Finance for Startups (Coursera)

Finance for Startups (Coursera)

Finance is one of the key ingredients for successful startups. Many entrepreneurs, however, lack knowledge of finance. This course teaches basic financial knowledge needed in starting and operating startups to entrepreneurs or would-be entrepreneurs who did not major in finance. Students of this course will learn to read and understand financial statements such as balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

They will also practice simple financial planning of a startup. This course also covers the concept company valuation as well as how startups get funding. This is a practical course aimed at direct application of the knowledge gained into running real startups. It also aims to enable entrepreneurs and would-be-entrepreneurs to understand the "language of finance" so that they can talk to professionals with confidence.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Balance sheet and Income statement
We begin to learn startup finance by learning two fundamental financial statements, balance sheet and income statement.

WEEK 2
Cash flow statement and financial ratios
You will learn why cash is king! Let's practice financial ratios with real company data.

WEEK 3
Financial planning and funding
Financial planning of a startup and seeking funding from outside investors.

WEEK 4
VC term sheet and valuation
To understand the contents of a term sheet and the company valuation methods.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Renewable Energy and Green Building Entrepreneurship (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Renewable Energy and Green Building Entrepreneurship (Coursera)

Welcome to the course where you learn to launch a new business in the energy, finance, real estate, design, engineering, or environmental sectors, while also helping you create positive environmental and human health impacts around the world. We will integrate tools, trends, and tips from the field of entrepreneurship as a career path for making a difference and generating wealth in the renewable energy and green building sectors.

Oct 5th 2026
3 Weeks
Practical Finance for Entrepreneurial Creatives (Coursera) Coursera
Rutgers University

Practical Finance for Entrepreneurial Creatives (Coursera)

Practical Finance for Entrepreneurial Creatives. Ever dream of running your own business? You’ll need a solid idea, of course. Plus, enthusiasm, energy, perseverance...and financial know-how. In this one-of-a-kind course designed for non-business majors with entrepreneurial aspirations, you will learn how the personal is truly the foundation for the professional—how the same principles that govern good personal financial management are directly applicable to and a critical success factor for whatever entrepreneurial venture you may have in mind.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Fundamentals of Finance (Coursera) Coursera
University of Pennsylvania

Fundamentals of Finance (Coursera)

In this course, you’ll learn the basic fundamentals of corporate finance. Based on the pre-term qualifying courses for Wharton MBA students, Professor Jessica Wachter has designed this course for learners who need a refresher in financial concepts, or for those who are learning about corporate finance for the first time. You’ll identify foundational concepts in corporate finance, such as NPV, Compound and Simple Interest, and Annuities versus Perpetuities.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Corporate Finance Essentials (Coursera) Coursera
IESE Business School

Corporate Finance Essentials (Coursera)

Corporate Finance Essentials will enable you to understand key financial issues related to companies, investors, and the interaction between them in the capital markets. By the end of this course you should be able to understand most of what you read in the financial press and use the essential financial vocabulary of companies and finance professionals.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
New Venture Finance: Startup Funding for Entrepreneurs (Coursera) Coursera
University of Maryland, College Park

New Venture Finance: Startup Funding for Entrepreneurs (Coursera)

This course is for aspiring or active entrepreneurs who wants to understand how to secure funding for their company. This course will demystify key financing concepts to give entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs a guide to secure funding. Examine the many financing options available to get your new venture funded. Learn the basics of finance, valuations, dilution and non-dilutive funding sources. Understand capital structure for new ventures, term sheets and how to negotiate them, and the differences between early-stage versus later-stage financing.

Oct 5th 2026
4 Weeks
The Search for Great Ideas: Harnessing creativity to empower innovation (Coursera) Coursera
Michigan State University

The Search for Great Ideas: Harnessing creativity to empower innovation (Coursera)

Where do great business ideas come from? We all have compelling business concepts that we've been thinking about for years. In this course we will explore how to use observational tools and other techniques for idea generation and we will talk about how to evaluate the good ideas from the bad. The goal is to settle on a business idea that you are not only passionate about but also has real market application.

Sep 28th 2026
3 Weeks
Pensamiento de diseño para la innovación (Coursera) Coursera
University of Virginia

Pensamiento de diseño para la innovación (Coursera)

Hoy en día la innovación es el negocio de todos. Ya sea un gerente en una corporación global, un emprendedor que está comenzando, que esté en un puesto gubernamental o un maestro en una escuela primaria, se espera que todos se vuelvan austeros, para hacerlo mejor con menos. Y ese es el motivo por el que todos necesitamos el pensamiento de diseño.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Introducción a la Estrategia (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Introducción a la Estrategia (Coursera)

En este curso, conocerás la importancia de la estrategia en cualquier tipo de organización; diferenciarás los modelos conductuales que se aplican en diferentes países, quiénes son sus principales actores y los intereses que tienen en una empresa. Partirás de la planeación estratégica para materializar tu idea de negocio, a través de la misión, visión, valores y objetivos. Identificarás la idea diferenciadora de tu empresa o idea de negocio, lo cual la hará única del resto. Leerás las señales internas y externas del entorno para poder reaccionar a tiempo ante los factores que afectan a tu empresa.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Be entrepreneurial in Cultural Industries in the digital age (Coursera) Coursera
Sciences Po

Be entrepreneurial in Cultural Industries in the digital age (Coursera)

À travers son fil pédagogique riche d’interviews d'experts et de cours d'enseignants, le MOOC Entreprendre dans les industries culturelles à l'ère du numérique proposé par l'École d'affaires publiques de SciencesPo et le Ministère de la Culture, invite à découvrir les clés de l'entrepreunariat culturel à l'aune du monde numérique. Suivre la chaîne de valeur de l’entreprise culturelle conduit à aborder successivement la présentation du secteur des industries culturelles (IC) dans ses grandes lignes, les caractéristiques des publics et les tendances de consommation.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Innovation for Impact (i4i) The Carlson-Polizzotto Method of Value Creation (Coursera) Coursera
Northeastern University

Innovation for Impact (i4i) The Carlson-Polizzotto Method of Value Creation (Coursera)

Welcome! Partnering with Tech industry giants Curtis Carlson and Len Polizzotto, Northeastern University brings you “Value Creation: The Carlson-Polizzotto Method” a short-form course experience like no other. Building careers by solving for the value proposition - Curt and Len are responsible for driving the integration of the software technology behind Apple’s voice command intelligent assistant and creating the standard for high definition television - now known to billions today as Siri and HDTV.

Oct 5th 2026
1 Week