The Goal of the Capstone is to provide Computer Science students with the tools to be successful technical co-founders of their own startups. We will explore the initial stages of founding a startup, including team formation, idea validation, pivoting and pitching, while employing an iterative methodology. Student teams will develop a minimum viable product, pitch their final startup concept, and be evaluated on product/market fit.
Feel free to reach out to Professor Rick Han with any questions! [email protected]
Within the first few weeks of class, students pitch ideas to each other and with the goal of forming teams. Some students come to class with multiple ideas, while others come with just one. Students self select there teams, however students may switch of leave teams throughout the year.
Once students form teams, they are taught to go out and validate there ideas. Students are encouraged not to build products or MVPs. Students go through the steps of learning how to validate not only idea/market fit, but founder/market fit. The thought of idea validation is present through the Capstone.
Now that students have validated there ideas, they are encouraged to create MVPs to test the assumptions that they have made about their business. They also learn and practice how to present there business to others. At the end of the first semester they present to a group of industry professionals from all across Boulder.
Students spend the first couple of months of the second semester building out their products. To assist in this numerous industry professionals are brought in to teach about marketing, tax law, intellectual property, scaling, hiring, and more.
Now that the students businesses have gained sufficient traction, the students practice their pitches in preparation of the CU NVC.
Students get prepared to present their business in the College Expo by working further on building out their working products.
Associate Professor - Department of Computer Science
VP of Education - Techstars
Faculty member - Department of Computer Science