The ten-course curriculum emphasizes action-based learning as students assess actual technologies and innovations. In teams, candidates collaboratively develop market strategies and business plans for these technologies. The program culminates with each team formally presenting its final technology commercialization plan to a panel of faculty, industry leaders and venture capitalists. Each year MSTC graduates launch several technologies into successful commercial ventures. Classes meet on alternate weekends:  Fridays from 4 - 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

What students can expect to learn each semester

• First Semester: Evaluate and validate the commercial viability of a technology / product concept
• Second Semester: Create a Business Plan and learn how to present it
• Third Semester: Develop an Operational Plan for introduction and launch of products into the marketplace

Summer - Assessing Technologies for Commercial Viability

STC 380 - Converting Technology to Wealth 
The first step in this process is identifying technologies that have market potential and are worthy of commercializing. Students apply a proprietary methodology to assess the market potential of a new technology.

STC 382 - Marketing Technological Innovations 
Taking a technology from idea to market requires both persuasion and marketing skills.  It starts from the early days of marshalling support for taking a technology forward in the development process, moves on to matching technologies with market needs, and finally to launching a product/service/license.  This course will address elements of persuasion and marketing critical to this process.  Students will develop a persuasive proposal and a marketing plan for taking a technology based product to market.
 
STC 386T1 - Financing New Ventures
Determining how much money is required and developing appropriate financial and fundraising strategies are critical in launching a new venture.  Students prepare financial projections and develop a financial plan for funding a new venture.

Fall - Commercialization Strategies and Venture Planning

STC 395 - New Venture Creation
Raising capital either from outside investors or internal corporate sources requires validating the market potential of the new technology, developing a business model, determining the financial requirements, and communicating the opportunity convincingly. A business plan is the main vehicle for communicating the rationale showing that the technological innovation provides the basis for a new venture. Students prepare a business plan.

STC 384 - Commercialization Strategy
Technological innovations offer unique opportunities for developing differentiation strategies. Students develop a commercialization strategy for a technology based product.

STC 394c - Managing Product Development & Production
Accelerating the product development process is critically important to the successful launch of a technology based innovation. Students develop a plan for taking an innovation from idea to a product ready for market.

Spring - Creating Executable Plans for New Ventures

STC 396 - New Venture Design & Implementation
Whereas a business plan is about funding a venture, the launch plan sets forth who does what when to launch the venture or product. Students develop a detailed, growth-oriented business implementation plan for a technology enterprise or project of their choice.

STC 391 - Technology Transfer in the Global Economy 
Transferring technologies into new global markets is a near certainty in today's economy. Processes for global commercialization are similar but more complicated than within a domestic market: the required skills create competitive advantage. Students develop a plan for transferring a technology to or from another country.

STC 385 - Creative & Innovative Management
To be successful new ventures need creative and innovative leadership and management. Students develop a strategy for managing the new venture.

STC 386T2 - Managing Technology and Business Risks
New ventures are inherently risky. Success is dependent on measuring both business and technology risks; managing intellectual property is critical to the latter. Students develop a plan for identifying, managing and mitigating risks.

Special Topics

STC 389 - Special Topics in Technology Commercialization

STC 389 - Special Topics in Entrepreneurial Ventures