OBUS 3095 - Design AI First Companies

Launch Your Own Venture: Embed AI from Day One

AI and Deep Tech are no longer niche concepts; they are transforming every facet of our world. Recent breakthroughs in AI and GEN AI (Generative AI) have made it more possible than ever to launch a venture, with the ability to embed AI from the very start, even without strong coding skills.

Course Objectives: Launching an AI-Embedded Deep Tech Venture

• Understand Deep Tech: Comprehend the underlying technologies, functional mechanisms, and global relevance of Deep Tech.
• Analyze the Startup Launch Cycle: Examine the end-to-end startup development process and learn how Generative AI (Gen AI) can significantly accelerate and enhance its key stages.
• Design a Deep Tech-Centric Venture: Work in a small group to design a complete Deep Tech startup, from initial concept validation to developing a comprehensive business plan.
• Master Presentation & Validation: Prepare to confidently present and rigorously defend the viability of your venture to a professional audience.

Areas Covered - Tech Ecosystems – Venture Capital - Big Data – AI - Blockchain - Quantum Computing

Projects may focus on any of these areas, regardless of whether you want it to be driven by commercial returns or social impact.

Venture Design Focus - Our approach to Deep Tech venture design integrates three core components:

• Proven Venture Design Process: A general framework for conceptualizing and launching a new enterprise in tech.
• AI Integration and Enhancement: A review of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI can be leveraged to accelerate and optimize critical design and development stages.
• Practical Financial Planning: A hands-on format for creating a robust financial model and funding plan, preparing the venture for investment.

Learning Outcomes - By the end of this course, you will have:

• Acquired a comprehensive overview of Deep Tech—what these technologies are and how they function
• Developed a deep understanding of Deep Tech business, economic, and social impact
• Analyzed entrepreneurial initiatives within the Deep Tech space to extract actionable strategies.
• Confidently identified and evaluated promising entrepreneurial opportunities in the market.
• Critically examined and differentiated between various financing options (e.g., Venture Capital, grants, bootstrap funding) for Deep Tech ventures.
• Gain practical experience by testing and refining your own venture idea through a condensed project.

Professor Biograpgy :

Manuel Ceva is the founder and CEO of TwinZen, a company advising organizations on how to leverage AI for strategic benefits. He has launched several ventures over the past 15 years, including Insight Signals (digital twins), and Tactem, a telecom software company, sold to the Econocom Group. Previously, he was the President of Orange Business Services in Japan; he also worked for six years as a strategy consultant at the US firm, Booz-Allen & Hamilton. Manuel Ceva graduated from Sciences Po and holds an MBA from INSEAD. He lived over six years in Asia.

Level of English : B2.

Master Courses held in English. Reading material both French & English.

Session Structure

Each session will follow a consistent format to maximize your learning and project development:

• Professor-Led Presentation: The professor will introduce and delve into a key Deep Tech topic.
• Short summary among of a topic, among a list provided at the beginning of the semester
• Student Deep Tech Venture Project Updates: Students will present their Deep Tech venture projects, including status updates and progress.

Course Topics

• Session 1: Intro to Deep Tech Entrepreneurship & Ecosystems
• Session 2: Artificial Intelligence / Venture Idea
• Session 3: Artificial Intelligence / Venture Opportunity analysis
• Session 3: Big Data / Product Prototyping
• Session 4: Blockchain / Venture Go to Market
• Session 5: Quantum Computing / Venture Financial Plan
• Session 6: Course Conclusion / Projects Presentation

Pass or fail.

Student’ project (50%) / Class contribution 50%

You'll develop your project week by week, with opportunities to present your progress and receive feedback during interim sessions. We strongly encourage group preparation to foster faster, collective learning. Your active participation in class is essential for this collaborative environment.