Duke University
Building Financial Models for Entrepreneurs
Duke University

Building Financial Models for Entrepreneurs

Cathy Clark

Instructor: Cathy Clark

Included with Coursera Plus

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Build a complete financial model using a structured Excel template

  • Calculate a venture’s funding gap and determine the capital needed to reach financial break-even

  • Model and compare different investment scenarios, such as equity or debt financing

  • Analyze and refine financial projections to withstand investor scrutiny and support fundraising efforts

Details to know

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Recently updated!

October 2025

Assessments

1 assignment

Taught in English

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There is 1 module in this course

How much capital does an impact enterprise really need, and how do you figure that out? This module walks any entrepreneur step-by-step through building a financial model using our Excel template. You will undertake a process to define your funding gap, test investment scenarios, and plan your future financing needs with confidence. By experimenting with various scenarios, you’ll gain the skills to assess how new capital affects your financial outlook and how to negotiate terms that support your enterprise’s success. By the end of the module, you’ll be able to confidently interpret and explain financial projections, evaluate investment offers, and make informed decisions about raising capital.

What's included

6 videos8 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

Instructor

Cathy Clark
Duke University
6 Courses41,627 learners

Offered by

Duke University

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