The course in the RealAcad program is made up of different modules, designed and conducted by our international faculty team. As such, learning is optimized through a combination of workshops, hands-on exercises and personal coaching and is made concrete by the
creation of an actual startup venture over
the course of the camp. The limited number of participants per class provides the
opportunity to meet and network with several business leaders who will share
their experiences and give feedback on the team’s venture in its different
stages throughout the camp.
MODULE DESCRIPTION
a) The camp takes the participants through all the stages of the creation of a
new venture. Different venture management aspects will be covered subsequently.
During first half of the program, the main attention will be on brainstorming to create different
ideas and performing marketing research to prioritize between different ideas.
Second half will focus on crafting the business and marketing plan and the actual launch of the business.
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b) Throughout the camp special attention will also be given to
developing the participants skills in a number of people
management areas: motivation and
teamwork
strategies, feedback skills and negotiations skills.
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c) Besides developing their venture and people management skills, participants
will also receive personal coaching from the faculty to optimize their own
career
management. This will include high level aspects like helping them think through
a long term career plan and practical details like feedback on their resume.
VENTURE MANAGEMENT MODULES
Professional brainstorming
Brainstorming is a creative, but at the same time structured process that should
take place without evaluating or judging the ideas generated during the process.
Conducted professionally, it can be a very effective means of creating new
ideas or of helping a team channel and prioritize ideas. This module will make
the brainstorming techniques used in top companies available to participants and
give them a valuable insight into how successful companies and firms effectively
use their creative powerhouses to gain maximum benefits from their ingenuity
and creativity.
Marketing research strategies
Successful management decisions require timely and relevant market information.
Though the internet has greatly reduced the budget for market research for
most people, choosing the right research strategy and screening for relevant
information has become an ultimate necessity in today’s competitive
marketplace. Both qualitative and quantitative market research methods such
as interviews, focus groups or surveys can often create valuable insights
into potential new products or services. Market research will also identify
trends and competitors’ market strategies. In this module, participants
will be taken through the actual market research process in order to equip
them with the necessary skills required to obtain accurate market information
and analyze it.
Marketing & business plan development
To be able to develop a marketing and business plan is an absolutely indispensable
skill to have, especially for those who intend to start their own businesses
one day, as it helps to think through and organize the information that is
vital to setting up their own business. This in turn helps the decision-makers,
in this case the participants, to allocate the available resources properly,
handle unforeseen complications, and make good business decisions. At the
same time, participants will learn how to develop the right pitches to investors,
customers and partners.
Implementation
Real Acad is designed to be as practical and real-life as possible, so a lot
of emphasis is put on actually launching the business, including getting
customers, negotiating partnerships and getting investors. The participants also
think through how to ensure long term success for the company.
PEOPLE MANAGEMENT MODULES
Motivational and teamwork strategies
While individual performance is influenced by one’s ability, motivation
is the other important variable in determining the output of a team. In this
module, students will be taught motivational and teamwork strategies. At the
same time, participants will experience and therefore understand how these strategies
can be used daily in their teams and workplaces. Special attention will be
given throughout the camp to improve the participant’s communication skills,
through presentations and team discussions.
Feedback skills
While working in a team of individuals with high intellect and caliber, many
improvement suggestions are never communicated because individuals don’t
feel comfortable sharing their views, out of fear that they may evoke a forceful
debate by giving their opinions. Learning both how to give and receive feedback
is a skill that will allow the participants to learn more out of every future
interaction and will also ensure team harmony and congeniality.
Negotiation skills
By developing negotiating skills, participants will become more confident, assertive,
motivated, achieve better working relationships and obtain more win-win deals.
The module examines and evaluates the different styles of negotiation available
and then uses practical role plays to help the participants understand how to
use the skills needed to become expert negotiators.
