Course
Course Time: Wednesday, 6:30-8 pm
Course Description
Ever wondered how people turn a unique idea into the next big company? Or maybe you’ve had a startup idea but never had the right team or resources to make it real? This course is your chance to learn how to go from idea to launch.
You’ll explore the full startup journey — from identifying a problem, building a solution, and validating it with users, to understanding product-market fit, pitching, and fundraising. Each week features hands-on discussions, case studies, and guest speakers connected through
SCET & Berkeley SkyDeck, bringing real-world experience from founders, product builders, and possible investors.
No prior experience needed — we take a bottom-up approach to make sure you build a solid foundation in entrepreneurship.
By the end of the semester, you’ll:
● Understand the key steps of building a startup from scratch
● Develop an entrepreneurial mindset and creative problem-solving skills
● Gain insight from industry experts and UC Berkeley founders
● Build connections with a driven, like-minded community
If you’re curious, ambitious, and ready to bring your ideas to life, join and start your startup journey here.
Objectives
● Understanding the process of transforming innovative ideas into successful startups.
● Developing entrepreneurial skills and gaining foundational knowledge in entrepreneurship.
● Learning about startup accelerators and how they can support early-stage businesses.
● Acquiring knowledge about the startup ecosystem, including venture capital & product
development.
● Gaining insights into customer discovery, market research, and the importance of validating
startup ideas.
● Developing the skills to deliver an effective startup pitch and presentation.
● Participating in group projects and presentations as part of the course requirements.
● Preparing for Demo Day, where students will present their startup ideas to judges.
● Gaining exposure to accomplished entrepreneurs and industry professionals via guest speakers.
Application
Instructor
Celine Chen
Celine Chen is a senior at UC Berkeley studying Cognitive Science with a Computer Science minor, with a focus on developmental psychology and how people make decisions. Her work spans product management, AI research, and early-stage entrepreneurship. She has built products from 0 to 1, won hackathons, and pitched to VCs across Berkeley’s startup ecosystem. Celine supports early-stage founders through her experience at Berkeley SkyDeck and as a Microsoft for Startups Student Ambassador, where she mentors teams on idea development, user research, and early product strategy. She also conducts speech AI research in the Berkeley Speech Group (BAIR), focusing on language assessment models for children.
Beyond product and research, Celine serves as Co-President of Anchor House Association, leading Berkeley’s largest transfer-focused residential community and strengthening support for hundreds of transfer and nontraditional students. She is passionate about empowering student builders and creating tools that improve learning, productivity, and everyday decision-making.

Celine Chen Headshot