Startup Foundry
Overview
The Foundry is the place to forge a new business idea or build on an existing one. Aspiring entrepreneurs will take a creative spark and transform it into a startup with proven value. They will use people-centred research, prototyping, and testing to uncover the best problems to solve and create solutions that make a tangible difference. This unit will equip them with the skills to take their venture forward and communicate why it’s important. They will become a part of a community motivated by curiosity and the desire to create a better world.
Requisites
19-April-2026
13-September-2026
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Apply coherent and advanced knowledge concepts, techniques and tools to identify and develop meaningful entrepreneurial opportunities
- Critically analyse different models for startups and develop skills to choose and implement appropriate business/organisational models
- Apply advanced knowledge of the key research principles and activities of evidence-based product, service and organisation design
- Apply the fundamentals of entrepreneurship to plan and operationalise a venture or project
- Communicate ideas and opportunities to professional, commercial or industry standards
Teaching methods
All applicable locations
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
On Campus Class |
4.00 | 6 weeks | 24 |
Online (synchronous lecture) |
2.00 | 6 weeks | 12 |
Unspecified Learning Activities (Various) |
19.00 | 6 weeks | 114 |
| Total | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULOs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project 1 | Individual/Group | Pass/Fail | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Project 2 | Individual/Group | Pass/Fail | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Project 3 | Group | Pass/Fail | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Project 4 | Individual | Pass/Fail | 1,2,3,4,5 |
Content
This unit may include:
- Creative and critical thinking
- Applying innovative and analytical approaches to opportunity development
- Innovation frameworks including human-centred design, mission-oriented innovation and design thinking
- Problem solving and ideation
- Prototyping fundamentals and co-creation
- Business model development, adaptation and validation including Lean start-up principles
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Pitching and storytelling
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.