Develop students' ability to conduct comprehensive market research through quantitative and qualitative methods to identify target customer segments and growth opportunities.
Enhance analytical skills by evaluating competitor positioning, pricing strategies, and emerging market trends relevant to a startup’s product/service.
Foster skills in designing and implementing scalable sales pipelines, including lead generation, qualification, and nurturing processes tailored for a high-velocity sales environment.
Strengthen communication and negotiation abilities by preparing pitch materials and simulating client meetings aimed at securing partnership or sales commitments.
Cultivate professional judgment through data-driven decision-making and adapting strategies based on continuous performance metrics evaluation.
Integrate academic marketing and business development concepts such as CRM use, sales funnel management, and customer acquisition cost analysis in a practical startup context.
Encourage creative problem-solving to overcome typical startup challenges such as limited resources, undefined customer personas, and fast-changing market conditions.
Conduct a detailed market analysis to identify at least two promising customer segments, including competitor benchmarking and SWOT analysis.
Design a sales development plan that outlines key stages of the sales funnel, lead sourcing strategies, outreach methods, and follow-up schedules appropriate for a high-growth startup.
Develop a persuasive sales pitch deck tailored to the identified target segments, incorporating value proposition, competitive advantage, and pricing rationale.
Simulate outreach activities by drafting email templates, cold call scripts, and LinkedIn connection requests aimed at lead generation.
Use CRM software or spreadsheet tools to track and analyze simulated sales pipeline data, deriving insights and making recommendations for improvement.
Prepare a professional report summarizing findings, sales strategy, anticipated challenges, and proposed solutions.
Present the sales plan and pitch to a panel, demonstrating effective communication, confidence, and responsiveness to critical questions and feedback.
