You are here

Book > Textbooks > Small Business/Entrepreneurship
Launching Successful Ventures
Share

Launching Successful Ventures

November 2018 | 352 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Download flyer
“Finally a textbook about entrepreneurship written by those who have actually done it rather than just studied it.”

–W. Don Stull, Texas Tech University 

The majority of new businesses don’t survive their first year. Launching Successful Ventures teaches students the nuts and bolts of creating new ventures while helping them avoid the common pitfalls that often lead to failure. Entrepreneurial exercises, case studies, step-by-step guidelines, and in-depth coverage of important financial topics such as managing cash flow, equity capital, and debt and investment capital are designed to help students build sustainable, lucrative ventures. Authored by successful serial entrepreneurs and award-winning researchers Michael Fountain and Tom Zimmerer, this new text provides a concise, practical guide for students seeking to develop high-growth ventures.
 
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Chapter 1. The Entrepreneurial Venture
Chapter Learning Objectives  
The Entrepreneur  
Types of Entrepreneurial Ventures  
Where Are Today’s Entrepreneurs Coming From?  
Your Challenge  
Global Entrepreneurship and the Acceleration of Competition  
Customer-Focused Business Models  
Developing an Entrepreneurial Culture  
The Need for Continuous Change  
Social Entrepreneurship in Our Economy  
Conclusion  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Chapter 2. Creativity and Market Viability
Chapter Learning Objectives  
In Search of the Valuable Idea  
The Power of Human Creativity  
Screening and Evaluating Ideas  
Market Evaluation Steps  
Creating a Potential Adopter Profile  
Building an Opportunity Evaluation Model  
The Seven-Part Assessment Model  
Assessing the Actual Market Potential: The Ugly Realities  
Conclusion  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Chapter 3. Industry and Competitive Analysis
Chapter Learning Objectives  
Assessing the Industry  
The Macroenvironmental Analysis Process  
Components of the Macroenvironment  
Stages of Industry Development  
Analyzing Industry Behavior  
Competitive Analyses and Competitive Profile Matrices  
Creating Your Business Model  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Chapter 4. New Venture Marketing
Chapter Learning Objectives  
Customers and the Market  
“Market Disruptors”  
Switching Cost: A Barrier to Adoption  
Market Research and Market Segmentation  
Effective Marketing Strategies  
Components of a Marketing Strategy  
Product Strategies  
Place Strategies  
Pricing Strategies  
Promotion Strategies  
Conclusion  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Chapter 5. The Financial Plan
Chapter Learning Objectives  
By the Numbers  
Financial Analysis  
Basic Financial Statements  
Breakeven Analysis and the Pro Forma Financial Statement  
Financial Ratio Analysis  
Conclusion  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Chapter 6. Cash Flow Management
Chapter Learning Objectives  
Cash and Profits Are Not the Same  
Cash Flow Process  
Cash Flow Management: Inventories  
Cash Flow Management: Accounts Payable  
Avoiding the Cash Crunch  
Conclusion  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Chapter 7. The Founder and the New Venture Team
Chapter Learning Objectives  
Founder’s Responsibility  
The Founder as Leader  
Leadership in Action  
Team Member Success = Organizational Success  
Team Member Selection  
Creating an Ethical Environment  
Conclusion  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Chapter 8. Forms of Ownership
Chapter Learning Objectives  
Protecting Intellectual Property  
Protecting Intellectual Property Rights  
Selecting an Appropriate Form of Ownership  
Business Licenses and Permits  
Contracts  
Selecting an Attorney  
Conclusion  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Chapter 9. The Business Plan
Chapter Learning Objectives  
The Value of Writing a Business Plan  
Road Map to Success  
Challenges of the Business Plan  
Structure of the Business Plan  
Presenting the Business Plan  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Chapter 10. Equity Capital
Chapter Learning Objectives  
Equity Capital  
Sources of Equity Financing  
Types of Equity Instruments  
Raising Equity Capital  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Chapter 11. Debt and Alternative Forms of Investment Capital
Chapter Learning Objectives  
Fundamentals of Non-Equity Financing  
Government Sources of Capital  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Chapter 12. Structuring the Deal
Chapter Learning Objectives  
Managing Investor Expectations  
Valuing the Start-Up Company  
Example of a Draft Private Placement Memorandum  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Chapter 13. Harvesting the Venture
Chapter Learning Objectives  
Preparing For Your Exit  
Selling the Venture  
Mergers  
Public Liquidity Event  
Bankruptcy  
Entrepreneurial Exercises  
 
Cases
Case 1: Never Underestimate the Power of Marketing  
Case 2: A Little Bit of Science Never Hurts  
Case 3: When Adversity Strikes  
Case 4: Knowing When to Regroup  
Case 5: When to Trust Your Gut  
Case 6: Listen to Customers and Advance Incrementally  
Case 7: Mitigate Risk  
Case 8: Venture Capitalist Turned Entrepreneur  
Case 9: Living an Entrepreneur’s Life  
Case 10: To Sell or Not to Sell  
 
References
 
Index

“Finally a textbook about entrepreneurship written by those who have actually done it rather than just studied it.”

W. Don Stull
Texas Tech University

“This is a practical hands-on approach that is worth considering for your course–concise and full of meaningful exercises and examples.” 

Violet Z. Christopher
Antelope Valley College

“This book is a great resource for potential entrepreneurs and a good foundation for those brave enough to strike out on their own.” 

Kim L. Wangler
Appalachian State University

“Launching Successful Ventures is a decent resource for an introductory or mid-level course. It has the potential to be an excellent resource alongside writing a business plan. It also offers a detailed breakdown of the most vital concepts comprising entrepreneurship.” 

Adam Starks
Alderson-Broaddus University

“This book is well written with concepts that would engage students’ intellect in the Launching New Venture class.” 

Benjamin K. Ofili
Northeastern State University

“Practical with meaningful learning activities.” 

Ayisha E. Sereni
Montgomery County Community College

“This text attempts to offer the new entrepreneur a guide for success and focuses a good deal of attention on the analytical skills that many new entrepreneurs lack.”

Aaron M. Butler
Warner Pacific College

“This text is tuned for the high-growth venture founder who has a preconceived business concept.” 

Stephen E. Lanivich
Old Dominion University

“An excellent tool for entrepreneurship classes.” 

William J. Carner
Westminster College

“A great text for non-business majors, students without prior business knowledge, or nascent entrepreneurs to quickly gain an understanding of the process of entrepreneurship and access to some tools to quickly get them working on building their business.” 

April J. Spivack
Key features

KEY FEATURES: 

  • Designed to provide step-by-step guidance through the entrepreneurial process and encourage students to apply key concepts to any potential real-world business venture.
  • Entrepreneurial exercises provide students with hands-on opportunities to apply chapter concepts. 
  • Real-world case studies introduce students to challenges and opportunities that entrepreneurs encounter.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 3: Industry and Competitive Analysis

Chapter 10: Equity Capital

Preview this book

For instructors

Please select a format:

Select a Purchasing Option

Electronic version
Prices from
$40.00*
*180 day rental

Related Products

New Venture Creation
New Venture Creation
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship