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FIN42360

Academic Year 2025/2026

Private Equity&Startup Finance (FIN42360)

Subject:
Finance
College:
Business
School:
Business
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
7.5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Emmanouil Pyrgiotakis
Trimester:
Summer
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module provides an integrated introduction to Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Startup Finance. It is structured around two complementary perspectives. The first part examines the venture capital market from an investor’s viewpoint, covering how funds are structured, how deals are sourced and evaluated, and how investment terms are negotiated. The second part shifts to the startup perspective, focusing on the financial foundations of early-stage ventures, including unit economics, funding rounds, dilution, and cap-table modelling.

The module concludes with a practical case study in which students develop a pitch deck and present a business idea to a hypothetical VC investor. This applied component will allow students to synthesise the concepts covered in the module and experience the decision-making process on both sides of the table.



About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Private Equity & Venture Capital

Explain how PE and VC funds operate, including their structure and incentive mechanisms.
Analyse the PE/VC investment process from deal sourcing and due diligence to valuation, structuring, and exit.
Interpret key term-sheet provisions and assess their implications for founders and investors.

Startup Finance

Assess startup unit economics, such as CAC, churn, retention, and LTV, to evaluate growth potential and financial sustainability.
Construct and analyse cap tables across early-stage financing rounds and understand the impact of dilution.
Calculate investor returns for early-stage ventures using standard VC performance metrics, including IRR and cash-on-cash multiples.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

0
Total

0

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Not yet recorded

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): In person exam. The exam will consist primarily of scenario-based multiple-choice questions designed to test students’ understanding of how private equity and venture capital markets operate. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No
Group Work Assignment: The second assessment is a group-based assignment focused on the startup finance component of the module. Students will work in groups of 3-4 to develop a hypothetical startup and prepare a short-deck Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 14, Week 15 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 39 Fri 09:30 - 13:00
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 40 Mon 09:30 - 13:00
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 39, 40 Thurs 09:30 - 13:00
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 39, 40 Tues 09:30 - 13:00
Summer Lecture Offering 51 Week(s) - 39, 40 Wed 09:30 - 13:00
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