This course is intended for students interested in learning more about creating, building, and scaling venture capital and private equity backed companies, either directly as a principal or as an advisor. The course will take a practical and interactive approach on how venture capital and private equity companies are formed and scale, focusing on three main stages of development: (1) Formation; (2) Growth; and (3) Exit. Among the topics that will be covered are company formation (including term sheets and financing documents), scaling through M&A and organic growth, and exit events (IPO and sale). We will also cover growth equity (venture and buyout), private credit, and secondaries. The course will have guest speakers, utilize case studies, and employ a project-based approach. The course is open to Stanford Law, GSB, Engineering, and Design students. The course does not require or assume that students have taken corporate finance. Elements used in grading: attendance, class participation, final project, and questions for, and engagement with, guest speakers. Students will be expected to have completed the readings assigned for each course and be prepared to apply them to the class discussions. This class is limited to LAW 27 students, with an effort made to have students from SLS (by lottery) and up to five non-Law students (GSB, Engineering, and Design Schools) by consent of the instructor. Special Instructions: Students on the waitlist for the course will be admitted if spots are available on the basis of priority and degree program. Non-Law students may submit a Stanford Non-Law Student Course Add Request Form available at https://law.stanford.edu/education/courses/non-law-students/ to request consent to enroll. The class will meet the first six weeks of the quarter (Sep LAW 22 - Oct LAW 30).
2 units · Law Honors/Pass/Restrd Cr/Fail
This course is intended for students interested in learning more about creating, building, and scaling venture capital and private equity backed companies, either directly as a principal or as an advisor. The course will take a practical and interactive approach on how venture capital and private equity companies are formed and scale, focusing on three main stages of development: (1) Formation; (2) Growth; and (3) Exit. Among the topics that will be covered are company formation (including term sheets and financing documents), scaling through M&A and organic growth, and exit events (IPO and sale). We will also cover growth equity (venture and buyout), private credit, and secondaries. The course will have guest speakers, utilize case studies, and employ a project-based approach. The course is open to Stanford Law, GSB, Engineering, and Design students. The course does not require or assume that students have taken corporate finance. Elements used in grading: attendance, class participation, final project, and questions for, and engagement with, guest speakers. Students will be expected to have completed the readings assigned for each course and be prepared to apply them to the class discussions. This class is limited to 27 students, with an effort made to have students from SLS (by lottery) and up to five non-Law students (GSB, Engineering, and Design Schools) by consent of the instructor. Special Instructions: Students on the waitlist for the course will be admitted if spots are available on the basis of priority and degree program. Non-Law students may submit a Stanford Non-Law Student Course Add Request Form available at https://law.stanford.edu/education/courses/non-law-students/ to request consent to enroll. The class will meet the first six weeks of the quarter (Sep 22 - Oct 30).
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.