Business Accelerator

Transform start-up ideas into viable businesses.

Equip yourself with the skills, tools and knowledge to confidently validate and commercialise business ideas with this new, hands-on course delivered in partnership with Ara’s centre for growth and innovation, Te Ōhaka.

Using well-accepted industry frameworks, you’ll work on a business idea that you’re passionate about, or one we help you develop through in-class idea generation exercises.

You’ll learn how to identify market problems and customer groups and how to develop your product or service while continuously engaging with customers and other stakeholders. You’ll also learn how to evaluate your idea and create a robust business case for it.

Topics covered include problem discovery and user profiling, idea validation, product development and testing, competitor analysis, business model and pricing, market validation and customer acquisition, legal requirements and financing, and digital business enablement.

This course runs once per week for 3 hours face-to-face on Mondays from 5.30pm to 8.30pm (Semester 1 and 2). It’s a 100-hours in total (approximately 10 hours per week commitment including independent learning and assessments) over 12 weeks with a two week school holiday break in between. For any further questions or enquiries please contact the department of Business at Business@ara.ac.nz.

Information
Course Code	BTSB600
Level	6
Credits	10
Estimated Time	12 Weeks
Fees 2023	$452

Please note: You will be charged an associated external fee (if applicable) plus a portion of the compulsory Student Services Levy that supports our services available to students. For full information on the compulsory Student Services Levy, visit fees and finance.

How to Apply

If there is a blue "View Dates & Apply" button near the top right hand of this page:

1. click on the button
2. select the relevant course option
3. click "apply"
4. fill in the online form and click "submit"

If there is no blue "View Dates & Apply" button near the top right hand of this page:

1. print out and fill in this form
2. scan it and email it to Enrolment Team OR drop it in to an Ara campus OR post it to Ara Institute of Canterbury, PO Box 540, Christchurch Mail Centre