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Is a course in entrepreneurship an oxymoron?

By Tony Redpath @ MaRS
October 5, 2009
 
A course for up-starts

A course for up-starts

MaRS launched the CIBC Presents Entrepreneurship 101 lecture series for its fifth year last Wednesday. But every time we launch a new season I wonder: is entrepreneurship really teachable?

There are those who feel that it is really experiential – to borrow a phrase, just get out there and do it! There is some truth to that perspective – you never really understand what it is like to negotiate a term sheet with an investor until you have to sit down across the table and go eyeball to eyeball with them. Likewise there is no way to desribe the feeling of signing your first major customer.

However, I like to think that what we are doing is comparable to learning the rules of the road. It doesn’t substitute for hands on the wheel experience – nothing can – but at least you understand what those funny red octagonal signs mean!

Downloads and Resources

Weren’t able to attend the class? Need some notes or want to look something up? Click below for all of the goodies from the lecture. Watch the video and the slide presentation below.

Entrepreneurship 101 2009/10 – Week 1 – Course Introduction from MaRS Discovery District on Vimeo.

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  • DL Kinlin

    Is a course on entrepeneurship an oxymoron? No, not necessarily. The passion to think, dream and attempt the creation of the yet unseen is something more closer to innate, agreed. Deep within the “entrepeneur” lies the desire to make “it” better, more efficient, less invasive, more enjoyable, more accessible, etc… The big dreamers of this world need the framework to let their ideas take flight… If I can take a course giving me exposure to the framework as well as the learned skills of entrepeneurs before me so as to shorten my path to the fruition of my idea – I will be the first student enrolled. In civilization so far, the access to and teachings of qualified, experienced mentors and specialized teams has only served to enhance the revolutionary process. So, entrepeneurship cannot necessarily be taught but you can teach an entrepeneur to better access their natural talent and shorten the time it takes them to bring brilliance to fruition as well as learning many lessons in a easy manner.

  • http://blog.marsdd.com webgoddesscathy @ MaRS

    So does that mean that to be an entrepreneur means you have to have the idea? My feeling is that you can help someone else’s idea come to fruition.

    Certainly, this course is aimed at those with ideas and giving them the business skills to evolve the idea into a product or venture.

    But can’t you be an entrepreneur who’s leading an up-start with an innovative idea, but who didn’t come up with the idea in the first place?

  • Anonymous

    Please register attendance for Salima Jiwani. Thank you.

  • SalimaJiwani

    Please register attendance for Salima Jiwani. Thank you.

  • http://ryanaroundtheworld.blogspot.com/ Ryan Coelho

    Hey Tony,nnI think it’s not about teaching Entrepreneurship, it’s about teaching the skills to be a good Entrepreneur. Like Bill White said, it’s not just about the idea, but bringing the idea to life. To me what separates an Entrepreneur from a dreamer is the ability to bring ideas to life… and MaRS is providing us with the skills to do that!nnThanks,nRyan Coelho

  • http://ryanaroundtheworld.blogspot.com/ Ryan Coelho

    Hey Tony,I think it's not about teaching Entrepreneurship, it's about teaching the skills to be a good Entrepreneur. Like Bill White said, it's not just about the idea, but bringing the idea to life. To me what separates an Entrepreneur from a dreamer is the ability to bring ideas to life… and MaRS is providing us with the skills to do that!Thanks,Ryan Coelho

  • Anonymous

    Please register attendance for Salima Jiwani (s.jiwani@utoronto.ca) for this session. nThank you (My comments on Vimeo would not get posted for whatever reason).

Tony Redpath @ MaRS

Tony Redpath @ MaRS

As the VP of Partner Programs at MaRS, Tony ensures that our external and internal programs work together. Tony also advises entrepreneurs and high growth companies, particularly in environmental, advanced materials and manufacturing markets, with a special emphasis on mentoring and development of entrepreneurs.

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