FIN 4023
Venture Capital Methods
Students are exposed to the process of analyzing, valuing and structuring potential equity investments in privately-held, entrepreneurial, venture-stage businesses. The goal is to develop critical thinking skills in evaluating potential investments and understanding the dynamics of various risk factors predominant in such investments, including market risk, execution risk and technology risk. The classes will be a combination of individual readings, case learning, presentations and panel discussions by industry experts, and experiential learning in a team format. Classes will be case study driven and will focus on company-and fund specific situations. Guest lecturers will be used extensively and will provide content integral to the course. The final sessions of the class will be conducted as a presentation and analysis of a potential investment.
Instructors
Reviews
I highly recommend taking VC methods with Sayili if you want to start your own venture. He covers many interesting subjects, and he does not give any exams. Definitely stop by his office if you have any questions about group projects or if want to chat about your venture ideas. He genuinely cares and goes the extra mile for his students.
5/18/2025
Prof. Sayili is a great lecturer and he cares a lot about his students. Definitely go to his office hours as he goes above and beyond to help you. There are two group assignments and a group presentation. He takes attendance and he starts each discussion session with a quiz. If you skim the case studies, you can answer the questions easily.
5/14/2025
I took Fin 340 with Dr. Sayili and really enjoyed the class. The class was incredibly helpful in understanding finance, and really helped me with IB recruiting. He was also super enthusiastic about what he taught and was a very fair grader and understanding professor. One of the best if not the best professor I have had at WashU.
5/1/2024
FIN340 is super chill. He's a great guy and really willing to help out in office hours. Fair assignments and grading. Would totally recommend- seems to be the best FIN340 prof in Olin.
4/12/2024
Professor Sayili is a fantastic professor. He is always very willing and eager to help in class and during office hours. His Venture Capital Methods class is a great way to learn about Venture Capital in a practical, real-life setting. Grading is fair and content is interesting. The class has cases and a final presentation. Highly recommend it.
11/21/2023