Scaling Startups and High-Growth Organizations

About this course

Scaling Startups and High-Growth Organizations (ENT 406) is an applied elective in the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital concentration. When to scale, hiring systems, operating cadence, expansion choices, M&A basics, and board-level exit planning for high-growth startups.

Prerequisites: ENT 403, ENT 405 recommended. Length: 6 weeks. Assessment: 50% applied project, 30% case work, 20% knowledge checks.

What you will be able to do

• Diagnose scale readiness beyond vanity growth metrics
• Design hiring systems that preserve culture and throughput
• Run OKRs and operating cadence at startup speed
• Evaluate geographic and product expansion tradeoffs
• Assess M&A and strategic partnership opportunities
• Plan exits and board governance for high-growth companies

How the course is organized

Six units, 24 lessons (four per unit). Work in order.

Unit	Topic	Lessons	You will
1	Scaling Systems and Organizational Stages	Foundations of Scaling Systems and Organizational Stages · Key Concepts and Vocabulary in Scaling Systems and Organizational Stages · Frameworks for Analyzing Scaling Systems and Organizational Stages · Scaling Systems and Organizational Stages: Applied Business Decisions	Apply scaling systems and organizational stages to your venture
2	Hiring, Leadership and Culture at Growth	Understanding Hiring, Leadership and Culture at Growth · How Hiring, Leadership and Culture at Growth Works in Practice · Evaluating Trade-offs in Hiring, Leadership and Culture at Growth · Hiring, Leadership and Culture at Growth: Case Analysis and Recommendations	Apply hiring, leadership and culture at growth to your venture
3	Growth Finance and Resource Allocation	The Strategic Logic of Growth Finance and Resource Allocation · Methods and Models for Growth Finance and Resource Allocation · Evidence, Metrics and Assumptions in Growth Finance and Resource Allocation · Growth Finance and Resource Allocation: From Analysis to Action	Apply growth finance and resource allocation to your venture
4	Operational Scale and Process Design	Core Principles of Operational Scale and Process Design · Designing an Approach to Operational Scale and Process Design · Common Risks and Failure Modes in Operational Scale and Process Design · Operational Scale and Process Design: Practical Decision Exercise	Apply operational scale and process design to your venture
5	International Expansion and Market Sequencing	The Business Context for International Expansion and Market Sequencing · Tools and Techniques for International Expansion and Market Sequencing · Managing Complexity in International Expansion and Market Sequencing · International Expansion and Market Sequencing: Executive Synthesis	Apply international expansion and market sequencing to your venture
6	Governance, Risk and Sustainable Scale	Integrating the Elements of Governance, Risk and Sustainable Scale · Advanced Questions in Governance, Risk and Sustainable Scale · Implementation and Measurement in Governance, Risk and Sustainable Scale · Governance, Risk and Sustainable Scale: Final Applied Review	Apply governance, risk and sustainable scale to your venture

Applied work

• Scale readiness assessment
• Hiring plan and scorecards
• Quarterly OKR cascade
• Exit path strategy memo