#4 in EntrepreneurshipUdemyEntrepreneurshipPaid courseAll LevelsCertificate

The Essential Guide to Entrepreneurship by Guy Kawasaki (Udemy.com)

Learn from an entrepreneur and investor how to launch a company with confidence and avoid common pitfalls

4.4

6,199 reviews

Created by: Guy Kawasaki

Last updated May 2015

Our take

Based on the ratings of 6,199 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in May 2015. No course pays to be reviewed.

Guy Kawasaki's course is a 3.9 hour, anecdote-led overview of starting a company. It runs 56 lectures across eight sections: launching, pitching, fundraising, building a team, social media, evangelizing and a wrap-up. There is a live pitch from an entrepreneur followed by blunt feedback, plus Guy answering questions from his social media followers. It is aimed at budding entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and experience levels, and the only requirement is a willingness to start.

Reviewers like Kawasaki's teaching. They call it easy to follow, professional and energetic, and one praises his honesty about how uncertain entrepreneurship is. About 60 percent of the ratings are five stars, and roughly 1,800 more are four. The complaints are mild. One reviewer wanted more depth in each topic, another found no way to ask follow-up questions, and one said some resources were not available for download. The main drawback is age: the course was last updated in May 2015, so the social media section especially may feel dated.

It is a fast afternoon, not a toolkit. Expect stories and principles rather than templates, since the course has no quizzes or assignments. With about 32,500 students enrolled, it is a well-trodden intro, and the ratings back that up. A beginner who wants a clear picture of the startup path, plus some motivation, will get that. Anyone already building a company, or wanting current fundraising tactics, should look for something deeper and newer.

Best forAspiring founders who want a short, motivational overview from an ex-Apple evangelist before going deeper.

Skip it ifYou need frameworks, templates or step-by-step depth, or you want material newer than 2015.

Pros

Kawasaki's candid take on how uncertain startup life really is
Live pitch from a real entrepreneur, followed by blunt feedback
Short at 3.9 hours, and reviewers find it easy to follow
Covers launching, pitching, fundraising, team building and evangelizing in one pass

Cons

Last updated in May 2015, so the social media advice is likely dated
Light on depth, with no quizzes or assignments
One reviewer reported resources that could not be downloaded

Very good introductory course about Entrepreneurship! You will learn about the most important points to start a business and take out your idea from the paper.

Rafael Cardoso Pietsch, a student

Labeled All Levels, but it suits true beginners best. Nothing is required beyond wanting to start a business.

What you will learn

An overview of the key aspects of entrepreneurship
The most important do’s and dont’s of an entrepreneur
Anecdotal advice based on real world examples
The critique of a live pitch by an aspiring entrepreneur
An FAQ section where Guy answers questions asked by his social media audience
This course is not going to do the work for you but you’ll get the clarity and confidence to do the work yourself
This course is not for people who aren't looking to be decision makers in their company

Course content

8 sections · 56 lectures · 3.9 hours of video 5 articles

1Introduction 1 free preview1 lecture · 2 min
2Launching15 lectures · 50 min
3Pitching10 lectures · 40 min
4Fundraising 1 free preview5 lectures · 22 min
5Building a team6 lectures · 27 min
6Social Media 1 free preview9 lectures · 48 min
7Evangelizing6 lectures · 18 min
8Conclusion4 lectures · 23 min

Who it is for

The instructor says it suits

Budding entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and experience levels

What you need before you start

A passion for entrepreneurship and a willingness to start.

How it compares

Against the other 150 rated Udemy courses in Entrepreneurship on CourseDuck:

Rating4.4 out of 5higher than 32% of them
Reviews6,199#4 of 151 by number of reviews
Length3.9 hourslonger than 56% of them
Last updatedMay 2015earlier than 98% of them

Course Description

The hardest part of starting your own business is taking the first step. This course is designed for budding entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and experience levels. If you're even remotely interested in becoming an entrepreneur or starting your own business, you can't afford to miss out on Guy's 30 years of hard-earned wisdom.

Discover How to Build a Business and a Brand Identity that Wows Investors and Attracts a Devoted Following

·Master the essential steps for creating your own company.

·View your startup through the eyes of marketing evangelist Guy Kawasaki.

·Improve the efficiency of your business plan by learning what steps to avoid.

·Experience a live pitch by an entrepreneur and hear uncensored feedback.

Develop a Versatile Approach to the Startup Process from a True Innovator who’s been both an Entrepreneur and an Investor

In this course, you’ll not only learn the essential principles of starting your own business, you’ll also benefit from the course instructor Guy Kawasaki’s 30+ years of experience working as an entrepreneur, advisor, and investor.

Guy understands the entrepreneur’s point of view and the investor’s point of view, and he will help you to see your business from both sides of the table. When you take this course, you will receive privileged access to Guy’s unique anecdotal advice about his experiences working for technology giants like Apple and Google, and his role in creating several innovative Silicon Valley startups.

Contents and Overview

Whether you already have a detailed business plan or just a great idea that you’re passionate about, you’ll find value in the way this course breaks down the various concepts of entrepreneurship in an easy and accessible manner with plenty of real-world examples, tips and tricks, and wisdom from a seasoned entrepreneur.

·Entrepreneurship from A to Z: Starting with Launching and Pitching, moving on to Fundraising and Team Building, and concluding with Marketing and Evangelizing, this course will take you through each step necessary to start your own business.

·Interactive Exercises: You’ll watch as an entrepreneur just like yourself pitches his company to a potential investor and then hears Guy’s uncensored feedback.

·Answers to FAQs: Guy will answer several commonly asked questions that have been posted on his social media pages, including “When do you know when you have a winning idea?” and “How do you stay positive during the lows and stay calm during the highs?”

After completing this course, you will understand a range of time-tested strategies and have gained practical advice that takes you further along the journey from having an idea to being a full-fledged entrepreneur. You will gain the clarity and confidence needed to create a lasting, influential company.

All Levels

Time: 3.9h

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Instructor Details

Guy Kawasaki

4.4 Rating
6,199 Reviews

Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva, an online graphic design tool, and executive fellow at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. Formerly, he was an advisor to the Motorola business unit of Google and chief evangelist of Apple. He is also the author of The Art of Social Media, The Art of the Start, APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur, Enchantment, and nine other books. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA as well as an honorary doctorate from Babson College.

Guy Kawasaki’s The Art of Evangelism (2017)
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- Provider: Udemy
- Time: 2.8h

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Reviews

4.4

6,199 ratings on Udemy

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By Dharamveer Kumar on 4/23/2026

excelent knowolagde

By C Katayama on 2/2/2025

The Freemium is very interesting for me because it is based on philosofized concept that you are giving people something of value and then, if they want even more value, they pay. To build a team, it is important because I think that having a good team products a good result. The way Mr. Guy Kawasaki teaches and explains things is very easy to understand.

By Brent Kiyota on 10/27/2020

Great timing. Been a fan of apple forever. Learned today that Mr. Kawasaki was deeply involved in the company. Had no idea. Sad really...then to learn that he is also involved in Canva? mind boggling. My wife has been using the platform for awhile now. I was literally on my way to exchange my iPhone to another platform. Thank goodness for me, the store was not open yet. Came home to wait for a few minutes before returning. Not sure what made me do it but I opened the book "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson.
I usually skip over the opening pages of a novel but I decided to start from the beginning this time. Boy am I glad I did. Got as far as Page 3. Show stopper for me. I totally recall the first time I saw that ad. "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do." - Apple's "Think Different" commercial, 1997. Well, not sure how to say this but the You Tube video of the ad brought back a flood of memories.
My connection to apple started a long time ago. I was never a "stand in line overnight" kinda guy but I can safely say that I have been pretty loyal to the brand for a long time. Funny but my attachment to the brand brought my entire family into the Apple universe. My wife, my kids, my mom and my in laws have since joined me and the millions of other Apple fans across the globe.
I want to write more but I have to go to the AT&T store in home town. My phone is acting up and I need a new one. This time though I am NOT going to trade in for a non apple branded product. I am going to stick with the group that brought me to this dance in the first place.
Thanks Mr. Kawasaki. Okage same de. If I am ever lucky enough to meet you, would love nothing more than to play a little jun ken po. (and maybe get some Shave Ice)

By Tobias Barasa Simiyu on 10/23/2020

yes it is a good match

By Khalid Albasrani on 10/20/2020

The presenter is authority in his field

By Santhosh Pawar on 10/19/2020

Yes, definitely an essential guide for entrepreneurs !

By Mpho Vumani on 10/18/2020

AWESOME START

By Sandeep Kumar Reddy GURRAM on 9/27/2020

Its a great course, i loved the way Guy explained the things. Its not something like a tutor giving a normal lecture, i felt like the tutor himself sat next to me and explaining the course. Amazing!!!

By Thelisa Nunley on 9/26/2020

Guy Kawasaki is excellent in his teaching and explanations. I learned a lot!

By Valentyna Blazhko on 9/23/2020

Amazing workshop, I love it. And the good thing is: it doesnt matter if you are going to make your own business or to work for someone - the stuff you are learning here you can use everywhere in your life. Great!

By Mohamed Samassi on 9/20/2020