Technion 2015 International Experience Program
Program Structure Israel May 16 June 6 PREPARE WEEK 1 LEARN IT WEEK 2 LIVE IT WEEK 3 LAUNCH IT PITCH
PREPARE INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOPS These sessions will prepare you for the program in Israel including academic, practical and cultural aspects. This will feature special guests both in-person and via-skype from Israel who will introduce you to the history of Israel, the entrepreneurial culture of the Start Up Nation and the academic components of the program. We will also provide a comprehensive guide to the international experience covering logistics, safety and accommodation etc. Guest speakers will include Dan Zeeli (DZ Ventures), Matthew Leibowitz (Plaza Ventures), Hershell Ezrin (former Canadian Consul in New York), Evan Pilz (Q1 Capital Partners), Hershel Recht (Technion Canada) and Tamara Caplan (Hillel Toronto), among others.
WEEKS 1-3 SUMMARY This 3-week experience in Israel aims to present the full circle of the entrepreneurship innovation cycle and eco-system, which includes: The entrepreneur (me) The organization (the company) The eco-system of entrepreneurship (society) All aspects of the entrepreneurship phenomena and eco-system from both an academic and practical standpoint will be addressed, as well as the economic value of innovative firms, the entrepreneurial capital formation process, and the migration of managed economies towards entrepreneurial economies. Later, the various financing mechanisms of start-up firms focusing on VC structure and operation will be examined.
WEEK 1 WEEK 1: LEARN IT. You will undertake an intensive academic immersion in entrepreneurship at Technion s campus in Haifa. This will include lectures from top professors and practitioners, guest speakers, workshops, joint seminars with Technion students, team break-out sessions and case studies. Each day is dedicated to one particular perspective of the entrepreneurial phenomenon. Mornings are allocated to academic lectures by Israeli scholars while the afternoons contain meetings with Israeli entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers with proved experience in that day thematic.
WEEK 2 WEEK 2: LIVE IT. In the second week you will experience life as an entrepreneur in Israel with visits to startups and incubators throughout the country. You will meet entrepreneurs from Israeli start ups and high tech clusters in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. In your teams you will also learn practical skills in design thinking, problem-analysis, lean startup methodology, patents, product design, creativity and marketing. You will also visit students and entrepreneurial programs in other Israeli universities including Tel Aviv University and IDC Herzilya. There will be opportunities to explore the country, get to know new people and work with your teams to begin developing prototypes.
WEEK 3 WEEK 3: LAUNCH IT Week 3 is all about taking what you ve learned and what you ve experienced, and creating your own start-up ventures with your teammates. This will take you into the direct and intensive experience of transforming an idea into a start up "the Israeli way". You will be coached by mentors and will work on teams on identifying a problem, proposing a solution, validate it, build a demo product and prepare for a financing round. You will receive guidance on startup management, startup business communications and fundraising readiness. Technion students involved in entrepreneurship will be also supporting the teams and working hand in hand with the group, creating a unique collaborative environment. At the end of this final week you will pitch your ideas to a panel of Israel s leading technology VCs and entrepreneurs.
PITCH PITCH PRESENTATIONS You will pitch your start-up ideas while you are in Israel. When you come back you will have the chance to compete against one another in presentations to Canadian VCs and entrepreneurs. Teams will then have the opportunity to develop their business concepts further at the B.E.S.T. receiving mentoring, space and access to technology.
Prof. Andrew Maxwell Prof. Orit Hazzan Rami Gazit Dr. Terry Sachlos Instructors Dr. Ze ev Ganor Dr. Ronit Itzhaki Dr. Gil Avnimelech Prof. Shlomo Maital
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN You can submit you application by completing this form online the closing date is Thursday April 2 at 6.00pm. All Lassonde students are eligible to apply. There are not prerequisites for the program. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview. This will be a 3-credit course (normal course fees apply). Those selected for the program will be expected to pay for their international travel to and from Israel. You will be eligible for a travel grant of $500. Other costs tuition, accommodation, travel within Israel and all meals will be covered by the School (insurance and any visa fees must be covered by the student).