The core course of the Zell Entrepreneurship Program is Venture Creation: a yearlong course in which self-selected teams of students formulate and analyze potential business ideas, develop business plans, build business and financial models and in some cases, actually start their own businesses.

This core course is complemented by advanced entrepreneurial courses in such subjects as: new product development; entrepreneurial finance; accounting and financial analysis; psychological aspects of entrepreneurship; positioning, branding and market communications; legal and tax aspects of entrepreneurial ventures; and business presentation.

The students also take part in an entrepreneurship workshop in which entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, venture capitalists and professionals introduce them to different aspects of establishing a business.

The student teams are guided by industry expert mentors and can rely on the program’s network of friends and advisors for ad-hoc advice and support. Throughout the program, at different stages of their ventures’ development, the student teams present their ventures to panels of venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and representatives of the business community, who provide invaluable feedback.

The Zell Entrepreneurship Program culminates in a study trip to the United States, where students attend classes at the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business; visit leading companies; present ventures to potential investors; and meet the program’s sponsor, Sam Zell.