From Idea to Business Plans: Designing a Seminar for Teaching Digital Health Entrepreneurship

Abstract

Technology entrepreneurship, together with its subfields such as digital health entrepreneurship, is gaining increasing attention, with digital transformation playing a pivotal role in shaping its landscape. This transformation has the potential to revolutionize various industries. However, technology entrepreneurship, in particular, demands a unique set of entrepreneurial competencies. To address this, we designed a seminar focused on the healthcare sector, enabling graduate students to explore the field of digital health entrepreneurship. The seminar guides students through the process of developing a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) business model with a focus on the European Union (EU). This paper presents the conceptual design of the seminar and evaluates its effectiveness based on seminar results and participant feedback. In the seminar, students work in teams, assuming the role of an early-stage startup team in the digital health industry. Through a multi-stage design process, they identify healthcare needs, apply creative ideation techniques to generate business ideas, and refine them into comprehensive business models. The final stage involves pitching their business concept to potential investors. Additionally, seminar participants are introduced to EU medical device regulations and reimbursement pathways to develop viable revenue models. The seminar is structured around an action-based learning approach. Students first receive theoretical input, which they then apply practically to their case studies. Their work is presented in intermediate sessions, where they receive feedback from peers as well as supervisors. To support collaboration and interactive learning, several custom-designed canvases are integrated into digital interactive tools. Seasoned entrepreneurs hold guest talks to give a complementary perspective through their experience. Having been conducted over multiple semesters, the seminar has received positive feedback from participants. This work offers valuable insights into the key aspects of developing a seminar for the entrepreneurial journey of building a SaMD in the EU. It may serve as inspiration for other researchers and facilitators in the fields of technology entrepreneurship and broader entrepreneurship education.