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HarvardX: Technology Entrepreneurship: Lab to Market

4.5 stars
31 ratings

Explore how entrepreneurs build successful businesses by moving technology from lab to market.

5 weeks
2–4 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

135,299 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Mar 28
Ends Oct 2

About this course

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Universities, government labs, and private companies invest billions of dollars in the research and development of breakthrough technologies that have the potential to transform industries and lives — but very few of these technologies ever leave the lab. Those that do often fail to find compelling market applications. So what determines success? How does an invention become an enduring innovation?

In this introductory course, developed in collaboration with the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard and the University of California San Diego, you’ll explore how entrepreneurs match promising technology with customer needs to launch successful new businesses. Using real-world examples, you’ll apply critical thinking to commercialize technologies, and you’ll learn about the venture creation process from founders, funders, and industry experts.

Join us to learn a systematic process for technology commercialization to bring cutting-edge innovations out of the lab and into the world.

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated skills:Research And Development, Critical Thinking, Commercialization, Innovation, Technology Entrepreneurship

What you'll learn

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  • A systematic approach to technology entrepreneurship
  • How to generate new use scenarios by matching customer needs with promising technology seeds
  • How to align business and operating models
  • How to evaluate a technology for readiness and market fit
  • How to position opportunities to secure funding
  • Section 1: Problem Solving and Systematic Innovation
  • Section 2: Matching Needs and Seeds
  • Section 3: Generating Business and Operating Models
  • Section 4: Determining Readiness and Market Fit
  • Section 5: Financing Your Venture

Frequently Asked Questions

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How does my participation contribute to research?
By registering as an online learner in our open online courses, you are also participating in research intended to enhance HarvardX's instructional offerings as well as the quality of learning and related sciences worldwide. In the interest of research, you may be exposed to some variations in the course materials. HarvardX does not use learner data for any purpose beyond the University's stated missions of education and research. For purposes of research, we may share information we collect from online learning activities, including Personally Identifiable Information, with researchers beyond Harvard. However, your Personally Identifiable Information will only be shared as permitted by applicable law, will be limited to what is necessary to perform the research, and will be subject to an agreement to protect the data. We may also share with the public or third parties aggregated information that does not personally identify you. Similarly, any research findings will be reported at the aggregate level and will not expose your personal identity.

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How are non-discrimination and anti-harassment supported?
Harvard University and HarvardX are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment in which no member of the community is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination or harassment in our program. All members of the HarvardX community are expected to abide by Harvard policies on nondiscrimination, including sexual harassment, and the edX Terms of Service. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact harvardx@harvard.edu and/or report your experience through the edX contact form.

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