Everybody dreams about having the opportunity to be the first investor in Google or being employee #3 at Apple. Investing in, or joining, a technology company early is obvious in hindsight. But at that time, would a young college student know how to apply their basic understanding of scientific and technical principles, balanced with long-term social considerations, to rationalize pursuing one “disruptive technology” against competitive alternatives? Everyday life is filled with small inventions that have addressed a market niche, but successful early visionaries have been able to adapt, package, or position these inventions to fulfil a social need. In this course, a series of historical case studies involving contemporary competing technology products, services, or components will be evaluated based on technical, economic and social considerations.
