Semester:
Spring
Offered:
2020
Course Overview
Revenue Forecasting is an essential tool for entrepreneurs, e.g. for strategic decisions and communications with investors. Creating and presenting revenue forecasts to investors is always tricky for startup founders. Forecast too high, and they won’t believe you; forecast too conservatively, and they may lose interest. This course is designed to provide basic skills and knowledge to life science PhD and postdoctoral students who are considering venture creations or job positions in biotech-related firms.
Course Structure
The course will consist of two sessions. During the first session, an introduction outlining the utility and structure of a revenue forecast will be provided. The remainder of the course (sessions 1 and 2) will be spent on building an actual revenue forecast for a hypothetical therapeutic asset. Starting from a provided Excel template, we will go through the forecast in a step-by-step manner, each time introducing a new aspect followed by time for each participant to incorporate this into their forecast. At the end of session 1, a homework assignment will be provided, which will be reviewed at the start of session 2.
Course Expectations
Participants can expect to take home the skill of building a basic revenue forecast in Excel, using a template obtained during the course that can be applied to any therapeutic asset. Some of the topics covered include prevalence/incidence, diagnosis/treatment rates, addressable population, and market share. No previous experience is required. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop to both sessions.
Session Dates, Times and Locations
Attendance is required for both sessions. In order to receive credit, students must attend both sessions and complete all assignments. Both sessions will be held at Harvard Medical School in the Longwood Medical Area. Specific classrooms are TBD - students will be informed of the location by email once they have enrolled.
Attendance is required for both sessions. In order to receive credit, students must attend both sessions and complete all assignments. Both sessions will be held at Harvard Medical School in the Longwood Medical Area. Specific classrooms are TBD - students will be informed of the location by email once they have enrolled.
First Session – Wednesday February 12, 2020, 1:00 – 4:00 PM
• Lecture – TMEC building @HMS
• Lecture – TMEC building @HMS
Second Session – Tuesday February 19, 2020, 1:00 – 4:00 PM
• Assignment discussion and feedback – TMEC building @HMS
• Assignment discussion and feedback – TMEC building @HMS
Enrollment Limit
This course is limited to 20 students. Priority will be given to the students who will participate in both sessions.
Postdocs may register, but will not receive course credit.
This course is limited to 20 students. Priority will be given to the students who will participate in both sessions.
Postdocs may register, but will not receive course credit.
Course Director
Dr. Carl Novina Ph.D.
Dr. Carl Novina Ph.D.
Course Instructors
Dr. Jessica McDonough, Ph.D. (Wyss Institute)
Curriculum Fellow
Brittany Michel (Brittany_Michel@hms.harvard.edu)