What is Product Management?
- What is Product Management?
- Product Management is the practice of managing products, services, and experiences on behalf of a startup or corporation that interfaces between customers and the development team, marketers, and designers.
- How is this different from traditional entrepreneurship training?
- We teach entrepreneurship through the lens of product management. Upon finishing the program, you have the opportunity to form your own company or serve as an associate product manager at a corporation.
Course Credit
- Is Product Prodigy Institute for credit?
- Yes, the first two courses in the 2-year curriculum count towards the entrepreneurship minor in the McCombs School of Business. Each semester counts for 3 hours toward a degree plan.
- Do I have to take the class for credit?
- No, but highly encouraged still required to participate in a team. You can audit the course if necessary.
Who can apply?
- Can I apply to this program if I’m not a UT student?
- Students within UT and outside of UT are eligible to apply. We reserve a limited amount of slots available to non-UT students and stop-outs between the ages of 18-25.
- Can I defer my acceptance to the following year?
- If needed, we can keep your name on file and defer your acceptance the following year.
Class Structure
- What time is the class?
- The first-year class is on Mondays and Wednesdays 6-7:30 pm with occasional field trips during the weekends.
- Do I have to attend in person or can I attend online?
- Online options are available for special circumstances, but it is highly encouraged to be in person.
- How many hours do I have to commit to this class a week?
- Because you are building a real company, it is recommended you dedicate between 10 to 15 hours per week to PPI.
- What if I have learning challenges?
- Accommodations can be made to ensure students grasp the material even if they are working offline.
- What do you teach?
- We teach entrepreneurship in a holistic way. We are not just focused on the bottom line, we’re focused on team dynamics and the formation of the individual self.
- What are some of the topics you cover?
- You will learn design, lean startup, agile, waterfall, and other product management principles that will equip you to lead teams and drive products to market.
Mentorship
- How do I find a mentor?
- A mentor will be provided for each team each semester.
- How often should I meet with my mentor?
- You should meet every other week for 1/hr or every week for 30 mins.
- Who is responsible for setting up those meetings and keeping track of the progress?
- You have to lead the conversation and drive the progress forward. They are only there to help you.
- What if I don’t like my mentor?
- If your team does not get along with your mentor then an alternative will be found to support you.
- How do you pair up a team with a mentor?
- We look to find mentors who are experts in the subject area that you are building your company on and those with a strong reputable background in entrepreneurship who have at least 5 years of experience.
- Do I need to meet with my mentor in person or is zoom okay?
- These meetings are recommended to be over zoom and recorded.
Teams
- Do I have to fill out the strengths finder test?
- Yes, because it helps us place you on a team and understand your personality. If cost is an issue please reach out so we can help.
- Do I have to meet with my team every week?
- Yes, you should meet a minimum of 1/week and every other day check-ins.
- Does this mean my team may have a hybrid of UT and non-UT students?
- Yes, we find that our model works best when we give you real-life situations where you have to work with all diverse backgrounds.
- How big are the teams?
- The teams range between 3-5 people.
Project Development
- Do I get support and seed funding for my company?
- The first 2nd and 3rd place winners get some monetary support in the form of scholarships which they can use in any manner they choose.
- Does UT own my IP or can I do whatever I want with it?
- No, UT does not take IP or ownership of your projects.
- Do I have to present on demo day?
- Yes, every student is required to be on stage and contribute to their team’s presentation.
- Do I have to stick with the same idea for both semesters?
- Each semester you have a chance to revise your previous concept and continue to build a new one but you are responsible to redo the previous semester’s work in order to build that company and redoing the lessons taught regarding project management.
Additional costs
- Are there any additional costs for the program?
- All additional costs are optional if you want to join us with interstate trips or international trips.
- Do I have to attend the opening retreat?
- Yes, attending the opening retreat is a requirement of the program. It creates a space for the class to get to know each other and start building a team mentality. However, it is free.