1 of 11

Entrepreneurial Mindset and Opportunity Recognition (ENT 315)

2025 Fall Semester

�Instructor Information

�Mike Farmer, MA-Marketing, MBA Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Department/Division: Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

�Email Address: mfarmer@umkc.edu

Phone: 816-309-5136

Office: Room 323

Office Hours: 10:00am - 11:00am, Tues - Thursday

2 of 11

Getting to know you - show of hands

Who here is from KC region? Outside KC?
How many business students?, Entrepreneurship?
Had an idea for a business?
Started a business?
Have developed/prototyped a product?
Use AI?

When you hear “Entrepreneurial Mindset” what comes to mind?
Play the IceBreaker game - 6 squares

3 of 11

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of the meaning of entrepreneurial thinking

Demonstrate an understanding of how to translate ideas into viable products or services

Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of building an idea into a venture

4 of 11

Topic – based flow
"Show don't tell" real world case studies (Leap2, Float-tech)
Authentic, experiential learning – project based
Peer learning – showcase 3-4 projects (Day 2)
Bias toward technology project
Resourceful as possible (AI, etc.)

Class Design Approach:

5 of 11

Class Structure:

We will utilize Entrepreneurship Book – avail through Canvas
Chapters generally align with Weeks (Week 1: Chapt 1, etc)
You will read Chapter in preparation for 2nd class each week
We will have a class discussion on Chapter material 2nd class day
1st day each week: will include lecture on material & Real-world case study
2nd day: highlight 3-4 assignments, go over next assignments
12 'Project-based' assignments worth 240 points (30 pts group reflection)
Attendance, participation & peer review worth 60 pts (Chapter discussion)
300 total points (A: 270, B:240, C: 210, D: 180, F: 150)

6 of 11

Use of AI!

As this is a project-based, experiential course we will use Artificial Intelligence extensively throughout. The format will involve following this learning sequence:

1) Instructor will introduce new material & theory, primarily from material covered in each chapter of the Entrepreneurship book;

2) Instructor will provide an actual use case based on his past entrepreneurial experience;

3) Assignment: Student will then develop their own relevant material for their project utilizing artificial intelligence to complete assignment;

4) Students will then provide commentary on 'answers' provided by artificial intelligence in highlight or bold format;

5) Instructor will primarily grade each assignment based on student commentary.

7 of 11

PURPOSE COMPASS

� �

�

Strengths

(Personal)

Opportunity (Your Project!)

Motivators

(Industry)

8 of 11

Open Syllabus in Canvas

9 of 11

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bounds. Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”

–Patanjali