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University of Virginia

Innovating with the Business Model Canvas

Have you ever gotten really excited about reading or writing a business plan? You might have started out excited, but I’m going to bet you didn’t stay that way. Let’s be honest- business plans are boring and mostly ignored. The beauty of the one-page Business Model Canvas is that it drives meaningful focus. It helps us organize our ideas and have better discussions by forcing specificity and bringing linkages between key business drivers to the foreground. Innovation requires one hand being very focused on a fundamental need or problem while the other hand quickly tests different solutions. For this, the Business Model Canvas is very innovation friendly: It's a lot easier to tweak the model and try things with something that's sitting on a single page In this course, developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and taught by top-ranked faculty, you’ll learn key tools from the worlds of design thinking and Lean Startup to approach the Canvas with thoughtfulness, focus, and above all a test-driven approach to business model innovation.

Status: Business Process
Status: Lean Methodologies
BeginnerCourse4 hours

Featured reviews

PC

5.0Reviewed Oct 6, 2020

The Business Model Canvas is a way to quickly put together a business plan, strategic management and a great startup template for an entrepreneur.

M

4.0Reviewed Mar 26, 2025

I have learnt the basic concept of business modle and learnt many more in business , strategies and basic fundametals

AL

5.0Reviewed Nov 10, 2024

Useful course for entrepreneurs and investors, and those working in innovative startups.

FD

4.0Reviewed Jul 28, 2019

Good tools, well explained ideas and a good well based step by step procedure to set our business idea using the Business Model Canvas in order.

AH

5.0Reviewed Nov 19, 2019

Amazing stuff!It is actually organized in 2 weeks but opens up so many interesting subjects to dig deeper and understand which can help taking your business to the next level.Thanks Alex!

WY

5.0Reviewed Nov 25, 2020

Great stuffs but it is too short. It would be great if Alex can provide more examples of some real live existing companies. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended

JB

5.0Reviewed Apr 16, 2021

The canvas makes it easier for us to understand every key area of the business in each development stage. Thanks to Cowan for all the resources and lectures

AB

5.0Reviewed Sep 24, 2019

The information is really well structured and easy to follow. It doesn't live anything unclear and it's all actionable content.

RB

4.0Reviewed Oct 4, 2020

Loved It. Able to use immediately. Week 1 was straight forward whilst Week 2 I found more challenging.

JW

4.0Reviewed May 14, 2021

Very well executed, however, i found the course abit complex and i was hoping that the case studies used would be brought nearer home

JH

5.0Reviewed Nov 25, 2020

I've read the books, and used the tools; but I've never had anyone walk through them for me. This was very informative and should add value.

LA

5.0Reviewed Sep 25, 2025

Excellent course. It could be made specific for the industry that we are in

All reviews

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