Midpoint Momentum: TiE Silicon Valley’s Mini-MBA Program Empowers 30+ Founders on Their Startup Journey
The energy is palpable as we hit the halfway mark of the TiE Silicon Valley Mini MBA in Entrepreneurship. This intensive series has already equipped over 30 dedicated founders with the foundational skills to transform their groundbreaking ideas into viable, thriving businesses, guided by two of Silicon Valley’s most experienced instructors.
Learning from the Best: Our Expert Instructors
A cornerstone of the Mini MBA in Entrepreneurship is learning from practitioners who have successfully navigated the startup journey themselves. We are proud to feature:
Naeem Zafer
Naeem is a seasoned executive and serial entrepreneur who has led several high-tech companies as CEO and guided dozens more as a board member and advisor. With extensive experience teaching entrepreneurship at top universities like UC Berkeley and Brown University, Naeem brings a wealth of knowledge in capital raising, strategy, product positioning, and board management.
R. Paul Singh
Paul is a successful multi-time founder and advisor to numerous B2B software startups. Having scaled marketing for companies on their $0-$50M journey, he provides invaluable, real-world insights into building efficient sales and marketing engines while keeping acquisition costs low. He also shares his expertise as an instructor at Northeastern University and UC Berkeley.
The journey began by laying the critical groundwork for startup success. Through their curated curriculum, our participants have engaged in deep-dive sessions on:
- Conducting Market Research: Founders learned to test product viability, moving from sophisticated business models to lean, inexpensive methods for validating their market fit.
- Igniting the Sales Engine: The focus shifted to Go-to-Market strategies, teaching founders how to lay the groundwork and generate that crucial initial sales momentum.
- Building the Core Team: We tackled one of the most vital assets—the people. Sessions covered the delicate balance of dividing equity, strategic hiring, conflict management, and cultivating a positive company culture from day one.
The learning doesn’t stop when each session ends. A dedicated WhatsApp community buzzes with activity, serving as a dynamic space for participants to engage in real-time, exchange ideas, seek advice from peers and instructors, and build a powerful network of fellow innovators.
The Road Ahead: Gearing Up for Scale and Investment
With a solid foundation in place, our founders are now poised for the next phase: scaling their operations and securing investment. The upcoming sessions are designed to provide the advanced tools needed for this push:
- October 6: Go-to-Market Plans & Starting the Marketing Engine: Formulating actionable plans to create a lead generation engine that fuels scalable growth.
- October 13: Building a Financial Model: A deep dive into unit economics, estimating financing needs, and constructing a robust financial model.
- October 20: How to be Investor-Ready: Master the art of the pitch with pointers to fine-tune presentations and grab investors’ attention.
The passion and commitment from this cohort have been incredible to witness. We are excited to continue supporting these visionary founders as they bridge the gap between concept and enterprise, building the tomorrow they envision.
Stay tuned for more updates as our founders gear up for investor readiness!
