Information on individual educational components (ECTS-Course descriptions) per semester

Early Stage Financing

Degree programme International Business Administration
Subject area Business and Management
Type of degree Bachelor
Full-time
Winter Semester 2024
Course unit title Early Stage Financing
Course unit code 025008052202
Language of instruction English
Type of course unit (compulsory, optional) Elective
Teaching hours per week 2
Year of study 2024
Level of the course / module according to the curriculum
Number of ECTS credits allocated 3
Name of lecturer(s) Katharina EHRENFELLNER, Lisa-Marie FASSL
Requirements and Prerequisites

Successful completion of all courses of the module Accounting and Finance.

Course content
  • Life cycles of companies
  • Elements of a financial plan
  • Differences between equity and debt financing
  • Outline of equity and debt financing instruments
  • In-depth presentation of mezzanine financing instruments
  • Alternative financing, crowd funding, venture capital
Learning outcomes

An essential factor for the success of a company is to have sufficient access to sources of financing at all times in order to be able to provide the liquidity required for the establishment and expansion of business operations. This is even more true for young companies, start-ups and strongly expanding companies, where cash flow generation from current business operations does not (yet) cover the need for liquid funds.

Students are familiar with the representation of a company in its life cycle and can name essential instruments of equity and debt financing and recognise their suitability for certain situations and constellations. They know essential parameters for company ratings and are able to define central components of a financial plan and also to create one. Students are familiar with terms from the context of start-up financing, e.g. venture capital, business angels, seed financing, etc.

Students understand the connection between creditworthiness and refinancing costs, they can evaluate the advantages and disadvantages, opportunities and risks of financing instruments and are aware of the special financing requirements in the early phases of the company and can explain them. They can apply the financing instruments required for the start-up phase in a targeted manner and evaluate the opportunities and risks of financing alternatives depending on the business environment.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Interactive course with lecture, case studies, exercises in individual and group work, presentations and homework.

Assessment methods and criteria

Pre-assignment, participation during the seminar in the form of contributions and short presentations (individual or group assignments), post-assignment, individual weighting as determined by the instructors, announcement at the beginning of the semester

Comment

None

Recommended or required reading

Brealey, Richard A.; Myers, Stewart C. (2011): Principles of Corporate Finance. 11. Auflage. Maidenhead. Berkshire: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Feld, Brad; Mendelson, Jason (2016): Venture Deals. 3. Auflage. New Jersey: Wiley. 

Hahn, Christopher (2013): Finanzierung und Besteuerung von Start-up-Unternehmen. Praxisbuch für erfolgreiche Gründer. Wiesbaden: Springer Gabler.

Schneck, Otmar (2006): Handbuch Alternative Finanzierungsinstrumente. Weinheim: Wiley.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face, distance learning)

Classes with compulsory attendance