The course will cover early-stage health care companies from the perspective of the entrepreneur (forging) and investor (funding). Health care is a big, complex field with many unmet needs. Our objective is to help the student understand what ideas are commercially viable among the many ideas that propose to fill those needs, providing the student with a realistic perspective should they decide to enter the field. Challenge and complexity if harnessed in the right way and viewed through the correct lens can create opportunities for the informed entrepreneur or investor. The course will explore the similarities and differences associated with building businesses in digital healthcare, medical devices and biopharmaceuticals, areas that attract the vast majority of venture capital investment in healthcare as well as the sources of capital that are available to get a startup off the ground In addition, how VC’s evaluate health care deals, the flow of early stage capital and how the landscape of healthcare investment is evolving. This is a team-oriented course. Guest speakers will include experienced venture investors and CEOs of early-stage companies raising capital. Teams will be asked to evaluate early-stage investment opportunities and make an investment recommendation.

This class should not be the student’s first exposure to the business of the US healthcare system. While there are no formal prerequisites, this course is designed for students with a basic knowledge of US healthcare either through past work experience or having completed other healthcare courses at Kellogg.