
Course
Discover what industry experts and innovators have to offer from their actionable insights!
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Product Market Fit
This lesson explores the critical role of the customer journey in achieving product-market fit. You'll gain insight into identifying and validating customer pain points, avoiding biases, and measuring success using actionable tools and metrics. With insights from Keegan Evans and Alessandro Chesser, this module provides practical frameworks for startup founders to iterate and refine their product strategy.
This lesson explores the critical role of the customer journey in achieving product-market fit. You'll gain insight into identifying and validating customer pain points, avoiding biases, and measuring success using actionable tools and metrics. With insights from Keegan Evans and Alessandro Chesser, this module provides practical frameworks for startup founders to iterate and refine their product strategy.
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Building a Team & Becoming a Leader
In this module, we focus on the challenges of building and leading an early-stage startup team. You’ll learn how to assemble a founding team that balances technical, business, and operational strengths and how to create an effective feedback loop to maintain alignment. Our guests provide insights on common reasons why teams fail, leadership frameworks, and how to foster trust and collaboration in high-stakes environments.
In this module, we focus on the challenges of building and leading an early-stage startup team. You’ll learn how to assemble a founding team that balances technical, business, and operational strengths and how to create an effective feedback loop to maintain alignment. Our guests provide insights on common reasons why teams fail, leadership frameworks, and how to foster trust and collaboration in high-stakes environments.
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What are investors looking for?
In this episode we are joined by Emily Hu and Keegan Evans to discuss investability and targeting critical assumptions in idea validation.
In this episode we are joined by Emily Hu and Keegan Evans to discuss investability and targeting critical assumptions in idea validation.
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Safeguard Your Innovation- Patents, Trademarks, and Informed Disclosure
In this episode, we are joined by Vignesh Ramachandran and Keegan Evans to discuss the importance of safeguards such as patents, trademarks, and more.
In this episode, we are joined by Vignesh Ramachandran and Keegan Evans to discuss the importance of safeguards such as patents, trademarks, and more.
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Revisiting Assumptions with Usability & Functionality testing
In this episode, we are joined by Jason Fox and Paul Nauleau to discuss characterizing what it takes to build a product that addresses the needs of your customer, and ensuring that you build the right systems.
In this episode, we are joined by Jason Fox and Paul Nauleau to discuss characterizing what it takes to build a product that addresses the needs of your customer, and ensuring that you build the right systems.
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Building Functionality & Usability- On Purpose
In this episode we are joined by Raymond Combs and Keegan Evans to take a deep dive into understanding the difference between usability and feasibility, and how to create each intentionally.
In this episode we are joined by Raymond Combs and Keegan Evans to take a deep dive into understanding the difference between usability and feasibility, and how to create each intentionally.
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Values, Visions, Missions, & Partnerships
In this episode we're joined by Skyler Scarlett and Andrew Jenkins with a focus on market growth through clarifying a powerful value proposition, vision statement, and mission statement.
In this episode we're joined by Skyler Scarlett and Andrew Jenkins with a focus on market growth through clarifying a powerful value proposition, vision statement, and mission statement.
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Competitive Landscaping & Unique Advantages
In this module, we are joined by Bradley Maihack and Keegan Evans to discuss both secondary and primary research methods, the importance of ecosystem mapping, and how to uncover your startup’s “secret sauce.”
In this module, we are joined by Bradley Maihack and Keegan Evans to discuss both secondary and primary research methods, the importance of ecosystem mapping, and how to uncover your startup’s “secret sauce.”
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Intentional Marketing, Branding & Partnerships
In this episode, we are joined by Andrew Jenkins and Quency Phillips to talk about how young founders can intentionally develop a compelling brand identity, leverage data-driven marketing strategies, and cultivate meaningful partnerships.
In this episode, we are joined by Andrew Jenkins and Quency Phillips to talk about how young founders can intentionally develop a compelling brand identity, leverage data-driven marketing strategies, and cultivate meaningful partnerships.
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Mastering Your Pitch
In today's episode we are joined by Eli Finn and Xavier "Xavi" Verdu to talk about how to master your startup pitch by knowing your audience, honest storytelling, and delivering with confidence.
In today's episode we are joined by Eli Finn and Xavier "Xavi" Verdu to talk about how to master your startup pitch by knowing your audience, honest storytelling, and delivering with confidence.
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Meet your Moderator
Max Rothe is a master’s student at SJSU with a passion for innovation and problem solving. Join him and a range of industry experts as they explore concepts including IP, prototyping, and entrepreneurship.
Read about Max’s engagement in the Bay Area EntrepRENEUrial ecosystem

















FAQs
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Yes, this course and all associated resources are free as a part of a student project at San Jose State University.
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No, this course is an individual project that does not have any affiliation with the SJSU College of Engineering, Business, or Office of Innovation.
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There will be 12 modules released weekly - and 3 in person roundtable discussions following each act.
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The content provided each week will be less than 1 hour to consume. This includes the podcast, blog post with learning outcomes, and reading the resources affiliated with each module.