just having an idea. Our program will help you maximize your success as a startup founder. You'll get the tools, skills, and networking to thrive. Gain lifelong relationships, essential knowledge, and strategies to drive your startup’s growth and success.

The M.S. in Entrepreneurship focuses on equipping individuals with crucial business and entrepreneurial competencies required for conceiving, strategizing, initiating, and maintaining a new enterprise or innovation. This comprehensive program is tailored to guide aspiring entrepreneurs through the complete startup journey, starting from validating and developing concepts to securing funding for their new venture and establishing a viable business. Beyond imparting skills for building a new business from scratch, the program is also suitable for established business professionals seeking to enhance their innovation capabilities within their current organization. Throughout the program, live interactive sessions will be offered to enrich learner engagement and improve the learning experience.

Who Should Register

If you are currently a startup founder or looking to become one within the next 12 months, this program was built for you. As an aspiring or recent startup founder, you'll get the necessary skills and support to set your business up for success. Going solo may seem the easiest path, but the truth is that having a peer group and someone to hold you accountable while learning and building will provide the fuel you need to accelerate your business.

Why Choose Nexford

Nexford is where global citizens learn the skills they need, at the moment they need them most. We help people move forward in their careers – and their lives. We're a Public Benefit Corporation based in Washington DC. Yes, we're for profit, but we prioritize public benefit over profit. Every time. Nexford aims to demonstrate a more effective way of aligning credentials to the workforce--one that is far better positioned to give any learner, regardless of starting point, an educational foundation for lifelong success. We do this through curricular innovation, leadership in learning analytics and the development of models and tools that enable personalization and impact at scale. We are a cross-disciplinary team of relentlessly optimistic, ambitiously creative, solution-oriented problem solvers who collaborate to uncover and develop new scalable ways to enable our internal and external partners to consistently drive learner impact using the latest technologies and innovative practices available.

Admission Requirements

  • Government-issued identification
  • Passport-style photo or “selfie”
  • Evidence of English language proficiency
  • Official transcript verifying receipt of a bachelor’s degree from:
    • An accredited institution listed by the U.S. Department of Education, or
    • An international institution of higher education approved by the appropriate national ministry of education or recognized country equivalent
  • Documents not written in English must be accompanied by official translations, such as those provided by:
    • A validated institutional official, or
    • An embassy
  • If a translated copy of the documents is not available upon application, the Office of Admissions will translate the document before making a decision
  • All learners wishing to enroll in the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (MSE) must have:
    • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university

Program Courses

The MSc in Entrepreneurship is a hands-on program of curated learning that will guide you through the process of launching your idea and improving your startup's performance. The course list below provides a glimpse into the comprehensive program that awaits you. So, gear up for an exciting and guided journey of building.


From Idea to Pitch

This survey course introduces fundamental concepts of the entrepreneurial process that must occur to go from a business concept to the launch of a new venture. Learners improve their entrepreneurial skills through content and interactive activities around the processes and steps that an entrepreneur must take to go from A to Z in successfully launching a business.

By the end of this course, you will not only have developed a comprehensive business pitch but also gained the confidence and knowledge needed to embark on your entrepreneurial journey with conviction. Whether you're an aspiring founder or a future business leader, this course is your gateway to the world of entrepreneurship. You will gain a well-rounded skill set and knowledge base, enabling them to transform ideas into compelling business pitches and thrive in the entrepreneurial landscape.



Entrepreneurial Mindset Seminar

This one-month seminar will examine the aspects of an entrepreneurial mindset that founders need to succeed in their start-up businesses. An entrepreneurial mindset is resilient, resourceful, and solutions-oriented. In this seminar course, aspiring entrepreneurs will assess their readiness for the entrepreneurial journey, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and determine what skills and traits they should look for in a co-founding team.

There are two live sessions in this seminar with required attendance.



Executing a Vision: Product Design & Development for Entrepreneurs

Learn how to bridge the gap between abstract ideas and tangible products. This course is designed to equip learners with the necessary skills to validate ideas, conduct effective user research, and apply design thinking principles. We delve into the creation of personas, story mapping, and prototyping, all crucial elements in the design thinking process. The course also offers an in-depth look into engineering strategies, focusing on decision-making processes such as build vs. buy, and leadership. We explore Agile development and SCRUM practices, providing students with a solid foundation in modern, efficient product development methodologies. The course also covers the business aspects of new product development, ensuring learners are well-versed in the complete product lifecycle.

This course is perfect for aspiring product designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs who are eager to turn their innovative ideas into reality.



Startup Strategy and Development

This practical course explores the strategies necessary for startups to succeed. Startups are resource-strapped and must be creative and innovative with their ideas, strategies, and actions to drive their business to succeed. This course covers concepts including monetization, profitability, and key success measures among other startup strategies. Learners will apply concepts from this class to their own startup ideas so they can further their strategy development.



Legal Topics for Founders: Navigating the Corporate Landscape

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the legal aspects of founding a company. You will explore various legal entities and companies and delve into corporate/constitutional documents, such as Articles of Association. A significant portion of this course is dedicated to understanding investor rights, terms, and jargon, and the business impact of each of these elements, including Right of First Refusal (ROFR) and Anti-dilution.

The course will also offer an in-depth look into the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) Standards, a set of guidelines most venture capitalists use globally. It will cover topics such as Term Sheets, Subscription/Stock Purchase Agreements, Shareholder agreements, and Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFEs). You will understand how to build and manage capitalization tables and cover core policies like diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.



Funding for Startup Founders

Learn how to secure funding for your startup. This course will teach you how to secure the funding you need to build your startup. You will learn about the various funding options available for your startup, including bootstrapping, microloans, bank debt, crowdfunding, angel investment, and venture capital funding. You will also learn how to formulate a funding strategy, prepare accurate financial projections, and craft and deliver a winning pitch.



Achieving Product-Market Fit

As a founder, you must evaluate customer problems and identify solutions with the right product-market fit. This course will use a lean and agile product strategy and design approaches and processes to validate your ideas and implement your vision. In this course, you will learn how to refine your ideas, define your target customer to ensure product-market fit and set yourself up for long-term success as a founder.

 


Mastering Personal Marketing and Sales Skills

This seminar course delves into the art of personal marketing, understanding how to present your skills and abilities in the most attractive and compelling way. You will develop communication skills relevant to selling, including active listening, persuasion, and product knowledge. The course will cover the intricacies of relationship management, and you will gain insights into objection handling, a critical skill in sales that allows them to address and overcome any potential barriers to a deal. It will identify the importance of persistence, self-motivation, and goal setting in the sales industry, providing you with the tools and strategies to stay motivated and driven, even when faced with rejection or obstacles. You will gain a well-rounded understanding and practical skills to market yourself and effectively sell your ideas.



Product Go-to-Market

The course covers crucial elements of go-to-market strategy, including identifying market needs and definition the product-market fit for new product offerings. You will gain practical insights into product launch strategies, product positioning, and sales enablement. The course also delves into defining product priorities, understanding market sizing, performing competitive analysis, and developing effective pricing and packaging strategies. The course ensures you will be well-equipped to navigate the dynamic and competitive landscape of product marketing.



Accounting and Financial Reporting

Accounting and Financial Reporting engages learners in applying the principles of corporate finance and accounting to business decision making.

Course topics include financial statements and other reports, the basics of financial forecasting and budgeting, accounting analytics, and the communications and vocabulary related to financial statements. Learners reconcile financial transactions and accounting records, and examine the implications of international differences in accounting frameworks and financial reporting requirements.



The Art of Communication

What is the number one job skill American and global employees are lacking, according to LinkedIn CEO, Jeff Weiner? Communication. The Art of Communication is designed to strengthen and promote a leadership-driven communications model that extends from an audience centered communications approach. How do leaders persuade shareholders? How do leaders negotiate with clients and business partners across cultures?

This course introduces learners to a foundation in rhetorical awareness that will transfer through a variety of contexts, including corporate communications, public speaking, negotiation, and a range of executive leadership scenarios. Coursework includes genre analysis, professional writing, presentation design and delivery, and negotiation workshops.

 


Essential Power Skills for Leaders and Entrepreneurs

This seminar aims to provide leaders and entrepreneurs with soft skills essential for excelling in the dynamic and diverse modern business environment. The program focuses on developing communication, leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability competencies. By the end of the course, participants will have improved their ability to lead their businesses, manage teams effectively, and make informed strategic decisions.

There are two live sessions in this seminar with required attendance.



Building and Scaling an Organization

One of the key skills every startup founder needs to know is how to identify, find, and hire the right team to build their business, starting with a co-founder. This course will cover management skills, basic HR skills for founders, key needs for new businesses, and the roles to handle those needs. The course will additionally cover how hiring needs and the organizational chart change as a business matures and scales. Topics include motivating and inspiring employees, leadership development, conflict management, intercultural relations, and change management.



Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy focuses on the advanced marketing and leadership skills required in today’s fast-paced technology driven global economy. Learners prepare for roles within the field of marketing, and gain a solid understanding of the role of marketing, both in traditional and digital platforms, in defining and maintaining a brand and in meeting business objectives.

You’ll examine how technology and transformational approaches are critical to developing future-forward marketing strategies. Topics include leadership, strategic partnerships, and negotiating skills that are key contributors to successful business growth and company culture.



Conflict Management and Negotiation Seminar

This seminar course will enhance your negotiation skills and build your ability to persuade effectively in both personal and professional contexts. You will also learn the art of successfully managing conflict. The course includes class discussions, negotiation assignments, and a practical exercise, allowing participants to identify their own negotiation styles and develop the tools and techniques to manage conflict effectively.

There are two live sessions in this seminar with required attendance.



Entrepreneurship Capstone

The Entrepreneurship Capstone is a comprehensive course providing participants the opportunity to apply what they have learned throughout the Entrepreneurship program to create a comprehensive business plan and investor pitch deck for their validated business idea. During this course, you will enhance your business research skills and present their business idea as part of their final project. Participants will be evaluated on their business plan, investor pitch, and presentation and will receive feedback on any needed adjustments.

By the end of the course, you will have a strong pitch deck that you can use to pursue funding for a real business, and the presentation skills to properly present your business idea to potential investors or financial institutions.


What You'll Learn

Startup Strategy & Development
Develop a strategy and plan to steer your startup toward sustainability and profitability. This exercise isn't just theoretical. You will synthesize your startup’s financial forecasts, key performance metrics, and leadership strategies into a step-by-step strategy for your startup. In this course, you will demonstrate strategic alignment of your startup's purpose with its financial viability.


Product Design & Development

Learn to fuse product development with your business strategy. It's not just about designing a product, it's about aligning it with your strategic goals to ensure market success. Build a product roadmap that demonstrates this critical correlation. When product development is in sync with business strategy, it boosts market relevance and ensures resource effectiveness.


Funding for Startup Founders

Crafting a convincing pitch for your startup's value proposition and communicating your plans for the use of funds is not just an option, it's an essential requirement for securing the funding that drives startup success. With a confident and well-articulated pitch, you can confidently attract investors and propel your business towards its goals.

Estimated
Cost: $430 per month
Next Start Date: April 1, 2025

Program Details:

  • icon Master
  • icon Online
  • icon Instructor Led
  • icon 15 courses
  • icon 39 credit hours
  • icon 1-2 years
  • icon 20 hours a week
Upskilling 2 or more people?
Get your team access.
Related Career Pathways
  • Business & Management